The British driver mastered difficult changing conditions on a wet track in Sochi with a marvellous final lap for McLaren. Daniel Ricciardo was in fifth for McLaren and Hamilton’s title rival Max Verstappen will start from the back of the grid after taking penalties for fitting a new power unit. Mercedes got him out but only with time to put in one quick lap, a drying line allowing the teams to take the chance on slick tyres. Hamilton, with only one warm-up lap, did not have time to put the heat into his tyres and was clearly slower before spinning on his final attempt. Verstappen completed one lap but did not set a time because he will start from the back of the grid after taking a fourth new power unit on Friday.

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