Bottas takes pole for Brazilian GP as Hamilton crashes out

F1 Grand Prix, GP Brazil, Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Interlagos

Valtteri Bottas has secured pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix, narrowly edging out Sebastian Vettel. Kimi Raikkonen completed the top three. New world champion Lewis Hamilton crashed out early on in the session and is set to start from the back.

Hamilton rapidly eliminated himself from the battle at the front of the grid as he crashed out in the first part of qualifying. While not even having set a flying lap, the Briton carried too much speed into Turn 7, losing the rear and sliding sideways into the barriers. The damage incurred to the front wing and left front suspension meant an early end to his qualifying endeavors.

Along with Hamilton, eliminated in Q1 were Sauber’s Pascal Wehrlein, Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll – whose Williams was put together just in time for the session after an engine and gearbox change – and Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson.

Q2 then accounted for Force India’s Esteban Ocon, Haas drivers Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen, split by McLaren’s Stoffel Vandoorne, and Toro Rosso’s Brendon Hartley, who spent the bulk of his second phase doing practice starts.

Stroll has a five-place grid penalty for that gearbox change, while Ricciardo, Hartley and Gasly will all take drops (10, 10 and 25 places respectively) for the use of replacement power unit elements.

Behind Bottas, Ferrari and Red Bull, Sergio Perez became the best of the rest, followed by McLaren's Fernando Alonso and Renault duo Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz, with Williams’ Felipe Massa completing the top ten.