Sochi (Russia) (AFP)

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), who almost got out of qualifying prematurely, will finally start from pole position in Sochi for the Russian Grand Prix, round 10 of the Formula 1 season, where he could equal Michael Schumacher's winning record. Sunday.

The six-time world champion has already broken the Russian track record that his Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas has held since 2018 on Saturday, setting a time of 1 min 31 sec 304/1000.

Well-known conclusion for an unprecedented situation: a few moments before the Briton had not even qualified for one of the 10 best places on the grid.

"It was the worst qualifying session that I have known, and I find myself on pole certainly, but not with the right tires. Especially since here being the first on the grid has no big interest with this long quick turn following the start. We are overtaken by the aspiration by being the first, "Hamilton complained after his pole.

A thrilling scenario disturbed the routine of qualifying, when Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), victim of a spectacular but minor road accident, forced the marshals to wave the red flag because pieces of the German's SF1000 'spread everywhere at turn 4.

- Hamilton in extremis -

“I was attacking hard,” says the four-time world champion, “then I tried to avoid contact with Lance Stroll (Racing Point), I went too wide, I grabbed the vibrator, and voila. . "

As a result, the session was interrupted when some drivers, including Hamilton, had not yet recorded sufficient time to move into Q3.

But the championship leader was able to react, to the delight of the 30,000 spectators present in the stands, by crossing the starting line for a timed lap one second from the passage of the lights to red, which allowed him in extremis to '' access Q3.

Behind the 96th pole of the Briton, the Red Bull of Max Verstappen and Bottas on the other Mercedes will start from the 2nd and 3rd rows.

The Dutchman snatched 2nd place from the Finn in the last few hundred meters, with a stopwatch half a second behind 1st position.

Apparently not warned by his engineer, Bottas positioned himself in front of the sign number 2 of the parc fermé, on arrival.

"We managed to find the right balance on the car, I'm satisfied," said Verstappen, crossing the line.

"To start second here is not a disadvantage, on the contrary, added the current third in the world championship.

Sergio Perez 4th, will start in the second row, an excellent result for the Mexican perhaps motivated by the announcement two weeks ago that he should give up his seat to Vettel in 2021, when his team will officially become Aston Martin.

- Ricciardo aims for the podium -

With Daniel Ricciardo in 5th position and Frenchman Esteban Ocon in 7th, Renault did well in qualifying, on the tricky Sochi track.

"I had an excellent Q2 but I had more trouble in Q3! Tomorrow I will try to take some aspis at the start to gain places", warned the Australian, who will try to obtain his first podium with the French manufacturer, after 4 final fourth places since March 2019.

Satisfaction also for Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri): "I am very happy to have passed in Q3, and as I feel good in the long + runs +, I have high hopes for the race, even if it will be necessary to stay out pitfalls "affirms the French winner at Monza.

His teammate, the Russian Daniil Kvyat, regional of the stage, qualified 12th.

At the end of these exciting qualifying sessions, the Ferraris, although equipped with new aerodynamic attachments, did not even go to Q3 with the 10 best single-seaters.

Sunday Charles Leclerc will start 11th, Sebastian Vettel 15th.

They were respectively in first position and third last year on the same track in Sochi.

Hamilton will therefore set off on pole, behind the wheel of his Mercedes, on a circuit where the German manufacturer has always been victorious: more than ever, Michael Schumacher's record of 91 victories seems within his reach.

© 2020 AFP