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Lewis Hamilton made a storming start to the British Grand Prix weekend by claiming pole position for Saturday’s sprint at Silverstone.
He will go in search of a 10th win at his home race in Sunday’s major grand prix of the weekend, Hamilton made the perfect start by topping practice on Friday and then in all three categories of sprint qualifying to pip Mercedes’ title-leader Kimi Antonelli by 0.011 seconds.
It marked the seven-time world champion’s first pole position in any of the Formula 1 qualifiers since last season’s sprint in China, which he won, and kept the 41-year-old’s growing momentum in his second year at Ferrari three weeks after winning the race in Barcelona.
Hamilton strongly denied Ferrari’s chances at Silverstone in an interview on Thursday due to Ferrari’s perceived straight-line pace deficit to championship leaders Mercedes.
But on a high-speed circuit where power is king, the Ferrari SF-26 looked competitive from the outset, with Hamilton producing another masterclass around Silverstone to once again lead the resurgent Scuderia’s charge.
A jubilant Hamilton, whose pole was cheered by huge Friday crowds at a sun-kissed circuit, said afterwards that Ferrari’s form compared to Mercedes so far had come as a “wonderful surprise”.
of Sky Sports F1 Martin Brundle said: “Lewis made the difference. It was a classic Lewis Hamilton Silverstone lap.”
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Lewis Hamilton reflects on claiming pole for British Grand Prix sprint race
With Antonelli dropping to second from Hamilton, Max Verstappen took third in the improved Red Bull to complete an eye-catching one-to-three on the grid for Saturday’s 17-lap sprint.
But Charles Leclerc again couldn’t match Hamilton in the sister Ferrari, finishing fourth three tenths slower than his team-mate. But Leclerc was still ahead of Austrian winner George Russell, who battled Antonelli relatively well throughout the session and could only manage fifth place in his own home race weekend’s early setbacks.
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Lewis Hamilton Claims Sprint Pole at British Grand Prix!
World champion McLaren was never a factor in the pole fight.
Lando Norris, who damaged the car in the first two stints before repairs were made in SQ3, eventually pipped team-mate Oscar Piastre to sixth but the McLaren pair, whose cars are running in white and green this weekend, were four tenths off the pace.
Issac Hajjar led Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen in SQ1 but eventually dropped to eighth on the soft tyre, although still just tenth ahead of the third-placed Dutchman.
Hajjar was ahead of Racing Bulls duo Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad, who continued their consistent top-10 form in recent weeks.
‘We really, really didn’t’ – Hamilton shocked to overtake Mercedes
As he spoke about Ferrari’s chances of beating Mercedes this weekend, Hamilton admitted he was surprised to be leading the first battle for pole at the weekend.
“We are ahead of a Mercedes and Red Bull, they have so much power these guys,” he said.
“They’ve done amazing all year, the boys in blue this weekend (Mercedes), these champions.
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Sky Sports F1’s Ant Davidson shows how Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton managed to overtake Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli for sprint pole at the British GP
“But my team won’t give up, they’ll keep pushing, and that’s what I’m proud of.
“It won’t always be like this, but we didn’t expect coming into Silverstone that we’d be competing for the front row, we really didn’t.”
Antonelli, who leads Russell by 40 points and Hamilton by 46 in the drivers’ championship, was the more comfortable of the two Mercedes drivers on Friday but fell just short of securing a Silver Arrows pole.
“The car felt good,” said the Italian teenager.
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Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell reflect on their performance in the sprint qualifying session at the British Grand Prix
“Ferrari has taken an incredible step forward, so of course it’s going to be very difficult. Also, Lewis is in great form, but that’s good, we like the challenge and we’ll try to make the best of it.
“Of course (I can fight for the win tomorrow), we will go for it and we will try to give our best. It will not be easy, but everything is on the table to do well.”
Sky Sports F1’s British GP schedule
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Take a look back at some of the year’s most dramatic moments at the British Grand Prix
Saturday 4 July
9.30am: F3 Sprint*
11am: British GP Sprint Build-up*
12pm: British GP Sprint*
1.40pm: F2 Sprint*
2.50pm: British GP Qualifying Build-up*
4pm: British GP Qualifying*
6pm: F1 Academy Race 1
6.45pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday, July 5
8.20am: F3 Feature Race*
9.55am: F1 Academy Race 2*
11.10am: F2 Feature Race*
12.55pm: Grand Prix Sunday: British GP build-up*
3pm: British Grand Prix*
5pm: Checkered flag: British GP reaction
6pm: Ted’s Notebook
*Also on Sky Sports main events
Formula 1 is at Silverstone for a sprint weekend at the British Grand Prix – live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky One – with Sunday’s race at 3pm. Stream Sky Sports now – no contract, cancel anytime
