Lewis Hamilton compared Ferrari’s straight-line speed advantage as like a “jet mode” as he qualified in second position for Formula 1’s Russian Grand Prix.
Ferrari has been unbeaten in both qualifying and the race since Formula 1’s summer break, with Leclerc storming to his fourth straight pole in Russia.
But Hamilton split the Ferrari drivers for the third qualifying session in succession as he edged Sebastian Vettel by just 0.023s with his final lap in Q3.
“It was a tough qualifying session because these guys have some crazy speeds on the straight,” said Hamilton.
“They’ve gone to another level, that whole party mode they have something else beyond that – jet mode!
“I gave it absolutely everything I had at the end and the team did a great job to push forwards. I wasn’t expecting to get the front row to be honest.”
Hamilton will start the race on the Medium tyres as opposed to the Softs employed by Ferrari, and is hopeful that the strategic divergence will assist his prospects.
“Naturally from the two tyres there’s always a bit of a delta, the softer the tyre the harder the start, so it will be tough off the start tomorrow,” he said.
“But even if we were pole they’re so fast on the straights that by the time they get to Turn 1, the kink, they [would] blast past us with the jet fuel or whatever it is.
“So I hope we can use the different strategy to keep the pressure on, last couple of races we’ve been with them and I hope tomorrow we can really give them a good fight.”
