WEEKEND WARM-UP: All the paddock chatter as the drivers prepare for the Russian GP

A frigid, wet Sochi Autodrom awaited the Formula 1 drivers, as they arrived in the Black Sea resort ahead of the 2021 Russian Grand Prix – with plenty of news stories doing the rounds on Thursday.

Haas followed hot on the heels of Aston Martin by confirming that their current line-up of Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher would remain with the team for 2022, with Aston having announced earlier in the week that Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll would also remain together next season.

READ MORE: Ferrari to debut new engine in Russia, forcing Leclerc to start from back of the grid

However, there was a touch of friction in the Sochi paddock on Thursday, as Max Verstappen hit back at title rival Lewis Hamilton’s suggestion that the pressure of being in the championship hunt was getting to him, following the pair’s crash at Monza last time out – for which Verstappen received a three-place grid drop for this weekend.

For all that and more, join Will Buxton and special guest host, former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat, as they round up all the talk from the Sochi paddock on Thursday ahead of the Russian Grand Prix.