F1: Hamilton on pole in Sochi, Ferrari out badly in Q2

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26 September 2020Pole position and track record for Lewis Hamilton in qualifying for the Russian Grand Prix.

The British Mercedes driver launched the decisive paw in the third session, stopping the clock at a time of 1'31 "304, ahead of the Dutch Red Bull Max Verstappen (1'31" 867), author of an excellent last lap.

The other

by Valtteri Bottas

will start from the second row

, also under 1'32 "(1'31" 956).

Next to him the Mexican of Racing Point Sergio Perez (1'32 ”317).

However, Hamilton, along with Kevin Magnussen (Haas), Romain Grosjean (Haas) and Nicholas Latifi (Williams), are under investigation due to failure to comply with the turn 2 re-entry procedure.

The reigning champion Hamilton is happy for the pole: "It was probably one of the most absurd qualifications of my career, I lived it with my heart in my mouth until the end. I'll have to start with soft tires and this is the worst circuit to start from pole. position because it is easy to overtake from the start. It will be difficult to win the race ".

On the circuit of Sochi, in Crimea, there is yet another bad moment for the Ferraris, both eliminated in Q2.

Sebastian Vettel spun, crashing into the barriers a few minutes before the end of the session;

Charles Leclerc, behind him, managed to coolly dodge him.

The Monegasque is eliminated with the eleventh time (sixth row), fifteenth for the German driver (eighth row).

Leclerc does not send them to say: "I'm angry, I have to work off and calm down. The race is tomorrow, where you put points. It was a difficult weekend, I didn't drive well. I was picking up pace in qualifying, I'm sorry I didn't see what we had like. potential. Tomorrow we will try to maximize what we have. "

The tenth round of the Formula 1 World Championship takes place on the Sochi circuit, 5.848 km to be repeated 53 times for a total of 309.732 km.

For Hamilton, already six wins.

Daniel Ricciardo (Renault), Carlos Sainz (McLaren), Esteban Ocon (Renault), Lando Norris (McLaren), Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) and Alexander Albon (Red Bull) are also in the top ten of the qualifying rounds of the Russian GP.

Bottas in front of everyone in Q1 in 1'32 "656, with 327 thousandths of an advantage over his teammate Hamilton, third the Russian Kvyat with eight tenths of a delay. The two Ferraris of Leclerc (14th) qualify for Q2 with the thrill Vettel (15th) Eliminated Romain Grosjean (Haas), Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo), Kevin Magnussen (Haas), Nicholas Latifi (Williams) and Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo).

Daniel Ricciardo fastest in Q2 in 1'32 "218 ahead of Bottas and Carlos Sainz (McLaren) while Hamilton qualifies with the thrill in fourth position.

Among the excluded, in addition to Ferrari drivers, Daniil Kvyat (Alpha Tauri), Lance Stroll (Racing Point) and George Russell (Williams).