2:36 PM ET SOCHI, Russia — Team orders are an unfortunate part of Formula One but Mercedes’ use of them at the Russian Grand Prix was entirely justified. Even Sebastian Vettel — the driver who arguably lost more from the decision than Valtteri Bottas — said as much after being dealt another hammer blow to

1:27 PM ET Although his Russian Grand Prix only lasted four laps before he retired with a brake issue on his Toro Rosso, Pierre Gasly said he experienced a “really scary” moment when his visor was struck by a piece of debris on the opening lap. Gasly was following Daniel Ricciardo, who sustained front wing

2:19 AM ET SOCHI, Russia — Bernie Ecclestone thinks Ferrari’s struggle to compete with Mercedes this year is because it has drifted too far away from the clear team structure that helped it dominate Formula One in the early 2000s. Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have edged ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari in both championships

9:46 AM ET In a qualifying session reminiscent of Formula One circa 2014-2016, Ferrari had no answer for Mercedes over a single lap. Nate Saunders analyses the main talking points from the Sochi Autodrom. Shock: We have spent a lot of time talking about Sebastian Vettel’s mistakes this year but Lewis Hamilton made a pretty

1:35 PM ET SOCHI, Russia — Fernando Alonso thinks fans at the Sochi Autodrom probably enjoyed the Formula Two support race more than qualifying for the Russian Grand Prix itself on Saturday. Qualifying in Sochi was bizarre, with a slew of engine penalties meaning Alonso, Toro Rosso and Red Bull were already set for starts

6:40 AM ET SOCHI, Russia — Red Bull chief Helmut Marko says he would only consider signing Esteban Ocon to Toro Rosso if Mercedes cut all its existing ties with the Frenchman. Ocon looks set to be the biggest loser from this year’s remarkable developments in the driver market, with several of his best options

1:05 PM ET Lewis Hamilton says performance updates to his Mercedes car have motivated him to push even harder at this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix. The four-time world champion leads Sebastian Vettel by 40 points in the drivers’ standings and is closing in on his fifth title after winning four of the last five races.

12:21 PM ET Renault team boss Cyril Abiteboul has told Max Verstappen to focus on delivering performance from his Red Bull car rather than criticise the Renault engine powering it. Verstappen has grown increasingly impatient with Renault this year as the French manufacturer has struggled to close the gap to pace setters Ferrari and Mercedes

7:52 AM ET SOCHI, Russia — A small fire was detected and put out in Haas’ garage overnight, the team has confirmed, damaging two sets of tyres in the process. Night guards at the Sochi Autodrom discovered and extinguished the fire, which is believed to have started in the control box for a set of

12:36 PM ET SOCHI, Russia — Stoffel Vandoorne will not accept a season sat on the sidelines in 2019, with the Belgian’s dream scenario being a full racing programme away from Formula One alongside a smaller role with one of its teams. Six teams have confirmed their driver lineups for 2019, leaving four teams with