F1 Russian GP Live Updates - final practice and qualifying | Live text

By: Jake Boxall-Legge

Summary


	Hamilton takes pole for Russian GP from Verstappen after disappointing Q3 for Bottas.
	Six-time world champion only squeezed through to Q3 after scrappy Q2 in which his first timed lap was deleted for track limits, had to use soft tyres after a red-flag for Vettel's crash at Turn 4.
	Verstappen starts on the front row for the first time in Sochi, Bottas shares row two with Perez.
	Ricciardo quickest after Q2 runs but starts fifth ahead of Sainz.
	Leclerc, Kvyat, Stroll, Russell, Vettel eliminated in Q2.
	Grosjean, Giovinazzi, Magnussen, Latifi, Raikkonen knocked out in Q1, two Ferraris on the cusp of elimination in P14-15.

Status: Stopped

16:35 Until then we will sign off for the afternoon to chase up the latest reaction and information from the Sochi paddock. But be sure to return tomorrow for live coverage of the Russian GP, with the race starting at 13:10 BST (15:10 local time).

16:32 The result of all these incidents sets up an intriguing Russian GP tomorrow. Subject to his race stewards investigation, Hamilton will start from pole position but on the soft tyre with Verstappen in second and Bottas in third on the medium tyre. Tasty.

16:28 Here's the full report on a busy Russian GP qualifying:

F1 Russian GP: Hamilton takes pole despite Q2 scare

Lewis Hamilton claimed pole for Formula 1's 2020 Russian Grand Prix despite nearly not setting a Q2 lap after Sebastian Vettel crashed, while Max Verstappen beat Valtteri Bottas to second

16:27 Hamilton will be joined in the dock by Latifi, Grosjean and Magnussen who are also under investigation for qualifying infringements.

16:27 So, Hamilton has won the battle by taking pole position but is he on the backfoot for the race? It could get worse for Hamilton as he is under investigation for not going through the correct bollards at Turn 2 during Q2.

16:24 Hamilton: "I will probably get out-dragged as this is one of the worst places to start from pole position and the two drivers I am racing are starting on the other tyre."

16:23 Hamilton on his pole position: "It was one of the worst qualifying sessions, it was horrible, heart in my mouth the whole way. I lost my first [Q2] lap by going wide for the first time this weekend and I wanted to stay out for another lap but they said I had new tyres but then there was the red flag. It was a risk and ultimately I am starting on the soft tyre which is not good."

16:20 Verstappen on his front row: "I think we were struggling a little bit to find the balance but in Q3 on the final run it was not bad. To be second on the grid I didn't expect it. If we can have a decent start, the tow effect is very big around here so who knows what will happen into Turn 2."

16:19 Bottas on qualifying P3: "I felt the pace has been really good but Q3 I don't know I felt I found some gains but not enough. The second run, I don't know, I just couldn't go any quick but P3 is a good place to start here and I think I am on the right tyre too."

16:17 It is Mercedes on Mercedes for the top three post-qualifying chat with Vandoorne asking the questions. Talk about Merc domination.

16:16 Sainz joins Ricciardo on the third row for the Russian GP by qualifying in sixth place, with Ocon in seventh and Norris in eighth. Gasly puts him AlphaTauri in ninth ahead of Albon in the Red Bull.

16:14 Perez, who briefly climbed to third before Verstappen's late lap, takes fourth place for Racing Point ahead of Ricciardo.

16:13 Verstappen splits the Mercedes pair and gets on to the front row in second place - what a lap by the Red Bull driver. He produces a 1m31.867s to beat Bottas by one-tenth.

16:11 ...and Bottas can't find the time gains as he puts in a 1m31.956s to stay second. Hamilton, who does improve, takes pole position with a 1m31.304s.

16:10 The Finn sets a personal best first sector but loses time in the second sector, so it is all or nothing in the last sector...

16:10 Bottas gives it full beans on his final lap as he jumps over the kerb on the exit of Turn 2, but will it cost him time?

16:08

16:07 So Hamilton holds a 0.793s advantage over Bottas after the first runs, but there is no waiting around as the cars return to the track for the second runs with four minutes of the session to go.

16:06 Verstappen takes third place with a 1m32.360s to edge ahead of Ricciardo by 0.004s. Fine margins ahead of the second and final runs in Q3.

16:04 But here come the Mercedes pair, Bottas notches up a 1m32.184s to take provisional pole but it doesn't last for long as Hamilton delivers a 1m31.391s to go P1.

16:03 Ricciardo produces a 1m32.364s to go provisionally fastest. Sainz slots into P2 for McLaren.

16:02

16:01 A queue forms at pit lane exit once again, this time led by Ocon with Renault team-mate Ricciardo close behind. Not quite the drama of the Q2 restart, so it means the drivers can enjoy a more typical preparation lap.

15:59 Here we go for Q3 - Ricciardo, Bottas, Sainz, Hamilton, Perez, Norris, Gasly, Albon, Verstappen and Ocon will contest the top 10 shootout.

15:57 Q3 will get underway in three minutes so time to make a quick brew before the final action.

15:55 Stroll will feel an unlucky member of the Q2 dropouts as he had to be wheeled back down pitlane with a suspected issue with his Racing Point while waiting for the session to restart.

15:54 Out in Q2: Leclerc, Kvyat, Stroll, Russell, Vettel.

15:53 Hamilton does it by going fourth fastest with a 1m32.835s and is into Q3. It drops Leclerc out in 11th place for Ferrari.

15:51 Hamilton makes it within a second! He is on his timed lap trying to make it into Q3, but Sainz and Perez have missed out on starting a new lap.

15:50 Hamilton runs wide at Turn 2 with his tyres cold as he is told to "muscle past" the cars ahead. This is going to be tense!

15:49 Here we go, green flag for Q2, which means it is a race around the lap to beat the clock.

15:48 Hamilton, who is still yet to set a timed effort in Q2, has switched to the soft tyres for this final run. That will compromise his planned race strategy for tomorrow.

15:47 The Q2 clock has stopped with 2m15s to go meaning there is time for a quicker than usual out-lap and one timed effort. That has triggered a stampede to pit exit with the session restarting in two minutes (15:48 local time).

15:45 The incident could have been even worse, but thankfully Leclerc had his wits about him. The sister Ferrari was also on a fast lap directly Vettel and had to slam on the brakes and take avoiding action to direct his car between Vettel and the debris.

15:42 TV replays catch Vettel's crash which shows the German driver clip the inside kerb at Turn 4 which spits him wide and out of control meaning he has an unwanted meeting with the barrrier.

15:39 The medical car has been deployed after Vettel's crash but the Ferrari driver is already stepping out of his car, which is great to see.

15:38 Red flag! Vettel has crashed! That is a major disaster for Hamilton too who can't complete his timed lap.

15:37 Bottas duly delivers a 1m32.405s to slot into second place. That's him into Q3.

15:37 The rest of the Q2 runners are back out on the track, aside from Ricciardo who must feel confident of making Q3 now, with Bottas and Hamilton on fresh mediums while everyone else is on softs.

15:35 It is a clean lap from Russell who puts in a 1m33.583s to slot into P13.