Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton roared back from qualifying drama at the Russian Grand Prix on Saturday to put his Mercedes on pole position for what could be a record-equaling 91st victory. 

Red Bull's Max Verstappen seized second place on the starting grid for the race in Sochi, with Hamilton's teammate and closest title rival Valtteri Bottas having to settle for third. 

Hamilton, who has a 55-point lead over Bottas in the championship, will equal Ferrari great Michael Schumacher's all-time win record if he takes his seventh victory of the season on Sunday. 

The pole was the 96th of the six-time champion's career but he came within a whisker of not making it into the top 10. 

"It was one of the worst qualifying sessions, it was horrible," said Hamilton, waving to the first proper crowd of the season after a string of races behind closed doors due to COVID-19. 

The Briton was 15th and still without a lap time on the board when the second phase was halted after Sebastian Vettel crashed his Ferrari and spread debris across the track. Fortunately, Vettel is unhurt. 

Replays showed that the German driver, in his final season with Ferrari, clipped a curb at Turn Four and lost control as he smacked into the barriers. 

(With input from agencies)