Final starting grid for 2021 Russian Grand Prix. Here is the starting grid for the Sochi race.

A thrilling qualifying session at Sochi Autodrom, thanks to the rain that shuffled the cards and stopped falling just before the start of the session. An exceptional Q3 has once again been capitalized by McLaren, which will start for the first time in pole position thanks to a great lap by Lando Norris. The young Englishman made the most of the slick tires five minutes from the end of the session, and finished ahead of another big surprise, Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari.

George Russell was also brilliant, the first to gamble on the dry tire window. After the second position in Spa, the future Mercedes driver has impressed once again by taking Williams to third place ahead of a very disappointed Lewis Hamilton. The Englishman did not want to bet on Softs and was among the last to stop, but at the entrance to the pit lane he hit the wall breaking the front wing. So much time lost in the pits, which cost him the chance to warm up the tires well and defend his pole position (with even a spin on his last lap).

Fifth place for the winner of the last Italian Grand Prix, Daniel Ricciardo, then followed by Fernando Alonso, Valtteri Bottas, Lance Stroll, Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon. Out of the top 10 Sebastian Vettel – who complained of an obstruction by Tsunoda – and Pierre Gasly, third yesterday at the end of PL2.

Bad day for Alfa Romeo, excluded from Q1 with both cars: Antonio Giovinazzi will even start behind Mick Schumacher’s Haas at the end of a very complicated session for him.

F1 | 2021 Russian Grand Prix, the starting grid:

* relegated to the bottom of the grid for the use of the fourth power unit of the season