Lewis Hamilton said his heart was in his mouth as he survived a major scare to put his Mercedes on pole for Sunday’s potentially historic Russian Grand Prix. But Hamilton came within a single second of qualifying only 15th after his afternoon was plunged into jeopardy following Sebastian Vettel’s crash. Lewis Hamilton endured a major scare to put Mercedes in pole again for Sunday’s Russian GP. Hamilton was eighth in the queue ahead of the manic dash to beat the clock. ‘I had my heart in my mouth the whole way,’ said Hamilton, 35. The rejuvenated Hamilton then returned in Q3 and went on to post a dazzling track record. Hamilton will start on the soft rubber – a cumulative effect of his Q2 drama – while Verstappen and Bottas will be on the more durable tyres. Hamilton will also be exposed on the 900-metre chase down to the opening corner, the longest run of the year. Hamilton was summoned to see the stewards after rejoining the track at the second corner. Hamilton was summoned to see the stewards on Saturday evening for failing to follow the rules when he rejoined the track at the second corner in the opening minutes.

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