Hamilton on pole for Russian GP

Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton has taken pole position for the inaugural Russian Grand Prix.

Hamilton earned his sixth pole of the season by beating Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg by two-tenths of a second in Saturday’s qualifying.

Williams driver Valtteri Bottas was faster than Hamilton in his last lap but then went off in a corner briefly and stayed third.

Hamilton leads Rosberg by 10 points and is seeking his ninth win of the season. He has won the last three races and Mercedes can wrap up its first constructors title if one of its drivers wins Sunday’s race.

Four-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel failed to make the third and final qualifying session in his Red Bull.

Starting grid:

1. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes
2. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes
3. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Williams-Mercedes
4. Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren
5. Daniil Kvyat (Russia) Toro Rosso – Renault
6. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) RedBull – Renault
7. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari
8. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari
9. Jean-Eric Vergne (France) Toro Rosso – Renault
10. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) RedBull – Renault
11. Kevin Magnussen (Denmark) McLaren
12. Sergio Perez (Mexico) Force India – Mercedes
13. Esteban Gutierrez (Mexico) Sauber – Ferrari
14. Adrian Sutil (Germany) Sauber – Ferrari
15. Romain Grosjean (France) Lotus – Renault
16. Marcus Ericsson (Sweden) Caterham – Renault
17. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Force India – Mercedes
18. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Williams-Mercedes
19. Kamui Kobayashi (Japan) Caterham – Renault
20. Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Lotus – Renault
21. Max Chilton (Britain) Marussia – Ferrari