Bottas clinches pole position at Silverstone, Hamilton P2, Hulkenberg P3

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8 August 2020 at 15:00
Last update 8 August 2020 at 19:44
  • Matt Gretton
  • Editor-in-Chief

Valtteri Bottas has qualified on pole for Formula 1's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix ending Lewis Hamilton's streak of three consecutive pole positions. Bottas clinched pole by just 0.063 seconds. Hamilton joins his Mercedes teammate on the front-row, while Nico Hulkenberg starts in P3 for Racing Point. 

Bottas, who signed a new Mercedes contract earlier this week, starts his second race at Silverstone from pole position. Max Verstappen will start from the second row of the grid, but from fourth. 

After making his return to Formula 1 last weekend, Hulkenberg will start Sunday's race from P3. Hulkenberg is replacing Sergio Perez for a second week running after the Mexican tested positive for Covid-19. 

Hamilton is in prime position to record his 155th F1 podium in Sunday's race which would equal Michel Schumacher's record total. 

Red Bull Racing decided to roll the dice in Q2. As a result, Verstappen will start on the hard tyres while his Mercedes rivals start on the medium Pirelli.

Q2

Verstappen came out of the pits on the hard tyre, signalling their attempt to roll the strategy dice and start the race on different tyres to Mercedes.

Sebastian Vettel also put on the red stripped tyre in an attempt to reach Q3. But it wasn't enough for the Ferrari driver who once again starts in the midfield. This time, in P12.

For the first time this year, McLaren failed to reach Q3 with both cars as Carlos Sainz finished 13th fastest. Meanwhile, Nico Hulkenberg put in a powerful lap to split the two Mercedes at the top of the leaderboard. 

11 - Ocon
12 - Vettel
13 - Sainz
14 - Grosjean
15 - Russell

Q1

George Russell was on a flying lap at the start of the session, but Esteban Ocon blocked him at Aintree. The stewards will investigate the incident after qualifying, but expect a three-place grid penalty for Ocon.

Alex Albon caught the kerbs on his opening lap, leaving him in P16 ahead of the final run in Q1. Under pressure, he recorded a 1:27.153 to jump to third.

Russell escaped Q1 for the fourth consecutive Grand Prix to showcase the Williams improvements again at Silverstone.

16 - Kvyat
17 - Magnussen
18 - Latifi
19 - Giovinazzi
20 - Raikkonen