F1 Russian Grand Prix: Rosberg beats Hamilton for pole

For the second Formula 1 race weekend in a row, Mercedes AMG's Nico Rosberg beat teammate and reigning F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton for pole position as the German will head the starting grid for the Russian Grand Prix at the 5.848km long Sochi Autodrom with a lap of 1:37.113.

Hamilton was unable to best that effort, falling over three tenths of a second short and temporarily losing control of his car under braking for turn 13 in a bid to snatch pole.

After the two free practice sessions on Friday were compromised following a diesel spillage and then heavy rain, Rosberg topped the third practice session prior to qualifying although even that session was stopped early following a massive crash for Toro Rosso-Renault's Carlos Sainz Jr. The Spanish driver was hospitalised but was fully conscious when taken out of the stricken car. Toro Rosso is unlikely to allow Sainz to race, however, given the severity of the crash.

ROSBERG SWEEP
For the eleventh time this season - out of fifteen qualifying sessions - Mercedes managed to lock out the front row with Rosberg topping all three segments of qualifying. Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel was beaten to the 'best of the rest' behind the silver arrows as Valtteri Bottas of Williams-Mercedes took third place on the grid.

Vettel's fourth place meant that the German yet again got the better of teammate and 2007 F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen who was ahead of the sixth and seventh placed Force India-Mercedes cars of Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez.

Lotus-Renault's Romain Grosjean, Toro Rosso-Renault's Max Verstappen and Red Bull-Renault's Daniel Ricciardo completed the top ten with local hero Daniil Kvyat unable to make it to the top ten.