Russian Grand Prix 2020 Qualifying Report and Highlights: Vettel crashes, Hamilton escapes Q2 to beat Russia’s Pole Verstapen

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton claimed his 96th pole position in the huge 0.5.636363s from Max Verstapen for the Russian Grand Prix, despite being knocked out of the Q2 in a dramatic qualifying session in Sochi by Sebastian Vett. Bring out the red flag.

Hamilton had his Q2 time deleted for a track limit violation when Vettel crashed on turn 4 with just two minutes left of the session, bringing out the red flag.

When the season resumed, Hamilton crossed the line with less than two seconds left to start his flying run – his last chance to enter Q3. He then posted a fourth quick time to advance the position of the pole.

A stunning first time in the six-time champion’s Q A, then he set a new track record with an effort of 1 31.391 before the Brits corrected him on his second run to claim just what his second pole position was in the Sochi od Todrom. – When Valteri Bottas, who led the Q1 and looked fast all week, was desperately disappointed not to make the front row, at least on the ever-shining track.

Behind the top three, he claimed fourth place on the grid with a superb effort in Sergio Perez’s update-less racing point RP20, in fifth place ahead of Daniel Riccardo’s Red Bull – the most the Stirlion will ever start in Sochi – with Perez’s teammate Lance Stroll mechanical issue Unable to show what he can do as he exits.

Piro Gasley was the second Renault with the Alfatouri of the P9, and Esteban O’Connor and the second Renault of the Lando Norris, and Carlos Sanz Hamilton were the leading McLaren in the P6 in the 1,246s. Alex Alban, meanwhile, will be disappointed to start the race 10th, at a distance of 1.704s from the speed of the Thai driver Red Bull.

Meanwhile, a cloud on Hamilton’s horizon will be the fact that he will start Sunday’s race on soft tires, a big crash for Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in Q2 – from which the German emerged unbearably, but with it slipped out of the segment. Teammate Charles Leclerc – his first attempt at the segment has been deleted, forcing Hamilton to use soft rubber to set his own time. Botas and Verstapen, meanwhile, will start racing on the media, giving them a strategic advantage.

Q1 – Bottas at the top as Russell Stars for Williams and Raikkonen is out of controversy

Confidence Voltaire Bottas was straight to 1st 32 in his first flying lap of the season, as he stopped the clocks with a time of 1 m 32.656 seconds. Hamilton finished at the end of segment 0.327 in P2, bumping over the Turn 2 curves in his first flying lap, having to make a steady second attempt after deleting his first lap.

There were also cuts for Pierre Gasley, Roman Grossian and Kevin Magnussen, meaning all three drivers needed strong final efforts to get him to Q2. Only Gasley will do so in the end, with Grossgen and Magnusen finally hitting the 16th and 18th as the end of P8.

With the track appearing significantly on the ramp, home hero Daniel Kavya made a super second attempt to reach the end of P3, 0.855, leading Botas, with Esteban Oaken in fourth and Max Verstapen in the top five.

George Russell put Williams up for the end of P13 and in a second performance ahead of two Ferraris by Charles Lackler and Sebastian Vettel – while Russell was on the second clear of his teammate Nicholas Lutfi. Kimi Raikkonen was the last, meanwhile, Finn was spinning innocently on Turn 2 on his final run.

Knockouts: Grozian, Giovinazzi, Magnusen, Latifi, Raikkonen

Q2 – Ricardo fast, as Hamilton almost caught after the red flag came out after the Vettel crash

Drivers went to Sochi od Todrum to report rain drops. They were lighter drops, though, and certainly not enough to call the intermediate tires into action. The media, however, were called in by Worstapen, Hamilton and Bottas – Worstapen only managed to come in seventh after the first run, while Bottas’ mistake on turn 18 left him in fourth.

Hamilton made a similar mistake on turn 18, but went even wider than his teammates, and his second box was deleted – and a crucial one on medium tires – as Renault’s Daniel Riccardo hit P1 after the first run. Wounded, Perez ahead of Science.

Sebastian Vettel was down in the P14 and was pushing hard to try and improve on his second run when he did a curb clock on turn 4, the back of his SF1000 floating in a spin that saw him connect to the wall Was – Charles Lakelack was barely avoiding the back of his teammate. The red flag was called, which meant that Hamilton, due to not having time on board, was under the coffin to dig with the remaining 2m 15 seconds of the session.

There were tense moments on the Mercedes pit wall, as the now-softer Hamilton slipped off his retart start track on Turn 2, crossing the line with just 1.25 seconds. It will eventually have the momentum to go to the P4 – but decisively on Sunday it will have to start soft tires, with Bottas and Verstapen on more favorable media, Verstapen dropping its final run on the sofa and Ricardo leaving the top.

In Q2, frustrated Laklerk walked out with his team-mate, while Lance Stroll was unable to attempt a final run, while mechanical Grimley hit the Canadian, while he was queuing in the bay, he also failed in the P13-Kwait and Russell match. His Q1 prowess and exit.

Knockouts: Leclerc, Cavat, Stroll, Russell, Vettel

Q3 – Steampands Hamilton’s effort to beat Worstapen Botas by 2

If Hamilton had been shocked by his Q2 issues, which he didn’t show in Q3, his first lap is a stunning 1m 31.391s, and a full 0.793s ahead of his teammates in P2, Verstapen takes P3, Rancardo narrower than Daniel. , Which was well visible around Reno in Sochi.

Hamilton had a new track record to his name, and for the first time since the 70th anniversary Grand Prix, his teammate would have to climb Mount Botas if he wanted to. Eventually though, as Hamilton improved his second track record, 1m 31.304s, Bottas had no answer.

He looked annoyed on both his Q runs, while on a very bright final field on his final effort from Verstapen saw Dutchman Bottas up to P3 on a checkered flag, which would be hard for Finn to stomach with the speed advantage of a Mercedes. On the weekends.

So credit to Worstapen, who got a more advantageous strategy from both P2 and the next two row starters. But credit also goes to Sergio Perez, who lost a significant improvement to the RP20 after putting the team on the back foot after Stroll’s Mugolo crash, claiming a fantastic fourth on the grid, beating Ricardio by just 0.047.

In stark contrast to Verstapen, however, Alban was only able to claim the P10, the Thai driver descending to earth with a bump after the high surface of his Mugello podium.

So, it’s Hamilton who has again claimed the upper hand at Mercedes camp on Saturday. But will the upper hand be there on Sunday too, with the disadvantage of running on soft tires – and Bottas looking down at the slippery current behind him, going down to turn 1, and Verstappen with a Mercedes plan to ruin the parade?

Key price

“The session was one of the worst qualifying sessions! It was awful, the whole heart in your mouth … finally I start soft which is not good. It’s nice to be at the pole but here’s probably the worst game To Stay on the pole with a Dragier car this year. No doubt.

“Both the cars I race against are both on medium tomorrow so it will definitely be difficult to win the race. Still, I’ll stay positive and I can explore how to explore, get a good start, even if it may be, and we’ll see. – Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

What’s next

The Russian Grand Prix runs on Sunday 27 September at 1410 local time – it is 1110 UTC. Will we see Hamilton win a record-breaking 91st win in Sochi? Or can one of Mercedes’ rivals undo Silver Arrow’s broken run on this track? Tune in to our coverage to find out.