Sahkir GP Qualifying: Valterri Bottas Claims Pole As George Russell Takes Second Place

George Russell missed out claiming the pole at the Sakhir Grand Prix by just an inch as Valterri Bottas edged him out to finish fastest. 

Mercedes reached an agreement with Williams for Russell to stand in for Lewis Hamilton who is self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19 symptoms. Yet, the Swiss-British driver looked promising to deliver a stunning performance for the team in the final. 

Yet being a driver is yet a score F1 points in his career, Russell finished second fastest behind Bottas in 0.026s and was able to finish 0.03s earlier that Red Bul driver Max Verstappen who came third. 

Russell described the race as such that was "intense" with so much to "learn" that required him to quickly "unlearn" whatever he might have learned at Williams.

Speaking on having to team up with Russell in the final, Bottas said: "Strategy-wise we are in a good place and it is good to see Goerge on the front row. Not my best qualifying but I am happy with pole."