Charles Leclerc grabbed the qualifying headlines in Russia. But what were the headline stats from Saturday’s session in Sochi?
- The last time a Ferrari driver took 4 straight poles (Michael Schumacher, 2000/01), Leclerc was 3 years old.
- Sebastian Vettel has been out-qualified by Ferrari team mate Leclerc at all 9 races since he lost victory in Montreal.
- By taking second to Valtteri Bottas’s fifth, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton out-qualified a team mate in Sochi for the first time in 5 years.
- Even with Max Verstappen’s Red Bull grid penalty lifting him to fourth, this will be Bottas's worst-ever starting position in Russia.
- Thanks to his penalty, Verstappen will still never have started in the top 6 in Sochi.

- At Alfa Romeo, Antonio Giovinazzi has now been knocked out in Q2 for 7 consecutive races. On the plus side he has out-qualified veteran team mate Kimi Raikkonen in successive races.
- Carlos Sainz will be fifth on the grid for McLaren, tying his career-best starting position, as previously achieved in Spain 2015 and Hungary 2018.
- Raikkonen went out in Q1 for only the 2nd time in the last 4 and a half years – the other time was Montreal this year.
- His early crash meant Alex Albon’s first Q1 elimination since joining Red Bull – it was his 3rd of the season overall.
- At Williams, rookie George Russell out-qualified Robert Kubica for the 16th consecutive race.
Next Up
Related Articles
How Daniel Ricciardo became an honorary Texan
HighlightsCatch up on FP1 from Austin as Norris goes fastest
OFFICIAL RACE PROGRAMME - 2025 United States Grand Prix
Hamilton sets out expectation for final races of 2025
Teams reveal special United States GP liveries
Hamilton praises growth of F1 in Austin and USA