If you search for scheduled flights from London to Sochi, you will struggle to find one that takes less than nine hours. They make one stop en route and it is usually an overnight journey too. That is why on a chilly April morning, much of the Formula 1 paddock descended on Gatwicks South Terminal to board a charter flight which would fly directly to Sochi in just over four hours.Our plane included team principals, press officers, engineers and even a couple of drivers - although a large number of the drivers chose to share a private jet from Nice to Sochi instead. Cant think why?! As I mentioned in last years diary, we stay in what was the athletes accommodation during the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. It feels like a university Halls of Residence, without the communal kitchen and late-night parties.I am not sure what actually happens when the Formula 1 is not there, as even on the night we arrived, the restaurants on site decided to remain closed. Instead, being the creatures of habit that we are, we ventured to a large hotel about a 15-minute walk away for dinner in their Italian restaurant just as we did last year. The Martin Brundle column Martin reviews Sochi, Kvyats latest mishap, and the danger v safety debate I mentioned the service in Russia before and this year, although it was definitely quicker, there were still moments of surprise.For example, one of our friends that night found his tiramisu arrived before his main course, and he wasnt even sure he had actually ordered a dessert! While for Crofty, his main course arrived at the same time as the post-meal coffees.It adds to the experience and you know its going to happen, so my advice is eat whatever you can, whenever it turns up, and youll be fine. As in previous years, there were plenty of drivers also dining in the restaurant that night. At the table behind was Dani Kvyat and his father. He had been to the bobsled track with Simon Lazenby that day and was showing us photos of Simon in his Lycra.You will have seen the finished piece on our race show by now and after Crofty in a wetsuit on a jet ski, I am not sure how Damon and Johnny can top them... and I am not convinced we want them to!The Sochi paddock is fairly narrow and shaded by relatively tall buildings on both sides so there is always a breeze and it feels colder than elsewhere around the circuit. It makes it more difficult to gauge the temperatures out on track and, despite good forecasts, we all found it colder than expected. The race used to be in October but April didnt seem to provide any more heat than six months earlier had. On Thursday evening, we ventured out to another hotel nearby, again in search of food (I am detecting a theme here...) and this time, it was the hotel that some of the other teams stay in.In a corner of the restaurant, Nico Rosberg was having dinner with his manager and his trainer, as he would do on Saturday night too before flying his drone in the table tennis room next door!On Friday morning, my alarm was set for 5.30am as I was having breakfast with Rio Haryanto for Facebook Live. We are hoping to do lots more of these this season where you just join the Sky Sports F1 Facebook page and we will do live interviews with drivers for you to watch and submit questions to in real time and get an instant response.Unfortunately for Rio, our site canteen didnt make for the most salubrious backdrop! After the chat, it was time to walk over to the paddock for Friday practice. We saw the Red Bull aero screen for the first time this weekend. Daniel Ricciardo took it out for a single lap of the Sochi circuit and while some found it aesthetically more pleasing than the Ferrari halo device seen in winter testing, the drivers gave me mixed reactions to it.There seems to be a divide on the real need for it at all, with many of the younger drivers in the grid not wanting any device at all, while some of the older drivers are keen for it to be brought in as early as next year. Verdict? The jurys out.Also on Friday, I got measured for my race helmet. I have borrowed one up until now but when it started to lift when I was full throttle on the straight, I realised the importance of a good fit! What I didnt realise is that there are cheek measurements too! It appears I have the same size head as Kevin Magnussen but more rounded cheeks! Who knew?! Daniel Ricciardo likes Red Bulls new Aeroscreen following a test run in Practice 1 of the Russian GP My measurements were taken with a tape measure, but for F1 drivers, helmet manufacturers scan their heads and get exact measurements all the way round. I now need to work out the design for my helmet so Ill be asking for your help on that soon...On Saturday, we all felt set for a battle between the two Mercedes for pole - but it wasnt to be. While waiting for the drivers eliminated in Q2 to arrive at the interview pen, Lewis Hamilton walked past me, in his race suit but with sunglasses and cap on.He went straight into the FIA stewards office, but it was clear he was out of qualifying. He knew he had to answer for not going around the keep left bollard at Turn Two, but no driver would do that while still taking part in qualifying - they would wait until the end, so I knew something was up. The moment Lewis Hamilton was struck by more unreliability in Russian GP qualifying Mercedes then informed the media of a failure in the power unit and while I was scribbling down the details, Lewis appeared in front of me. Aside from asking him what happened and when the problem was first discovered, there are never going to be many questions you can ask in that situation that will get an answer of any great length.While in China, he was pragmatic and considered in his responses. Here, he had just got out of the car, had a telling off