Rosberg leads Hamilton in first Russian GP practice

Sochi, April 29: Formula One championship leader Nico Rosberg kept Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton off the top of the timesheets in first practice for the Russian Grand Prix on Friday.

The German, who is chasing his seventh win in a row and fourth of the season, lapped Sochi's Olympic Park circuit with a best time of one minute 38.127 seconds set on the supersoft tyres.

Triple world champion Hamilton, the only driver to have won in Russia since the race's debut in 2014 but now 36 points behind Rosberg with 18 rounds remaining, was second fastest in 1:38.849. IANS