After a dramatic event in Italy, the Formula 1 circus has travelled to Sochi for the Russian Grand Prix with tensions at boiling point in the championship.
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton both retired last time out at Monza when they collided in the middle of the race.
Verstappen retained his five-point lead in the Drivers' Championship but will take a three-grid place penalty on Sunday because he was deemed predominantly at fault for the incident.
It's the latest controversy between Mercedes and Red Bull, with the two teams embroiled in a titanic battle for the title.
Mercedes are unbeaten at the Sochi Autodrom since the Russian GP joined the F1 calendar in 2014 and will be hoping to continue that winning streak this weekend.
RacingNews365.com will be on hand to cover all of the action and you can find our live blog to follow every second of the Russian Grand Prix.
We will have exclusive interviews, news and analysis throughout the entire weekend in Sochi.
When is the 2021 Russian GP?*
F1 reverts to its normal format this weekend following the latest 'Sprint' event at Monza.
Friday sees the usual practice schedule of two 60-minute sessions. FP1 will take place on Friday morning at 09:30 UK time, with FP2 following in the afternoon at 13:00.
Heading into Saturday, there is another hour of practice with FP3 at 10:00 before qualifying at 13:00, when the all-important pole position will be up for grabs. This will determine the grid for Sunday's Russian Grand Prix, which takes place at 13:00.
*Add one hour for CET times
2021 F1 Russian GP time schedule
| Date | Event | Time (BST) | Time (Local) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 24 September | Practice 1 | 09:30 - 10:30 | 11:30 - 12:30 |
| Friday 24 September | Practice 2 | 13:00 - 14:00 | 15:00 - 16:00 |
| Saturday 25 September | Practice 3 | 10:00 - 11:00 | 12:00 - 13:00 |
| Saturday 25 September | Qualifying | 13:00 | 15:00 |
| Sunday 26 September | Race | 13:00- 53 laps | 15:00 - 53 laps |
How can I watch the 2021 Russian GP?
In the United Kingdom, the Russian Grand Prix will air live and exclusively on Sky Sports F1. Coverage of the race will begin at 11:30 BST/12:30 CET with the likes of Martin Brundle, Damon Hill, Nico Rosberg, Karun Chandhok and Paul Di Resta at the venue.
Race highlights will be shown on Channel 4 on Sunday evening. The programme airs at 17:30 BST with commentary from Alex Jacques and David Coulthard.
It will also be available to watch on the All 4 on demand service. Details of various broadcasters across different locations can be found below.
Where to watch the 2021 Russian GP
| Country | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| UK and Ireland | Sky Sports F1/Channel 4 (Highlights) |
| United States | ESPN 2 |
| Canada | TSN/RDS |
| India | Star Sports Select 2/Hotstar (Online) |
| Australia | Fox Sports |
| South Africa | Supersport |
F1 TV
Another way to view the Russian Grand Prix is through F1 TV, F1's own digital streaming platform that helps you get inside the pit lane while accessing real-time statistics and timing, along with historical content.
Users can live stream every track session for every Grand Prix in 2021, along with access to all the onboard cameras and team radios for your favourite drivers. In addition to Formula 1 content, you can also watch F2, F3 and the Porsche Supercup championships.
Click here to find out more.
Can I listen to the Russian GP on the radio?
There will be live coverage of the 2021 Russian Grand Prix on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra. Coverage begins at 13:00 BST/14:00 CET.
Commentary will come from Jack Nicholls and former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer.
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