Russia – Qualifying: Hamilton dominates Rosberg, Bottas close to the feat

Blue skies over the Sochi circuit for the start of the qualifying session. The drivers will be able to push their cars to the limit with vehicles optimized for this session.

Q1: The drivers head out in a group, notably with the Mercedes very quick to get going, on soft tires. They leave no chance for the others to perform well, with the best time for Hamilton at 1:40, quickly beaten by his teammate Nico Rosberg in 1:39.292. Behind, a chasm. Alonso is a second and two-tenths behind, Kvyat a second and three-tenths. And it’s not over. Hamilton improves to 1:39.282, before Rosberg responds at 1:39.076! Everything is set for the battle between the Silver Arrows to reach new heights. Car no. 44 is not outdone. Hamilton crosses the line in 1:38.759. Let’s recall that the Briton’s best time this morning was 1:38.726. The track record will surely be improved this afternoon.

Three minutes from the end, Felipe Massa is the only big name in danger, after a harmful wheel lock during his first attempt. His teammate Valtteri Bottas is comfortably in third position, eight-tenths behind the Mercedes. The Brazilian has one last attempt to save himself. Missed! Marcus Ericsson even overtakes him in the final seconds!

The eliminated: Ericsson, Massa, Kobayashi, Maldonado, Chilton

Q2: Pérez takes the lead, just ahead of Gutierrez and Hülkenberg. Best time for the Mexican, in 1:40, quickly beaten by Button in 1:39.3 and Rosberg in 1:38.9. Unlike Massa, Bottas is in good form. The Finn sets the best time, eight-thousandths ahead of Rosberg. Hamilton sets the record straight: 1:38.338. His teammate comes close, 268 thousandths off the Briton’s time.

Two minutes before the end of Q2, the high-profile eliminations are Vettel, Pérez, and Hülkenberg. Meanwhile, Vergne holds the last qualifying spot. Vettel fails to get beyond eleventh place! The Force Indias are right behind. The Frenchman has thus secured his place in Q3.

The eliminated: Vettel, Hülkenberg, Pérez, Gutierrez, Sutil, and Grosjean

Q3: Bottas is the first to hit the track, on softs. Best time for Rosberg at 1:38.946, while Hamilton seems to have made a mistake. He’s a second behind his teammate. Bottas is second, ahead of Button, Alonso, and Kvyat. Hamilton recovers: 1:38.647! Rosberg doesn’t improve, while Bottas is six thousandths behind the second Mercedes. The Briton goes even further: 1:38.513!

Behind, Nico Rosberg does not improve. Bottas is leading at the second intermediate but in the last sector he makes two mistakes and ultimately finishes four-tenths behind Hamilton! The pole was close for Williams!

Front row for Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton ahead of Nico Rosberg and the Williams of Bottas.