British GP: Sainz claims shock first F1 pole in wet qualifying

Carlos Sainz claimed a shock maiden Formula 1 pole in a rain-hit qualifying for the British Grand Prix.

World champion Max Verstappen had looked dominant throughout the wet session at Silverstone, but didn’t produce the lap when it was needed in the final stages.

Sainz meanwhile did deliver at just the right time, posting a 1m40.983s to beat the Red Bull driver by just 0.072s.

There was double delight for Ferrari in the top three, as Charles Leclerc claimed third.

Q1

Heavy rain just before the session forced all the drivers onto intermediate tyres with drying conditions throughout.

The weather didn’t alter the top six though as Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes set the pace with Verstappen quickest overall.

In the elimination zone, there were mixed fortunes at Williams as Nicholas Latifi squeaked through in 15th, reaching Q2 for the first time this season.

He was ahead of teammate Alex Albon, who was the first driver knocked out in 16th.

The two Haas’ and two Aston Martins filled the final four places.

Kevin Magnussen 17th ahead of Sebastian Vettel, Mick Schumacher and Lance Stroll slowest overall for the Silverstone-based team.

Q2

At the front, Verstappen set the pace again out front ahead of Hamilton and Leclerc.

The order was set mid-way through the session as more heavy rain arrived preventing those outside the top 10 from improving.

Sainz was fortunate to avoid elimination as he moved out of the bottom five to fourth just before conditions worsened.

Likewise, the deteriorating weather helped Nicholas Latifi make it through to Q3 in P10 for Williams.

Less lucky was Pierre Gasly in 11th for AlphaTauri ahead of Valtteri Bottas in 12th.

Yuki Tsunoda was 13th as Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon rounded out the top 15.

Q3

The weather would again begin to ease during Q3 with the final laps proving the most crucial.

Verstappen recovered from a spin on his first flying lap at Stowe and appeared on course to wrap up pole.

However, on the final attempt, Sainz would pip his former Toro Rosso teammate into P1.

A poor middle sector on his lap meant Max wouldn’t improve and had to settle for second on the grid.

Leclerc moved up to third but a spin on his final lap prevented any chance of improving.

Sergio Perez completed the Red Bull-Ferrari top four in P4 ahead of Lewis Hamilton in fifth, as Mercedes’ better pace slipped away a little in the wet.

Lando Norris was an impressive sixth for McLaren with Fernando Alonso not quite able to repeat his P2 from Canada, but still a respectable seventh.

George Russell was only eighth as Zhou Guanyu again impressed in ninth and Latifi rounded out the top 10.

Full results from qualifying can be seen below: