Russian Grand Prix: Hamilton on pole for Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton has grabbed pole position for Mercedes in qualifying for the first Russian F1 Grand Prix in Sochi. Rosberg is second, Bottas third.

Amid tight security thanks to Russia’s ongoing spat in Ukraine, and a muted appetite for exuberance after Jules Bianchi’s dreadful crash with a JCB on track last weekend, the rest of the F1 circus seems to be on normal duty, with Hamilton’s Mercedes taking the front row and Hamilton dominating proceedings in qualifying to secure another pole position.

But it wasn’t necessarily going all Mercedes’ way, with Bottas stringing together a very quick lap in the dying moments of final qualifying that looked like it could propel him in front of the Mercedes duo, until he lost traction at the end of his flying lap and had to settle for third spot in tomorrow’s race.

Joining Bottas on row two is Jenson Button and his McLaren after a strong qualifying, and Daniil Kvyat – at his first home Grand Prix – managed to secure a very impressive fifth spot for Toro Rosso. Kevin Magnussen in the second McLaren would have been on row three in sixth spot but gets a five place penalty for a gearbox change.

That means Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo moving up to start alongside Kvyat followed by the Ferraris of Alonso and Raikkonen, the Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne and the Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel.

Assuming Russia’s security doesn’t cause too many problems, the race tomorrow looks set to be an interesting one, aided by the lowly position of Massa’s Williams – down in 18th after a fuel pressure problem in qualifying – which should make good viewing as he attempts to drive the powerful Williams through the also-rans.