VALTTERI BOTTAS produced a scorching lap to snatch pole at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Mercedes ace Bottas claimed the front of the grid ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikonnen after Lewis Hamilton crashed out in the first stage of qualifying.
Hamilton, who had won his fourth world title last out in Mexico City, made a schoolboy error at Interlagos and went skidding into the tyre barriers at 160mph.
The 32-year-old escaped unscathed but means he starts at the back for tomorrow’s race in Sao Paulo.
Hamilton apologised to his team after losing control at turn six on cold tyres which destroyed the front left of his car.
He said: “I’m OK. It happened really quick.
“There’s not much to say, you saw it, it is what it is. Challenges make life interesting. I will just try to take whatever bubble of negativity comes and move forward.
“It shows we are all human. I will try and have as much fun as possible tomorrow.
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“Years ago I came from behind and had lots of fun and will try and do the same again.”
It was the first time he had not made it past Q1 since the Belgium GP in 2016, although those circumstances were different.
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There he was already facing numerous grid penalties for replacing engine components and he only completed one lap.
However, he still battled back to finish third in Spa with arguably one of his finest performances.
The day had started badly for the Brit, who woke up to the news that some of his engineers were robbed at gun point the previous evening on the way home from the track.
Thankfully no-one was hurt although his Mercedes team members were robbed of their valuables in a scary attack where shots were fired.
Hamilton’s team-mate Bottas qualified on pole ahead of Vettel while Raikkonen starts in third.
And Vettel admits he missed out on pole because he was too cautious at the first corner.
Vettel said: “I think I was a little bit scared on breaking at the first corner, broke too early and then it was too much time to make up.”
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