GPI 2017 Russian Grand Prix | Page 2

WELCOME TO THE TOP STEP VALTTERI On his 82nd try Valtteri Bottas finally came good as he scored his first career Formula 1 victory with a fine showing at the Russian Grand Prix. Drafted in by Mercedes to replace retired World Champion Nico Rosberg, Bottas had a solid, if not stellar, three races with the sport’s dominant team. But at Sochi Autodrom he rose to the occasion, no more second fiddle as he got the better of his illustrious teammate Lewis Hamilton throughout the weekend, and thoroughly thumped him in the race. There was big joy for Ferrari a day earlier, when Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen qualified first and second - an all red front row for the first time since 2008! It seemed that they had the measure of the Silver Arrows boys, but motor racing can be anything but predictable at times. Like Hamilton, Red Bull went AWOL and are hoping (as we all are) that their Barcelona upgrades will add Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo into the mix at the front. And as is now custom, misery continued for McLaren. We have the Russian weekend - Round 4 of the 2017 Formula 1 World Championship - covered from A to Z, with the usual great eye candy. Enjoy! PUBLISHER • PEEVEE MEDIA EDITOR • PAUL VELASCO REPORTER • BEN STEVENS CONTRIBUTORS • GRAND PRIX 247 • IAN THUILLIER • GETTY IMAGES • REUTERS, AFP, AP & PA • F1 TEAMS & FIA MEDIA CONTACT • [email protected]