Max Verstappen stormed to pole position in a tight and closely contested British GP qualifying session.
Q1
After a quiet start to British GP qualifying, following a chaotic final practice, Franco Colapinto misjudged his braking with six minutes to go. Taking to the serrated curb edges at the final corner, he ended up in the barriers, his session very much over.
When the session restarted, there was a flurry of activity as cars took to the track. The threat of rain lingered in the air, the circuit becoming slippery.
No big names in the bottom five after the first runs, but both Alpines were rooted to the bottom of the table. Oliver Bearman, carrying a ten-place grid penalty went a remarkable third.
Lewis Hamilton discovered Ferrari only fuelled him for one lap, putting him in a dangerous position in British GP qualifying, lying 13th as drivers finished their final laps. He would finish the session 14th. Sauber came crashing back down to earth with a double elimination, while Liam Lawson struggled for grip and exited in Q1 with Lance Stroll.
Eliminated: Lawson, Bortoleto, Stroll, Hulkenberg, Colapinto.
Q2
Max Verstappen was one of the first to venture out in Q. The straight line speed of his Red Bull made him the favourite to top the second part of qualifying. His first lap improved on his Q1 efforts.
The two Ferraris on used tyres ended up almost a second adrift of the Red Bull. Oscar Piastri set an identical lap time to Verstappen, moving into second place as the Dutchman set his lap time first.
Kimi Antonelli caused controversy during Q2 for the British GP. His warm up lap was considerably slower than those around him. He compromised George Russell’s warm-up, with Fernando Alonso also complaining of impeding.
Both Ferraris were in the elimination zone after the first runs, with considerable work to do, while Norris topped the times.
With two minutes left, the cars started their final runs. Ferrari immediately found pace. Hamilton shot to the top of the times, the crowd cheering.
Antonelli and Tsunoda were the big names at risk of exiting British GP qualifying, his last lap moving up to eighth. Tsunoda failed to progress, his trying time continuing.
Eliminated: Sainz Tsunoda, Hadjar, Albon, Ocon
Q3
The customary queue at the end of the pit lane formed at the start of Q3. Verstappen’s first lap was immediately usurped by the two McLarens, with Piastri holding the advantage. Norris made a mistake on his first lap, leaving him with work to do.
Hamilton moved into second place, while both Mercedes set their opening laps on used tyres. Verstappen lay fourth, complaining of car handling problems.
Oliver Bearman, having reached Q3, aimed to get a strong starting position, but a ten-place grid penalty would ruin his good work.
As qualifying for the British GP reached its crescendo, the drivers took to the track once again. The two McLarens were locked in a tight duel for pole position. Both failed to improve, handing the advantage to Verstappen. His lap saw the reigning world champion take pole with a stunning lap.
- Max Verstappen
- Oscar Piastri
- Lando Norris
- George Russell
- Lewis Hamilton
- Charles Leclerc
- Kimi Antonelli
- Oliver Bearman
- Fernando Alonso
- Pierre Gasly
- Carlos Sainz
- Yuki Tsunoda
- Isack Hadjar
- Alex Albon
- Esteban Ocon
- Liam Lawson
- Gabriel Bortoleto
- Lance Stroll
- Nico Hulkenberg
- Franco Colapinto
