Event: British F1 Grand Prix
Track: Silverstone circuit
Weather: dry 13.0°C
Tarmac: dry 18.7°C
Humidity : 75%
Wind: 9 km/h South
George Russell scored his 4th F1 pole position today. The Mercedes driver will start from P1 at Sunday's 2024 British F1 Grand Prix for the first time at Silverstone. It was his second pole of the season for the British driver and the 140th pole for the Mercedes F1 team. Because Lewis Hamilton qualified 2nd both Mercedes' will start from the front row for the 84th time.
The 2024 British Grand Prix qualifying session at Silverstone was a thrilling affair, showcasing the skills and strategies of the drivers in varying conditions. Here’s a breakdown of how the session unfolded across the three segments: Q1, Q2, and Q3.
Q1: Mixed Conditions and Early Surprises
Qualifying started under mixed conditions, with the track still drying from earlier rain. Drivers were cautious but eager to set competitive lap times before any potential downpours. The session saw a mix of intermediate and slick tires, with teams trying to gauge the best strategy.
Notable incidents in Q1 included a dramatic spin for Pierre Gasly, who ended up in the gravel trap, bringing out a brief red flag. The Alpine driver managed to recover, but it was a sign of the tricky conditions drivers faced. George Russell, buoyed by his strong FP3 performance, set the early pace, much to the delight of the home crowd. However, it was Max Verstappen who ultimately topped the session, showing his class and adaptability.
The session ended with some big names struggling. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Haas's Nico Hulkenberg were notable eliminations, both unable to find the grip needed to progress. The final order saw Verstappen, Russell, and Lando Norris leading the charge, while Yuki Tsunoda, Valtteri Bottas, and Kevin Magnussen missed the cut for Q2.
Q2: Intensifying Battle and Close Margins
Q2 saw the track conditions improve slightly, leading to a flurry of fast laps as the clock ticked down. The battle for the top ten was intense, with mere tenths of a second separating those advancing from those being eliminated.
Lewis Hamilton showcased his wet-weather prowess, putting in a stellar lap to lead the session at one point, much to the roar of the Silverstone crowd. His Mercedes teammate, Russell, was not far behind, ensuring both Silver Arrows were in contention. McLaren’s Norris continued to impress, displaying the pace that saw him perform well throughout the weekend.
However, it wasn’t smooth sailing for everyone. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz found themselves on the bubble, with Sainz just scraping through while Leclerc missed out by a narrow margin. The final moments of Q2 were tense, with Sergio Perez in the Red Bull just making it through to Q3, while the Alfa Romeo of Zhou Guanyu was among those eliminated, finishing 11th.
Q3: The Shootout for Pole
The final segment of qualifying, Q3, saw the top ten drivers battle it out for pole position. The track was at its best condition of the day, allowing drivers to push to the limit. The session was a showdown between the big names, with Mercedes, Red Bull, and McLaren all vying for the top spot.
Max Verstappen set the early benchmark, but the Mercedes duo of Hamilton and Russell were in close pursuit. Hamilton, in particular, looked determined to claim pole at his home Grand Prix. Norris, feeding off the home crowd's energy, was also in the mix, setting personal best sectors.
As the session drew to a close, it was a nail-biting finish. George Russell managed to pull off a stunning lap, securing pole position with a time of 1m 37.529s. Hamilton was just 0.035s behind, making it a Mercedes front row. Lando Norris secured third, ensuring a strong British presence at the top.
The final order for the top five saw Russell on pole, Hamilton in P2, Norris in P3, Sainz in P4, and Verstappen rounding out the top five. The close margins and the dramatic improvement in track conditions made for an exhilarating end to the qualifying session.
The qualifying session for the 2024 British Grand Prix was a testament to the skill and bravery of the drivers, especially under challenging and changing conditions. George Russell’s pole position delighted the home fans, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting race. With Mercedes locking out the front row and McLaren’s Norris in third, the British fans will have plenty to cheer for on race day.
The quickest sector times during this qualifying session where:
- 27.886 sec. by George Russell (Haas VF-24)
- 34.508 sec. by George Russell (Mercedes W15)
- 23.295 sec. by George Russell (Mercedes W15)
Last years quickest qualifying lap time was a 1:26.720 min, driven by Max Verstappen with the Red Bull RB20.
Qualifying Times 2024 British GP
Pos | No | Driver | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Laps |
1 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:30.106 | 1:26.723 | 1:25.819 | 26 |
2 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:29.547 | 1:26.770 | 1:25.990 | 25 |
3 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:31.596 | 1:26.559 | 1:26.030 | 22 |
4 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:31.342 | 1:26.796 | 1:26.203 | 24 |
5 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:30.895 | 1:26.733 | 1:26.237 | 24 |
6 | 27 | Nico Hülkenberg | Haas | 1:31.929 | 1:26.847 | 1:26.338 | 17 |
7 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1:30.557 | 1:26.843 | 1:26.509 | 24 |
8 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:31.410 | 1:26.938 | 1:26.585 | 24 |
9 | 23 | Alex Albon | Williams | 1:31.135 | 1:26.933 | 1:26.640 | 23 |
10 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:31.264 | 1:26.730 | 1:26.917 | 24 |
11 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:30.496 | 1:27.097 | 18 | |
12 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams | 1:31.608 | 1:27.175 | 20 | |
13 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls | 1:30.994 | 1:27.269 | 17 | |
14 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Sauber | 1:31.190 | 1:27.867 | 22 | |
15 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | Racing Bulls | 1:31.291 | 1:27.949 | 18 | |
16 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Sauber | 1:32.431 | 11 | ||
17 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | 1:32.905 | 6 | ||
18 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | 1:34.557 | 11 | ||
19 | 11 | Sergio Pérez | Red Bull | 1:38.348 | 5 | ||
20 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:39.804 | 7 |
✅ Check out our 2024 British Formula 1 Grand Prix Preview.
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Great to see King George on pole in his home race!
Yet another failure for Perez. I notice that Checko's father no longer comes out boasting that his son will be WDC, as he did last year. The way the season is going, I can see Perez's continuing failures costing Red Bull the WMC trophy.
This race looks like being a good one, between McLaren, Mercedes and Max, with Carlos a chance of picking up any pieces that may fall his way.
An exciting qualifying & a decently mixed-up grid on the front rows.
What an error by Checo, though. Embarrassing, very embarrassing, especially as he wasn't even on a flying lap.
At this rate, his chances of even seeing out the season, let alone seeing through his upcoming contract stint, are only getting lower & lower.
A decent qualifying for Sargeant for a change, albeit too little too late.
Arise King George, his talents were always kept hidden by the Dame and her Dad, but now, he has been allowed to show them, all the Charlie boy talk, Norris the new prince. not today
Very high chance of a wet race , aka a normal British Summers Day
Should be a cracker
What a great challenge for Max. If he can win this one without contact he will really earn his crown, if he puts anyone off the track the crowd will not be happy. Competition at last.
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