Verstappen Claims Surprising Pole at British Grand Prix
Silverstone, UK – In a dramatic qualifying session for the British Grand Prix, Max Verstappen secured pole position with a blistering final lap of 1m24.892s, outpacing both McLaren drivers at Silverstone. The reigning world champion’s performance came as a shock, given the strong showing from Ferrari and the McLaren duo throughout the weekend.
Championship leader Oscar Piastri will join Verstappen on the front row, having made a minor error in his final run. Lando Norris completed the McLaren lineup, finishing third, while George Russell placed fourth for Mercedes, ensuring an all-British second row.
Lewis Hamilton, who appeared poised to challenge for a stronger position, ended up fifth after a scruffy final sector during his last attempt. His Ferrari counterpart, Charles Leclerc, will start alongside him in sixth.
Rookies Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman were set to start in the top ten but received grid penalties due to previous infractions. Antonelli, who faces a three-place drop for a collision in Austria, and Bearman, penalized 10 places for a red-flag violation, will effectively begin from the back.
Fernando Alonso qualified ninth for Aston Martin but will start seventh due to Bearman’s penalty, aligning him next to Pierre Gasly of Alpine.
Ferrari initially looked strong, saving fresh tires for Q2, allowing Hamilton and Leclerc to push hard under pressure. In contrast, Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon had disappointing results, qualifying 11th and 14th respectively. Both Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar also fell short, failing to advance past Q1.
The session faced disruption when Franco Colapinto crashed during Q1, necessitating a red flag after he managed to restart his car post-collision.
Q3 Final Standings:
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:24.892
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
As teams prepare for the race, questions remain about Ferrari’s ability to mount a serious challenge while McLaren continues to solidify its competitive form.
