VALTTERI BOTTAS pulled out a stirring performance at Imola to snatch pole position off Lewis Hamilton. But Bottas went one tenth quicker to maintain Mercedes’ dominance of Formula One qualifying in 2020. Yet a disappointed Hamilton does not expect sparks to fly in Sunday’s race with it tough to overtake at the classic Imola circuit. On Bottas, he said: “Valtteri did a great job, it was a pretty poor lap from myself!. Sebastian Vettel, 14th, fell early after losing his best time due to a track limit breach, one place behind George Russell who celebrated his new Williams contract with a strong performance.

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