The Mercedes driver lapped in a best time of one minute 36.406
seconds, well inside the 2015 pole position time of 1:37.113 set by
team mate Nico Rosberg, after also ending Friday fastest on the
timesheets.
Hamilton is chasing a Russian Grand Prix hat-trick, having won the
two previous races held at the former Winter Olympic venue, and
needs a third on Sunday to rein in Rosberg's advantage.
Rosberg, who was second fastest in the session and 0.068 slower than
Hamilton, has won all three races this season in addition to last
three of 2015, and leads the Briton by 36 points in the standings.
The Ferraris of Sebastian Vettel, who will have a five-place grid
penalty due to an unscheduled gearbox change, and Kimi Raikkonen
were third and fourth.
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They were followed by the Williams pair of Felipe Massa and Valtteri
Bottas with Dutch teenager Max Verstappen seventh for Toro Rosso and
Jenson Button eighth for McLaren.
Russia's only current F1 racer Daniil Kvyat was 13th fastest for Red
Bull.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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