Qualifying Report - Untouchable

By Dan Knutson

Charles Leclerc was untouchable in qualifying for the Russian Grand Prix. He earned his fourth consecutive pole position and became the first Ferrari driver to do that since Michael Schumacher in 2001.

The line-up for the weekend was: Mercedes – Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas; Ferrari – Sebastian Vettel and Leclerc; Red Bull TAG Heuer – Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon; Renault – Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg; Haas Ferrari – Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen; McLaren Renault – Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris; Racing Point Mercedes – Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll; Alfa Romeo Ferrari – Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi; Toro Rosso Honda – Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly; Williams Mercedes – George Russell and Robert Kubica.

Albon, Verstappen and Gasly would all have to take five place grid penalties for getting new power unit components. Kvyat, meanwhile, would be sent to the back of the grid along with Kubica for using completely new power units.

Leclerc was the driver to beat in FP3 with his lap of 1:32.861.

QUALIFYING 1

Williams drivers Kubica and Russell were the first on track. Kvyat would not go out at all as his car was being fitted with yet another new engine.

The ambient temperature at the start of the 18-minute session was 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Centigrade) and the track temperature was 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees Centigrade).

The Ferrari drivers headed out on Pirelli’s medium compound tires. Vettel had to abort his lap after making a mistake at Turn 13. Leclerc clocked a 1:33.613. Vettel had another go but had to slow because Kubica had spun and brought out the yellow flags.

Just before the 10-minute mark Hamilton took the lead with his 1:33.320 on the soft slicks. Verstappen used the same compound was second, 0.138 of a second slower. Leclerc was next followed by Leclerc, Bottas and Magnussen.

The red flags came out when Albon crashed into the barriers at Turn 13 with six minutes left in the session

At the time Gasly was 15th and on the cutoff line. Giovinazzi was 14th and Russell was 16th. The red flags had ruined yet another lap for Vettel who was now in 19th place.

After Albon’s car was removed the action resumed. Vettel had to get a lap in now or risk not advancing to Q2. He headed out immediately on the soft compound tires. He posted a 1:33.032 which put him into the lead.

Leclerc did not go back out, but the Mercedes drivers did albeit on used tires. Most of the others were on track as well, so some were in traffic. The order changed and rechanged in the final minute.

The five drivers who were eliminated at the end of Q1 were: Raikkonen, Russell, Kubica, Albon and Kvyat.

The fastest 15 drivers who moved on to Q2 were: Vettel, Hamilton, Verstappen, Bottas, Leclerc, Magnussen, Ricciardo, Sainz, Norris, Hulkenberg, Grosjean, Stroll, Perez, Gasly and Giovinazzi.

QUALIFYING 2

Out on medium tires were the two Mercedes drivers while Verstappen ran the soft compound. The rest of the drivers were on the soft tires including the Ferrari duo.

Bottas clocked a 1:33.281 and Hamilton a 1:33.134. Vettel beat them with his 1:33.092, but Leclerc then posted a 1:32.434. Vettel, who was on a used set of tires, slotted into second but 0.657 of a second slower than his teammate.

On the bubble in 10th place with seven minutes remaining was Sainz. Hulkenberg was ninth and Magnussen was 11th.

The drivers pitted and prepared for another run. A mere 0.035 of a second separated sixth from 10th.

The Ferrari drivers were now both on new soft tires. And all 15 drivers were on track in the final two minutes.

Vettel improved but stayed second.

There was a tremendous amount of reshuffling, and when it was all over the five drivers who were eliminated at the end of Q2 were: Gasly, Perez, Giovinazzi, Magnussen and Stroll.

The fastest 10 drivers who moved on to Q3 were: Leclerc, Vettel, Verstappen, Hamilton, Bottas, Grosjean, Norris, Sainz, Ricciardo and Hulkenberg.

QUALIFYING 3

Q3 lasted 12 minutes. Vettel had been just a tenth of a second slower than Leclerc in Q2, so now the question was which Ferrari driver would come out on top in Q3. Vettel won the pole in Canada, but Leclerc had then outqualified him at the next eight events.

Bottas set a 1:32.632. Hamilton a 1:32.365. Vettel a 1:32.135. And Leclerc a 1:31.801.

So the order after the first runs was now: Leclerc, Vettel, Hamilton, Bottas, Verstappen, Hulkenberg, Norris, Sainz, Grosjean and Ricciardo.

Out they went for the final runs. Vettel clocked a 1:32.053 so did not improve. Leclerc did improve to seal his fourth consecutive pole with a time of 1:31.628. Hamilton improved to grab second place on the grid.

The top 10 qualifiers were: Leclerc, Hamilton, Vettel, Verstappen, Bottas, Sainz, Hulkenberg, Norris, Grosjean and Ricciardo.