Saturday: Hamilton on pole, Rosberg completes the Mercedes AMG F1 double
Lewis Hamilton secures pole position, which was almost snatched away by Valtteri Bottas, who ultimately conceded in the final sector of the last lap. Nico Rosberg admits he was unable to compete against a dominant Hamilton.
Lewis Hamilton (No. 44) – 1st and 1st
After securing the pole, the Englishman expressed his joy of being at the Sochi site before explaining the qualification: « Today, the laps in practice were very particular. In qualifying, it seemed a bit more difficult to do the special lap but I’m happy to have improved. I crossed the line and was just hoping I had it [the pole]; when they announce it to you, it’s a huge relief – a beautiful emotion. »
He was already thinking about the race start: There is a long distance to the first corner, and we need to be attentive to overtaking opportunities here.
Nico Rosberg (No. 6) – 2nd and 2nd
The qualification wasn’t easy according to the German driver, even if he remains optimistic: « Lewis was simply faster today, so I’ll need to get a good start tomorrow. Starting from the front row is still a good position to begin the race. I think it will be an exciting Grand Prix; there will be overtaking opportunities on the straights, and I am sure there will be a lot of action on the track. »
