Lando gets tyre tactics right to grab shock pole
LANDO NORRIS claimed a scintillating pole position for the Russian Grand Prix.
The 21-year-old British driver took advantage of the wet-dry conditions at Sochi’s Olympic Park to put his Mclaren at the front of the grid ahead of Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz.
George Russell took a brilliant third with Lewis Hamilton only fourth.
Qualifying appeared in danger of being scrapped after final practice was cancelled following a deluge of rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning.
But the poor weather eased in time, and after finishing fastest in Q1 and Q2 Hamilton looked destined to take pole.
However, the seventime world champion hit the wall on his entry to the pits for dry rubber. He took on a new front wing, but failed to get his tyres up to temperature to challenge Norris at the top of the time charts.
“It was just a mistake from myself. I’m incredibly disappointed,” said a deflated Hamilton of his pit lane prang.
“Up until then I was in the groove, I was really in the zone.
“I’m really sorry for all the team that are here and back at the factory because obviously that’s not what you expect from a champion.
It is what it is and I will do my best tomorrow to try and rectify it.”
Max
Verstappen, who holds a five-point championship lead over Hamilton, will start from the back of the grid after taking on his fourth engine – one more than is permitted.
Given the risk of damage given the slippery conditions, Verstappen completed a mandatory single lap before parking his Red Bull.
Norris’ superb lap, which makes him the youngest British polesitter in the sport’s history, comes off the back of Mclaren’s first victory in nine years at the Italian Grand Prix a fortnight ago.
“Oh boy,” said
Norris. “It feels amazing. I don’t know what to say. It was a manic session.
“You never think you are going to get a pole but I have managed to do it.
“It was tough. I am going to make myself sound good.
The lap before I was two seconds down and I wasn’t confident I could improve but I kept the tyres warm. I risked quite a bit and it paid off so I am a happy boy.
“It is my first pole position, hopefully the first of many.”
Russell delivered another fine effort to qualify third in his Williams after securing second at last month’s Belgian Grand Prix.