Verstappen Claims Pole Position For British GP

Calum Gill 17:39 17/07/2021

Max Verstappen will start the British Grand Prix from pole position after winning the first ever sprint qualifying race.

The points leader got a much better start than Lewis Hamilton, who had started the sprint from the front, and powered past on the run down to the first corner. After unsuccessfully trying to regain first place at Brooklands on lap 1, Hamilton chased Verstappen all the way and crossed the line 1.4 seconds back, despite setting the fastest lap.

The race was brightened up by a brilliant first lap by Fernando Alonso, the Alpine driver going from 11th to fifth. The result of the sprint sets the grid for Sunday's Grand Prix, so Alonso's gamble on starting on soft tyres paid off. He lost places to the McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo during the 17-lap race but still gained four places on the grid for the Grand Prix on Sunday from his qualifying position.

Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas also gambled on softs at the start but failed to make any ground on Verstappen and settled into a lonely drive to third place, ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, Norris and Ricciardo. Sebastian Vettel will start eighth for Aston Martin, gaining two positions from qualifying, while George Russell only lost one position, so the Williams driver will start inside the top 10 at his home event. Esteban Ocon rounded out the top 10 in the other Alpine.

-Full weekend results

Verstappen said: "It is difficult to pass but we had a good start and a good fight with Lewis around the first lap. We were pushing each other hard and at the end the tyres were blistering and we had to look after them. It's a funny way to score pole position but we will take it and see what happens tomorrow."

The drivers were taken around the track on a bus after the race to do their interviews and Hamilton said: "I've got to say thanks to all the fans. The energy I am getting from them is amazing. I am sorry I wasn't able to get the win for them today. But they are just so strong. In the race he was pulling away, there was nothing I could do to stay with him. I don't know whether it was the most exciting race but we should do more like that or a variation on it because it makes the weekend more enjoyable."

The rest of the grid

Stewards are investigating a collision between Russell and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz on the first lap to establish whether either driver deserves a penalty. Sainz went off the track after they touched wheels but recovered to finish 11th. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) claimed 12th, ahead of Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa-Romeo), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Raikkonen's teammate Antonio Giovinazzi and Yuki Tsunoda in the other Alpha Tauri. Nicholas Latifi gained one position and will start 17th, while the two Haas cars of Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin were 18th and 19th respectively. Sergio Perez will start from last after he spun at Chapel and dropped to the back. Red Bull retired his car before the end in order to save engine life.

2021 British Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying Result (17 Laps)