Lewis Hamilton can clinch his fifth Formula One world championship at Sunday's US Grand Prix.
A glaring error by Ferrari denied Charles Leclerc the chance to shine at home, with the 21-year-old failing to make it through the first phase and qualifying only 16th after going fastest in final practice.
Hamilton, eight points behind Vettel after 10 races, qualified 14th.
Hamilton decided to take matters into his own hands and pass several cars ahead of him, without gaining anything as Verstappen's time stood the test.
The Dutchman stopped Hamilton from winning an eighth title with a gutsy turn in the final lap.
Lewis Hamilton became the first Formula One driver to win 100 races with a victory in Russia that sent him back on top of the championship.
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Since the traditional Australian opener was cancelled in March, Formula One has agreed changes to help teams hard hit by COVID-19.
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The pole was a record-extending 82nd of Hamilton's career and his 10th of a season that has already seen the Briton clinch his fifth world championship.
Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton won the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix for Mercedes on Sunday to cut Max Verstappen's overall Formula One lead to eight points with two races remaining.
'I could never have dreamed of being where I am today.'
Lewis Hamilton's record already bears comparison to Michael Schumacher's, and in some areas exceeds the great German's achievements.
IMAGES from the Silverstone F1 GP on Sunday
Reaction to the death of three-times Formula One champion Niki Lauda, who died on Monday at the age of 70
Lewis Hamilton, who started on pole position in Sochi hoping for a 91st Formula One victory to equal Ferrari great Michael Schumacher's all-time record, finished third behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
The German, taking his fourth win of the season, took the chequered flag 0.9 seconds ahead of Kimi Raikkonen with Hamilton finishing fourth after sportingly surrendering third place to team mate Valtteri Bottas on the last lap.
Given how well Hamilton drove last weekend to win the Styrian GP in Austria, few would bet against the British driver securing an eighth success
Hamilton already had more race wins, pole positions and podium finishes than any other driver in the history of the sport.
The pole was the 95th of Hamilton's career and seventh in nine races this season, continuing Mercedes' 100% record in qualifying.
Ferrari title rival Sebastian Vettel qualified only ninth.
Lewis Hamilton took a big step towards clinching his fifth Formula One title after putting his Mercedes on pole position at the U.S. Grand Prix on Saturday with Ferrari rival Sebastian Vettel starting fifth.
'Cyrus was always very different. He would think before acting.'
The German's Finnish teammate Kimi Raikkonen sealed the Ferrari front-row lockout.
Lewis Hamilton was 'shocked' with the pace of Mercedes after notching a record-extending eighth pole position at the Australian Grand Prix ahead of team mate Valtteri Bottas as they thrashed their Formula One rivals in qualifying on Saturday.
Fernando Alonso won the Italian Grand Prix while teammate Lewis Hamilton finished close on his heels on second.
For the first time in F1 history, two four-time champions are on the same grid and vying for their fifth title.
Lewis Hamilton collected his champion's trophy at a glittering gala in Paris after ending the year in touching distance of Michael Schumacher's records for wins and titles.
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel said he would still sleep soundly despite a mistake that cost him a home German Grand Prix win at Hockenheim and the Formula One championship lead on Sunday.
Rediff readers debate the controversies surrounding Formula One.
The German driver seized the lead at the start from team-mate Charles Leclerc on Sunday but was soon reeled in by the 21-year-old from Monaco, who passed Vettel on the sixth lap in only his second race for Ferrari.
