Summary

  • Hamilton on pole, Verstappen 2nd, Bottas 3rd

  • Hamilton could equal Schumacher's 91 race win record in Sochi

  • Get involved #bbcf1 - is pole position a disadvantage in Sochi?

Live Reporting

Gary Rose

  1. .Getty Images

    OK that is all from us for today. Keep an eye on the BBC Sport website for any further developments after Lewis Hamilton was summoned to the stewards after failing to return to the track properly in qualifying.

    As it is, he starts on pole position tomorrow as he bids to equal Michael Schumacher's record of 91 race wins, but it won't be easy.

    Lights out is at 12:10 BST, with our build up starting at 10:30 BST. See you then!

  2. Hamilton's dramatic pole

    Andrew Benson
    BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

    ..

    Lewis Hamilton took a dramatic pole position at the Russian Grand Prix despite coming within a second of qualifying down in 15th.

    Hamilton had no time in the second knock-out session when it stopped after Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel crashed.

    It was restarted with just two minutes and 15 seconds left and Hamilton made it to the line with a second to spare.

    But in the final session Hamilton was flawless as Red Bull's Max Verstappen pipped Valtteri Bottas to second.

    Hamilton was 0.652 seconds quicker than team-mate Bottas, while Verstappen took his place on the front row 0.563secs behind the world champion.

    Hamilton can equal Michael Schumacher's all-time record of 91 Grand Prix victories this weekend.

    Read Andrew's full report here.

  3. Get involved #bbcf1

    Reece Young: How Sergio Perez doesn't have a drive for next year is astounding.

    Francesca Gunn: As amazing it is Lewis qualified with such a time, he not going to be starting on the ideal tyres. Like he said I think he will struggle to win this race being on softs from the start. So let hope for some early SC’s to help him

  4. Too hot too handle

    Lance Stroll starts in 13th place for tomorrow's Russian Grand Prix. There was better from Sergio Perez though as he secured P4 for the race.

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  5. 10/10 for getting 6/10

    Impressive stuff once again from George Russell as he got into Q2 for the sixth time this season.

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  6. Get involved #bbcf1

    Idong Samuel: Is it just me that noticed that Pierre out qualified Albon...

    Alex Mclachlan: Bottas says it’s “Still all to play for” as he starts tomorrow’s race with a massive tow from P3, with the more favourable tyre choice.

    Javel Bleach: Verstappen on the front row! So we're gonna have a race! (At least up to the first corner).

  7. What time is the race tomorrow?

    The race starts a little bit earlier than usual with lights out at 12:10 BST.

  8. Hamilton summoned to stewards

    The drama of qualifying is not over just yet. Lewis Hamilton has been summoned to the stewards for failing to return to the track properly after running wide in Turn 2 in the first part of qualifying...

  9. 'One of the worst sessions'

    .Getty Images

    Lewis Hamilton, who secured pole position: "It was one of the worst qualifying sessions. It was horrible - heart in your mouth.

    "I wanted to stay out and do a banker but they said come in and get new tyres and then the red flag came out. It was a risk, we got through but I am starting on softs which is not good.

    "Undoubtedly I am likely to get dragged past tomorrow, it will make it hard to win the race."

  10. 'I didn't expect second on the grid'

    Max Verstappen, who qualified second: "We were struggling a bit to find the right balance with the car, the track is quite slippy around here.

    "Even this morning I was not entirely happy and in Q2 we were really trying to nail the balance and in Q3, the final runs, it was not bad. To be second on the grid, I didn't expect, so very pleased for that.

    "If we can have a decent start then the tow effect is very big around here, so if we can get a good draft, then who knows what is going to happen into Turn Two - but it's going to interesting anyway with the tyres as well tomorrow."

    Max VerstappenReuters

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  12. ‘Still all to play for’

    Valtteri Bottas, who qualified third: "It has been looking pretty good all weekend, I found good pace but Max and Lewis obviously just got more.

    "P3 is a good place to start and I think I have the advantage of being on the right starting tyre so it’s still all to play for."

  13. Get Involved #bbcf1

    Hamilton on pole for Russian Grand Prix

    Nathan: Amazing Q3 from lewis. This must be demoralising for Bottas. This was probably his best chance for a pole.

    quixoticgeek: Well Max just made things interesting for the Mercedes strategists!

    Reece Young: Another race weekend. Another case of Bottas fumbling the bag. How aren't Mercedes P1 and P2. They are so much quicker than everyone else this weekend.

  14. Jolyon Palmer
    Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live

    He could so easily have gone out in Q2 but once through Lewis Hamilton made Q3 look so easy, two laps miles apart from anyone else.

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  16. Qualifying top 10

    1) Hamilton

    2) Verstappen

    3) Bottas

    4) Perez

    5) Ricciardo

    6) Sainz

    7) Ocon

    8) Norris

    9) Gasly

    10) Albon

  17. Max Verstappen leaps above Valtteri Bottas to take P2 with 1:31.867! Bottas is third.

  18. chequered flag

    Chequered flag

    Lewis Hamilton secures pole position for the Russian Grand Prix.

  19. Lewis Hamilton goes even faster with 1:31.304 and he's surely got pole position...

  20. A poor middle sector from Valtteri Bottas...