Norris Takes First F1 Pole as Hamilton Hits the Wall

Norris Takes First F1 Pole as Hamilton Hits the Wall
Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren F1 Team MCL35M Mercedes during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Russia at Sochi Autodrom in Sochi, Russia on Sept. 25, 2021. Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images
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McLaren’s Lando Norris seized a sensational first Formula One pole position at the Russian Grand Prix on Saturday after seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton hit the wall in a damp qualifying session.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz joined the Briton on the front row in Sochi with Williams’ George Russell, Hamilton’s team mate from next season, completing a top three that nobody would have predicted.