Friday analysis – Sochi gets the F1 seal of approval

The layout of the new Sochi Autodrom was generally popular with the drivers as they completed their first two practice sessions at the circuit on Friday. The weather played ball in both sessions, enabling everyone to get through their programmes, and there was a general surprise at the amount of grip for a first day. And even though Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo brought out the red flag with eight minutes to go in FP2 because of technical problems, only five minutes were lost