Mercedes System 1 drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton will begin the 2024 British Grand Prix from the entrance row of the grid, after beating McLaren and Crimson Bull to qualify 1-2 at Silverstone.
McLaren and Crimson Bull are usually thought of to have the quickest vehicles in F1 in 2024, however that is the second time up to now 4 races that Russell has claimed a shock pole place for Mercedes, underlining enhancements the group has made to its aerodynamic platform because the 2024 season has progressed.
Group-mate Hamilton was additionally within the combine for pole and briefly held prime spot earlier than Russell’s closing lap of the session, the place Russell displayed barely extra confidence and dedication into the high-speed corners than Hamilton, dislodging the seven-time world champion from the top of the timesheet by 0.171 seconds.
McLaren’s Lando Norris was quickest in Q2 and in addition held provisional pole place in Q3 for a spell, however his closing flying lap was spoiled by an enormous slide at Flip 3 which despatched his rear tyres right into a spiral of overheating and so he aborted to the pitlane with out finishing that try.
Runaway world championship chief Max Verstappen will begin the race fourth, after qualifying just below 4 tenths away from Russell’s pole place time.
Verstappen’s Crimson Bull was hindered by flooring harm picked up when Verstappen went off at Copse Nook in Q1 and ran by the gravel. Crimson Bull patched up the ground throughout each subsequent break in qualifying, however Verstappen admitted he was nonetheless “going slower in some corners than in apply”.
It’s conceivable with out that incident that he would have certified on pole by some margin over the Mercedes drivers.
Oscar Piastri’s McLaren was solely 0.034s slower than Verstappen’s Crimson Bull in Q3, Piastri additionally failing to enhance on his closing qualifying run after beginning his lap too near the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz, which improved Piastri’s straightline pace however damage his McLaren’s efficiency within the corners.
Nico Hulkenberg joins Piastri in ranging from the third row of the grid after producing an excellent efficiency within the closely upgraded Haas.
Sainz’s Ferrari, operating an outdated aero specification after Ferrari encountered bouncing issues with its newest bundle at Silverstone, Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin, Alex Albon’s Williams, and the second Aston of Fernando Alonso full the highest 10 on the grid.
Stroll was investigated for operating a pink mild on the pit exit in Q1 however the stewards confirmed leniency and awarded Stroll solely a reprimand after he defined that he didn’t have time to react safely to the sunshine approaching and so thought it extra wise to drive a sluggish lap again to the pits quite than danger crashing within the pitlane.
Alonso was additionally investigated, for his group engaged on his automotive within the quick lane of the pitlane in Q1, however once more the stewards confirmed leniency given it was a minor infraction of the principles, a standard apply within the pits throughout pink flag durations, and the actual fact no benefit was gained or security compromised.
Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, Logan Sargeant’s Williams, Yuki Tsunoda’s RB – operating a mixture of outdated and new components after difficulties making that automotive’s newest aero bundle work – Zhou Guanyu’s Sauber and the second patchwork RB of Daniel Ricciardo full the highest 15 on the grid.
The underside 5 spots on the grid belong to Valtteri Bottas’s Sauber, the second Haas of Kevin Magnussen – reverted to an older aero specification after the newest bundle was broken throughout Friday apply – Esteban Ocon’s Alpine, the Crimson Bull of Sergio Perez and the second Alpine of Pierre Gasly.
Like Verstappen, Perez went off at Copse in Q1 whereas utilizing slicks on a slippery monitor, however in contrast to Verstappen he couldn’t preserve his Crimson Bull from spinning into the gravel and turning into caught.
Gasly is the one driver to obtain a grid penalty for this race, awarded for busting his permitted allocation of latest engine parts for the season.
As this penalty was awarded earlier than qualifying began, and Alpine is struggling to be aggressive at Silverstone, Gasly solely notionally participated in Q1 and certified slowest of all anyway, so the penalty has no precise impact on his beginning place.
BRITISH GRAND PRIX STARTING ORDER
1. George Russell (Mercedes)
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
3. Lando Norris (McLaren)
4. Max Verstappen (Crimson Bull)
5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
6. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
7. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
8. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
9. Alex Albon (Williams)
10. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
11. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
12. Logan Sargeant (Williams)
13. Yuki Tsunoda (RB)
14. Zhou Guanyu (Sauber)
15. Daniel Ricciardo (RB)
16. Valtteri Bottas (Sauber)
17. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
18. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
19. Sergio Perez (Crimson Bull)
20. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)