Just like last year, and the year before that, the 2016 Formula 1 world championship has been a walk in the park for Mercedes and this year’s Russian
ADVERTISEMENTJust like last year, and the year before that, the 2016 Formula 1 world championship has been a walk in the park for Mercedes and this year’s Russian Grand Prix followed a similar pattern.
Nico Rosberg led from start to finish to earn his fourth win in four races this season.
Going back to last year’s campaign it is now a seventh win in a row for the German ace.
Starting from pole the Mercedes driver had an untroubled afternoon racing around the Winter Olympic venues in Sochi.
It was not so smooth for others, notably Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel who crashed out on the first lap after being hit twice by Red Bull’s Daniil Kvyat.
Triple world champion Lewis Hamilton meanwhile played damage limitation to perfection. Having started from 10th after an engine failure in qualifying he weaved his way through the field to finish second.
Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen took third.
Rosberg’s victory extended his championship lead to 43 points
Senna
It’s been 22 years since we last had a Formula 1 race on the first of May.
The 1994 San Marino Grand Prix also took place on labour day.
That particular race has a guaranteed place in the history of sports, sadly, for the wrong reason. It was the final race of one of the sport’s biggest champions.
Ayrton Senna is widely regarded as one of the greatest formula one drivers of all time.
He made his F1 debut with Toleman-Hart in 1984 before moving to Lotus-Renault.
In ’88, he teamed up with French star Alain Prost at McLaren-Honda.
It was a very turbulent but successful partnership.
Between them, they won all but one of the 16 races that year with Senna claiming his first World Championship title.
He was a fierce competitor but at times also a considerate one.
ADVERTISEMENTThis was highlighted by his actions in 1992 when he disregarded his own safety to help Frenchman Érik Comas during a qualifying crash in Belgium.
Before his premature death at 34 following a crash during the San Marino Grand Prix in ’94 Senna had amassed 41 race wins and three world championship crowns and etched his name into the racing book of legends.
From four wheels to steel runners
Sochi has been the host of the Russian Grand Prix since 2014 but the Black Sea resort is mainly known for hosting the Winter Olympics that same year. F1’s Daniil Kvyat took full advantage of is Olympic surroundings to tried his hand at bobsleigh. (Check out video above).