Max Verstappen will start Sunday’s Russian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after taking on his fourth engine – one more than is permitted for the season. Hamilton trailed team-mate Valtteri Bottas as Mercedes set the pace in first practice on Friday morning. Bottas saw off Hamilton by two tenths at Sochi’s Olympic Park, with Max Verstappen third for Red Bull. Verstappen, who holds a five-point championship lead over Hamilton with eight scheduled races remaining, finished 0.227 seconds adrift of Bottas’ Mercedes. Hamilton and Verstappen are back on track following their second significant collision of the season at the Italian Grand Prix a fortnight ago.

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