Dejection for Lewis and joy for Lando
Lewis Hamilton crashed into the wall twice and said: “that’s not what you expect from a champion”, as Lando Norris secured a shock pole position for today’s Russian Grand Prix,
writes PHILIP DUNCAN.
Norris, 21, usurped Hamilton as Britain’s youngest ever pole-sitter with a scintillating lap in the wet-dry conditions at Sochi’s Olympic Park.
On a superb afternoon for the country’s rising F1 stars, George Russell, who will join Hamilton at Mercedes next year, qualified third in hiswilliams. Hamilton fourth.
The performances by Norris and Russell, 23, provided a glimpse into F1’s future on a day to forget for the grid’s record-breaking superstar.
At a venue Mercedes have dominated – with seven victories in seven – Hamilton looked set to cruise to pole. But he inexplicably crashed into the pit wall ahead of his switch from wet to slick tyres.
The ensuing repairs in the final minutes of qualifying cost the 36-year-old valuable time in getting his dry rubber up to temperature.
He then fell off the track, sliding into the barrier, in the concluding metres of his last lap as Norris, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Russell sent him tumbling down the order.
“Ultimately I am incredibly disappointed with myself,” said a dejected Hamilton. “I am really sorry for all the team here and back in the factory. That is not what you expect from a champion.
“These things are sent to try us but I feel terrible right now. Twice in the wall is very rare for me.
“It is nothing to do with the pressure of the championship. Mistakes do happen. It was embarrassing, but the problem with having the success that I have had is that anything but perfection feels like a long way off. I am only human.”
Hamilton was 22 when he took the first pole of his career in Canada in 2007. Norris celebrates his 22nd birthday in November.
“That’s a pretty cool record,” said Norris, who finished an impressive half-a-second clear of Sainz.
“I am now a part of history, and hopefully it never gets beaten. To knock anyone off is great, but it is cool that it was Lewis because he is the best driver in Formula One.”
Norris also became the fifthyoungest pole-sitter in the sport’s history, slotting in behind Sebastian Vettel, Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso and Verstappen.
How did he intend to celebrate? “I will call my mum and dad to say hello,” he replied.
And what will he eat? “I am so nervous that I am not really peckish – probably not much, maybe an apple crumble with vanilla ice cream in the hotel,” he added.