© Sebastian Kawka for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix ltd.
Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas didn’t have a good Russian Grand Prix Qualifying session. The Briton finished in P4, while the Finn couldn’t do better than P7.
Lewis Hamilton’s final quali run was seriously jeopardized after he crashed into the pit entry wall and damaged his front wing. The Briton fully accepts the blame.
“It was 100% my fault, so I’m really sorry to the team,” Lewis said after the session.
“It was right on the cusp of timing to come in [for slicks], so I was really trying to rush to come in and out as quick as possible.
“Ultimately, I’m really disappointed in myself, because up until then, I was clean, every lap, boom boom, no problem. A silly one, but you live and you learn.
“There’s nothing I can do about the past now, I’ll just hope the car can be fixed for tomorrow and I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”
Lewis was then asked if he feels the crash cost him a chance for pole.
“It’s difficult to say,” the Briton answered, “one lap was not enough, you needed to be able to do more.”
As for his chances in the race tomorrow, Lewis said:
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“Getting through tonight and getting the car in one piece is the first step, and then starting and fighting to try and go forward tomorrow will be the next.”
Valtteri Bottas also didn’t have a good session. The Finn qualified in P7, which is surprising considering Sochi is usually a strong track for him. Asked if his result was unexpected, Valtteri said it definitely was.
“Definitely. It was going quite well,” said the Finn.
“Q1, Q2 we seemed to be strong in the inter conditions. But in the end, when it started to dry, we came in. Obviously we were hopeful to get two laps but we only got one.
“I couldn’t get the tyres to work in one lap and I think all the cars ahead of us, they got two laps and that was the issue.”
However, he is optimistic for the race tomorrow.
“It’s not great, but it’s also not over yet. We’ve got a good car and I’ve had strong pace all weekend, so at least now I’m not starting… from the back like we were in Monza.
“So hopefully it will be better,” Bottas concluded.
