Lewis Hamilton during the qualification for the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi.
Yuri Kochetkov, Reuters
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The British leader of the World Championship ranking Lewis Hamilton has long had a record in the number of pole positions, in Sochi he has already recorded the 96th triumph in his career. Now he’s attacking an even brighter goal. Hamilton is only missing the last step to the record of the seven-time champion Michael Schumacher in the number of victories in the Grand Prix, and it is only a question of whether he will catch up with the famous German on Sunday.
The Dutch Max Verstappen from Red Bull, who was 563 thousandths of a second behind Hamilton, wedged himself among the championship Mercedes. Qualification had to be stopped after the accident of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. Two minutes before the end of the second part, the German pilot failed to get out of the right-hand turn, got the clock and smashed his Ferrari against the barrier.
RED FLAG ????
Sebastian Vettel hits the barriers and brings the session to a halt.
Quick out-laps will be needed to get round in time to post final laps.
???? Live on Sky Sports F1
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???? Live Blog: https://t.co/CkqLNAZAQx# SkyF1 | # F1 | #RussianGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/1BvXIrJFhR— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) September 26, 2020
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The 33-year-old Vettel thus continues to suffer in his last and unsuccessful season in Ferrari, starting the race from the fifteenth position. His Monaco teammate Charles Leclerc, who did not advance to the third qualifying phase and will be 11th on the grid, did not do much better.
Sebastian Vettel with a Ferrari during Saturday’s qualification for the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi.
Pavel Golovkin, ČTK / AP
The tenth Grand Prix of the 17-part season starts on Sunday at 13:10 CEST.
| Qualification for the Russian Grand Prix, Formula 1 World Championship race in Sochi: |
| 1. Hamilton (Brit./Mercedes) 1:31,304 |
| 2. Verstappen (Niz./Red Bull) – 0,563 |
| 3. Bottas (Fin./Mercedes) -0.652 |
| 4. Pérez (Mex./Racing Point) -1,013 |
| 5. Ricciardo (Austr./Renault) -1,060 |
| 6. Sainz (Sp. / McLaren) -1,246 |
| 7. Ocon (Fr./Renault) -1,320 |
| 8. Norris (Brit./McLaren) -1,543 |
| 9. Gasly (Fr./Alpha Tauri) -1,696 |
| 10. Albon (Thaj./Red Bull) -1,704. |
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