Ahead of Sunday's Formula One Russian Grand Prix, Graham Caygill below lays out the key takeaways from Saturday's qualifying:
Rosberg goes for four
History is already in Nico Rosberg's favour for being drivers' world champion in 2016 as no one who has ever won the first three races of a season has not gone on to be world champion. The German starts on pole Sunday in Russia, and can be the first man since compatriot Michael Schumacher in 2004 to win the first four grands prix of a campaign.
Raikkonen misses out
It was a missed chance for Kimi Raikkonen. With Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel having a five-place grid penalty for an engine change, and Lewis Hamilton being hit by an engine problem in his Mercedes-GP, the 2007 world champion should have been on the front row. Instead he starts third behind the Williams of Valtteri Bottas.
• See more: Russian Grand Prix starting grid
Looking good for Williams
It has been a disappointing start to the season for Williams as the aerodynamic limitations of their car have been highlighted with only 29 points in the first three races. With Bottas starting second and Felipe Massa fourth, the British team have a good chance today to notch up a decent haul of points to get their championship campaign going.
Verstappen’s opportunity
With Vettel and Hamilton both out of position on the grid, the chance for unpredictability, like in China, is on the horizon. It gives drivers like Max Verstappen, who starts in eighth place in his Toro Rosso, the chance to score good points on an afternoon when their performance level, on a track with long straights, might not warrant it.
Reality bites
Sunday’s qualifying saw Renault, Manor and Sauber all well off the pace of the other eight teams, and it looks as if it is going to be a very long season for all three.
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