Russia – Qualifications: Ferrari Dominated, Bottas on Fire
Outrageous domination by Mercedes in this qualifying session. After an internal battle between the two teammates, Valtteri Bottas managed to secure pole position ahead of his teammate, relegating Sebastian Vettel to six-tenths behind. Great performance from Magnussen, who finished fifth, and Esteban Ocon, who finished sixth.
It is by knowing the last five positions of Sunday’s grid that the qualifying session begins in Sochi.
Indeed, following changes to power unit elements, the two Red Bulls, the two Toro Rossos, as well as Fernando Alonso’s McLaren are penalized by starting at the back of the grid.
Thus, whatever happens during these qualifications, the final order is already established as follows:
16th: Fernando Alonso – McLaren
17th: Daniel Ricciardo – Red Bull
18th: Max Verstappen – Red Bull
19th: Pierre Gasly – Toro Rosso
20th: Brendon Hartley – Toro Rosso
The back of the grid being established, numerous opportunities open up for non-penalized drivers.
The Mercedes and Ferrari will undoubtedly take the top four positions, and the “other” drivers will be able to fight for the subsequent spots, with the fifth and sixth positions usually occupied by the Red Bull.
Room for opportunities.
Q1: Williams and McLaren down for the count
The session begins in conditions similar to those of FP3 with cloudy weather and a high ambient temperature of 38 degrees.
The first to open the track are the Williams and Haas teams, whose drivers have just been officially confirmed for the 2019 season.
First time for Kevin Magnussen who takes the advantage over his first three competitors before the two Ferraris take the lead, with the German finishing his first timed lap in 1:33.534, dominating his Finnish teammate by three tenths.
All the drivers are equipped with the hyper-soft, pink sidewall tires. The entire field has taken to the track except for the two Red Bulls, which are penalized to start at the back of the grid and therefore do not have a real interest in participating in these qualifications.
Clear improvement in time by Valtteri Bottas with 1:33.170, reminding us that the Silver Arrows are in their element in Sochi. This is confirmed by Lewis Hamilton, who sets the best time at 1:32.825, while his competitors improve their times by a few tenths but cannot compete with the Englishman.
FASTEST SECTORS: @MercedesAMGF1 looking strong 💪 #RussianGP 🇷🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/zlU7C1MDlm
— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 septembre 2018
Finally on track, the two Red Bulls take the third and fourth fastest times. But their good times are unfortunately not useful due to their penalties.
A 1:33.314 for @Max33Verstappen 🔥
But he has an engine penalty and will start the race from the back 😢#RussianGP 🇷🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/PGupAuoynu
— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 septembre 2018
At the bottom of the standings, a battle between the Williams and McLaren cars, all four accompanied by Brendon Hartley on the verge of qualifying for Q2.
Loss of control without consequence for Sirotkin’s Williams, concluding this Q1 session.
Some scares for Renaults, narrowly qualified for Q2.
Good performance from Leclerc who secures the seventh fastest time, behind the three top teams.
Eliminated in Q1: Stroll, Vandoorne, Sirotkin, Alonso, Hartley.
Q2: The Red Bull family and Renault are skipping.
Exit from the pits for Ferrari and Mercedes, all now equipped with ultra-soft tires.
First attacks from the star-branded single-seaters, with both single-seaters placing under 1:33 in their first attempt, while the Ferraris seem to be struggling and far from Mercedes’ potential.
Good time for the Monegasque Charles Leclerc with 1:33.488, placing himself four-tenths behind his future single-seater, currently driven by Kimi Räikkönen.
After their participation in Q3 to test their cars, Toro Rosso and Red Bull choose not to participate in Q2 and are automatically eliminated from the session.
Same thing for Renault, which scuttles its chances of reaching Q3 by choosing to leave its cars in the garage.
BREAKING: ELIMINATED, Q2
11 VER (NO TIME)
12 RIC (NO TIME)
13 GAS (NO TIME)
14 SAI (NO TIME)
15 HUL (NO TIME) 📸#RussianGP 🇷🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/7RExv5Uoem— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 septembre 2018
The five eliminated contestants are therefore known even before the end of the session.
Eliminated in Q2: Hülkenberg, Sainz, Gasly, Ricciardo, Verstappen
Q3: Mercedes and Bottas untouchable
The battle will rage between Haas, Force India, and Sauber for the fifth and sixth positions.
The Mercedes seem to be assured of the first two places. Yet to be confirmed.
The last five teams and their respective drivers take to the track, all equipped with hyper-soft tires for the final qualifying session.
First lap completed by the drivers and a surprise to see Lewis Hamilton beaten by four thousandths by his teammate Valtteri Bottas with a time of 1:31.528.
Bottas posts a 1:31.528s 🔥
Can anyone take pole position off of the Finn? #RussianGP 🇷🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/DezKvhQHeN
— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 septembre 2018
Behind, the Ferraris observe a chasm in performance, with Vettel more than half a second behind and Räikkönen a tenth behind him.
In the battle for the following positions, a fierce fight between Charles Leclerc and Esteban Ocon, with the Norman leading the Monegasque by only six-thousandths.
Last laps in this session and the Mercedes are quick to get back on track.
Bottas commits to securing the pole that has been within his grasp until now and clocks a record time of 1:31.387 while Lewis Hamilton falters and leaves the best time to his teammate.
The two Ferraris gave their maximum but are clearly below. They maintain their respective positions.
Behind, Kevin Magnussen takes the fifth position ahead of Esteban Ocon, followed by Leclerc, Perez, Grosjean, and Ericsson.
QUALIFYING CLASSIFICATION: A second pole of 2018 for @ValtteriBottas 👏 #RussianGP 🇷🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/3mGByLUYXl
— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 septembre 2018
