Mercedes secure one-two... but Hamilton ISN'T on pole! Brit misses out by just SIX milliseconds 

Lewis Hamilton faces a fight to win a record sixth British Grand Prix tomorrow after Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas spoilt the party by claiming pole position at Silverstone.

Five-time world champion Hamilton leads Bottas by 31 points in the standings after nine races this season and had claimed pole at his home race six times previously, including the last four years.

But a mistake on his first flying lap in the final part of qualifying cost Hamilton dearly. He did improve on his final run, but the Finn edged him out by six one-thousandths of a second at the Northamptonshire circuit.

‘Congratulations to Valtteri,’ said Hamilton. ‘Ultimately I was not good enough. We worked really hard but it got a little bit away from us.

‘I had that mistake in the first lap and the second one wasn’t that great. It’s a long race tomorrow so hopefully I can do something good.’

Bottas said: ‘It feels very good – it reminds you why you do this. It’s been pretty close all weekend so I’m really happy to get on pole.’

A seventh front-row lockout for the Mercedes pair this season will be little consolation for Hamilton, who will surpass the victory tally of Jim Clark and Alain Prost if he can pass Bottas tomorrow.

Perhaps the capacity crowd should have seen this coming. The form book had been thrown out of the window after the three practice sessions, with Ferrari quicker than Mercedes for whom Bottas was faster than Hamilton.

But normal service was soon resumed as Hamilton topped the timesheet after the first part of qualifying.

Moments after Leclerc had broken the lap record, Hamilton narrowly beat it – his effort greeted with grins by father Anthony and musician Will.i.am in the Mercedes garage.

In contrast, Sir Frank Williams – here celebrating his 50th year in the F1 paddock – had little to smile about.

The Williams co-founder and team principal watched as Robert Kubica and his team-mate, British rookie George Russell, propped up the standings once again. Also falling at the first hurdle were Lance Stroll, Daniil Kvyat and Kevin Magnussen.

With dark clouds looming overhead, the drivers were straight out of the blocks at the start of the second session. Leclerc led the way this time – a tenth clear of Bottas.

Sainz said he was ‘not surprised’ after being knocked out, but 19-year-old McLaren team-mate Lando Norris made it through to raise eyebrows.

The last two times that Leclerc was quickest in Q2 – in Bahrain and Austria – he took pole each time, but it wasn’t to be here.

Hamilton was the first of the main protagonists to run in the final session. But an error at the Brooklands corner cost him dearly and allowed Bottas to hold provisional pole.

Leclerc made a mistake on his first foray too, allowing Verstappen to lie third.

Hamilton led the way on the final runs as well, but his goose was cooked after a slack opening sector. He improved in the final few corners, but couldn’t beat Bottas’ effort.

Leclerc threatened to spoil the Mercedes’ party, but a late error cost him.

Leclerc still snatched third from Verstappen who had to settle for fourth on the grid – one place in front of team-mate Pierre Gasly.

Sebastian Vettel was a disappointing sixth for Ferrari, with Daniel Ricciardo, Norris, Alex Albon and Nico Hulkenberg completing the top 10.

Source: Daily Mail

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Keywords:

Lewis Hamilton • British Grand Prix • Valtteri Bottas • Pole position • Silverstone Circuit • Northamptonshire • Lockout (industry) • Jim Clark • Alain Prost • Scuderia Ferrari • Timesheet • William Rowan Hamilton • Beat It • Will.i.am • Frank Williams (Formula One) • Formula One • Robert Kubica • George Russell (racing driver) • Lance Stroll • Daniil Kvyat • Kevin Magnussen • McLaren • Lando Norris • Bahrain • Austria • Brooklands • Pierre Gasly • Sebastian Vettel • Scuderia Ferrari • Daniel Ricciardo • Norisring • Nico Hülkenberg •