Verstappen Secures British GP Pole with Impressive Qualifying Performance
Silverstone, UK – Max Verstappen clinched pole position for the British Grand Prix after a strategic overhaul of his car’s setup, bouncing back from a challenging practice session marred by severe understeer. His successful adjustment was pivotal, allowing him to outperform his rivals from McLaren and others during a tightly contested qualifying session.
Verstappen’s crew at Red Bull made significant changes from Friday’s practice to Saturday qualifying, opting for a lower downforce rear wing to enhance the RB21’s handling. This adjustment proved effective, enabling Verstappen to clock a blistering final lap in Q3, sealing his fourth pole of the 2025 season with a time that bested Oscar Piastri by 0.103 seconds. Lando Norris followed closely, finishing just 0.188 seconds off the pace.
In a qualifying session characterized by competitive times, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc came in sixth, a mere 0.229 seconds behind the pole-sitter, demonstrating the tight margin among the top contenders. Other notable performances included George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who remained within striking distance of the frontrunners.
Verstappen described his Saturday turnaround, stating, "We looked a bit slow yesterday on the other wing, plus I was just understeering to the moon. We made a lot of progress to improve that understeer, which allowed me to push more today."
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner praised the engineering team’s efforts overnight, emphasizing the importance of their work in achieving a balanced car. "We’ve added a bit of performance to the car, and we’ve balanced it," he noted. "Max delivered as he always does, so good performance overall."
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko endorsed the team’s expectations heading into qualifying, indicating that Friday’s issues were anticipated. "If we could get rid of the understeer, we’d be right up there," he explained, commenting on the incremental improvements made.
Verstappen’s performance at Silverstone is reminiscent of his commanding pole at Suzuka, and this latest achievement solidifies his status as a key contender for the championship.
The race is set to unfold on Sunday, where Verstappen will aim to convert this pole into another victory.
