“It felt terrible out there, I definitely didn’t expect that,” Sainz laughs on the radio and explains after getting out: “With all the standing water, it was extremely difficult out there on the intermediates. My lap was quite good, but I don’t think it’s anything special either, so it was quite a surprise that it was enough for pole.”
After the first pole, the Spaniard now also wants his first Grand Prix victory on Sunday: “I think our pace was there all weekend, so we should be in a good position to keep ahead. Max and Charles are putting a lot of pressure on, but I’ll do my best.”
Max Verstappen ends up in second place.
Verstappen struggles with the timing after qualifying: During the first fast run, the Dutchman spins around his own axis, and in the second he has to briefly take the gas off because of yellow flags after Leclerc’s spin. “You have to be in the right place at the right time. In Q3 it’s always a bit of a lottery and I was slowed down a bit by the yellow flags today,” explains Verstappen. But he is confident for the race: “The front row is very good for us, because we always have a strong car in the race.”
World championship rival Leclerc also wants to fight back on Sunday: “First of all, congratulations to Carlos, he did a great job today. I spun on the last lap, when you as a driver have to bring everything together – that’s why I didn’t deserve it there to stand in front where Carlos is,” says the Monegasse.
Sergio Perez in the second Red-Bull rounds out the top four. Mercedes superstar Lewis Hamilton has to settle for fifth place on the grid for his home round, but clearly beats his Silver Arrows team-mate George Russell in eighth place.
Mick Schumacher again struggled with problems with his Haas.
Meanwhile, the Germans experience a debacle in the rainy Silverstone: Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher are eliminated in 18th and 19th place in the first qualifying section. “Not again,” Vettel said angrily on the radio. In Canada it was already over for the Heppenheimer in Q1. While Vettel at least leaves teammate Lance Stroll behind, who finishes last, Schumi Jr. Kevin Magnussen has to admit defeat by four tenths, although the second Haas also has to call it a day in the first qualifying round.
British Grand Prix
qualifying, result
2. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull +0.072s
3. Charles Leclerc (Monaco) – Ferrari +0.315
4. Sergio Perez (Mexico) – Red Bull +0.633
5. Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain) – Mercedes +1.012
6. Lando Norris (Great Britain) – McLaren +1.101
7. Fernando Alonso (Spain) – Alpine +1.133
8. George Russell (Great Britain) – Mercedes +1.178
9. Zhou Guanyu (China) – Alfa Romeo +1.736
10. Nicholas Latifi (Canada) – Williams +22.112
11. Pierre Gasly (France) – Alpha Tauri 1:43.702
12. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) – Alfa Romeo 1:44.232
13. Yuki Tsunoda (Japan) – Alpha Tauri 1:44.311
14. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) – McLaren 1:44.355
15. Esteban Ocon (France) – Alpine 1:45.190
16.Alexander Albon (Thailand)-Williams 1:42.078
17. Kevin Magnussen (Denmark) – Haas 1:42.159
18. Sebastian Vettel (Heppenheim) – Aston Martin 1:42.666
19. Mick Schumacher (Gland/Switzerland) – Haas 1:42.708
20. Lance Stroll (Canada) – Aston Martin 1:43.430
