Lewis Hamilton: My heart was in my mouth before securing Russian pole position

Lewis Hamilton (pictured) hopes to equal Michael Schumacher’s victory record with his 91st career triumph (Kirill Kudryavtsev/AP)

Lewis Hamilton said his heart was in his mouth as he survived a major scare to put his Mercedes on pole for Sunday’s potentially historic Russian Grand Prix.

The British driver will start at the front of the grid in Sochi as he attempts to equal Michael Schumacher’s victory record with his 91st career triumph.