from the FIA, and knew he could be facing starting the race from the back of the grid, so he was understandably gutted and I was his first interview. It doesnt matter who the driver is in these circumstances, I never hold it against them for being short with their answers. Every 2016 race live Fast and easy upgrade to see every F1 session live on Sky Sports If he had just won the race, it would be different, but 60 seconds after another disappointment like that? I certainly wouldnt feel in the mood to talk.Which is why on Sunday I was very fortunate to speak to Kvyat at the end of his round of interviews. While he was talking to another channel across the pen from me, I noticed the race was being re-run on the TV screen next to us. If he could just talk for a minute longer to them, as he walked over to me he would catch sight of the start and a reply of the incident with Vettel and Ricciardo. Red Bulls Daniil Kvyat reflects on his first lap collision with Sebastian Vettel, which ended the Ferrari drivers race in Russia Luckily for me, that is exactly what happened. He stopped and watched it in real time then watched the slow-motion replays. It meant that for our interview, he had had a chance to reflect on what happened and see what part he had played. He was obviously hugely disappointed that his home race had turned out this way and admitted he may have apologies to make.One thing that couldnt be ignored this weekend was the mounting abuse aimed at Mercedes, with accusations of sabotage being thrown at the team.Hamiltons run of bad luck has seen some use social media to claim there is some conspiracy theory to help Rosberg win. Our timelines are full of such messages but the team have received many more - some abusive and some aimed directly at team members, suggesting they are deliberately engineering a Rosberg world title this year. Head of Mercedes Motorsport Toto Wolff has strongly denied claims from some fans that the team are sabotaging Lewis Hamiltons season The only thing the team are engineering right now is a third constructors title in a row. Every single person on that team is working their hardest, whether they are in Brackley, Brixworth or Stuttgart or at the track on the race weekend. The guys and girls in the garage work incredibly long hours to make sure Lewis and Nico have the best tools they can possibly have at their disposal.The voices have been getting louder with every passing weekend but hopefully now that the team, and Lewis, have had a chance to respond those voices will get back to cheering on their man.I am writing this diary while waiting for my bag at Luton airport. We landed two hours ago but, as in previous years, it is taking an age for our luggage to arrive. It is 4.30am Russia time and we are scattered around the carousel, some sitting on it, others sitting on the floor, and some raiding the vending machines for snacks.But then we have just arrived back from Russia, so I guess one more wait is appropriate...RB Also See: The Martin Brundle column How unlucky has Lewis been? Kellyn Acosta Jersey . Defencemen Drew Doughty, Shea Weber and forward Ryan Getzlaf also scored for the Canadians, who started their gold-medal defence 2-0. Goalie Roberto Luongo, getting the call in place of Game 1 starter Carey Price, was solid when needed in making 23 saves for the shutout. Gyasi Zardes USA Jersey .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. http://www.usasoccerauthority.com/jordan-morris-usa-jersey/ . - The Washington Redskins have cut defensive lineman Adam Carriker and punter Sav Rocca. Graham Zusi Jersey . -- The Missouri Tigers might not have a roster full of superstars. Paul Arriola USA Jersey . Ivanovic was leading 7-5, 1-0 when Hantuchova withdrew after falling 0-40 behind in the second game. The match started slowly for Ivanovic, who surrendered her first two serves as Hantuchova took a 5-3 lead. ADELAIDE 36ers 83, CAIRNS TAIPANS 67The Adelaide 36ers have made short work of the winless Cairns Taipans with a comprehensive 83-67 NBL triumph at Titanium Security Arena on Friday night.Jerome Randle scored 23 points and had eight assists, but the story of the night was the Taipans haphazard outside shooting.The visitors hit only 13 of 42 from long range, including just one from 12 in the opening term, resulting in them trailing 29-16 at quarter-time.Cairns continued to live and die - mainly die - from the perimeter thereafter.Of the Taipans 35 first-half shots, 23 were from long range, but they were unable to make any inroads with the 36ers still ahead by 14 points at the main break.Adelaide moved ahead by 20 points early in the third quarter before four unanswered Cairns triples inside 90 seconds suddenly slashed the margin to eight points.Down by 12 points at three-quarter-time, the Taipans long-range barrage continued in the final period, but it was too late to make a difference.We just shot way tooo many threes, Taipans coach Aaron Fearne said.ddddddddddddWe had 66 shots and 42 were threes. Youre going to die on that unless we come out and shoot the juice off of it, but we didnt.Adelaide coach Joey Wright said: Theyre capable of hitting those - thats why they were shooting them. As long as theyre missing them, were happy.After our last two games I think were on the right track. If we get out and defend like we have over the last couple of games, Im happy.There was also drama before the tip-off on Friday night, with the stadium evacuated for a short time.The 36ers did not comment on the reason for the evacuation, but said in a statement that patrons were allowed back in the stadium on advice from venue security and SA Police.ADELAIDE 36ers (Randle 23, Sobey 15, Johnson 13) 83?def?CAIRNS TAIPANS (Gliddon 14, Worthington 11, Loughton 11) 67.?VENUE Titanium Security Arena ' ' '