Round 4: Russia

Justin:

Best radio transmission of the year, or any year in recent history..
Clearly goes to Mr Vettel. Amongst the many bleeps, he was essentially exasperated at being punted off not once, but twice! Classic, amusing stuff there. Kvyat admitted fault for turn 2 as he locked up, but at turn 3 Vettel was lifting off because he thought he had damage. It's a bit more difficult to react when you are following someone a metre behind at 200mph, when they suddenly slow down where they are meant to be doing flat out.

Ferrari are not having the best of starts to a season at all. Then again, Kimi has collected two podiums in as many races. You'd have thought Vettel could have done more though.

Fun racing, but not at the front
It was a great race to watch, with plenty going on through the field, except at the front. Rosberg was comfortable in leading throughout and took his 4th win of the year, 7th in a row (joining Ascari and Schumacher on that tally, with only Vettel on 9 ahead of him). I've said this before...Hamilton ran off like a scalded dog for most of 2015 and there was no fighting at the front. Same for Rosberg right now.

Once again his main competition had problems and fell away at the start (Vettel), or even before the start (Hamilton with his engine issues starting 10th).

Rosberg knows the challenge will come eventually. Hamilton knows too. He also knows he can't buy any luck at all right now.

McLaren rising? 
Alonso the racer and fighter is still there, as evidenced by him going round the outside of all the mess at turn 3. Opportunity/ luck/ instinct...call it what you will, it lifted him to 8th and he eventually finished 6th. Button took 10th and despite Vettel falling off the track, both guys said the pace was there and a double points finish was on merit.

Driver of the day
Max was running second for a while, Alonso got a good result. Both Williams drivers did well too. Magnussen came 7th....in a Renault. Right there is my driver of the day I think. Either him or Hamilton.

To Spain in two weeks we go. I want a fight at the front between Lewis and Nico.

Might be worth pointing out that it's twenty years since Damon Hill won the championship. To date, he is the only world champion son of a world champion. To date. Twenty years is a nice round number no?

The final word is for Ayrton Senna. I read somewhere that the Russian GP this year was the first to be held on May 1st since Senna died 22 years ago. Wow. 22 years. Still feels like yesterday.

A legend. He passed away on raceday, but of course we cannot forget Roland Ratzenberger, who died the day before.

Both guys were 34, which I only just realised.

Dog food

Phil: Only four days until the lights go out for the inaugural Korean Grand Prix, with Charlie Whiting having visited the track immediately after Suzuka and given it the green light for this weekend's race. Sebastian Buemi hasn't been there, but he says it's another 'typical' Hermann Tilke design (overtaking strictly prohibited, then). In case you were wondering, I thought I'd get the obvious joke in early. Formula 1 is becoming an ever more global sport, with a race in India for the first time next year, and, it was announced recently, one in Russia in 2014.

The BBC's offering of classic F1 grows apace, and this week my co-blogger will be thrilled I'm sure to hear there's a double header from Villeneuve pere et fils: Gilles' maiden victory (I think) at Kyalami in 1979, and Jacques taking on Schumi and Damon Hill at Estoril in 1996.