Valtteri Bottas led Lewis Hamilton in a predictable Mercedes one-two in first practice for the Russian Formula One Grand Prix on Friday.
Mercedes have won all seven races held in Sochi since the 2014 Winter Olympic venue first hosted a grand prix that year and Bottas has a strong record in Russia, winning in 2017 and 2020.
Red Bull's championship leader Max Verstappen was third fastest, 0.227 off the pace on soft tyres with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc fourth and Sebastian Vettel fifth for Aston Martin. Pierre Gasly was sixth for AlphaTauri. Bottas told reporters on Thursday that he would be prepared to"take one for the team" and let Hamilton win in Sochi if the situation arose. The Finn is leaving Mercedes for Alfa Romeo at the end of the season.
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