SILVERSTONE, UNITED KINGDOM- Red Bull’s Max Verstappen delivered a stunning final flying lap to snatch pole position for the British Grand Prix, securing his fourth pole of the 2025 Formula 1 season.1 The Dutchman’s perfect execution at Silverstone saw him edge out McLaren’s championship leader Oscar Piastri by a mere tenth of a second (0.103s), setting a blistering time of 1:24.892s.2 This win came as somewhat of a surprise, as Verstappen had struggled to impress during the earlier practice sessions, reportedly making a “big set-up choice” to optimize for straight-line speed.
McLaren’s Strong Showing and Piastri’s Near Miss
McLaren showed immense pace throughout qualifying, with Oscar Piastri holding provisional pole after the first runs in Q3. However, a small mistake on his final effort prevented the Australian from improving his time (1:24.995s). Piastri’s teammate, Lando Norris, will start just behind him in third (1:25.010s), forming an all-McLaren second row with Mercedes’ George Russell for company in fourth (1:25.029s). Norris, a local favorite with his dedicated “Landostand” of fans, expressed disappointment at not securing a home pole but remains optimistic for the race. Piastri, currently leading the drivers’ standings by 15 points over Norris, also acknowledged that while his final lap was “a little bit messy,” he saw opportunities for Sunday’s race.3
Ferrari’s Mixed Fortunes and Grid Penalties
The third row of the grid will feature an all-Ferrari lineup, with Lewis Hamilton in fifth (1:25.095s) and Charles Leclerc in sixth (1:25.121s). Ferrari had shown strong pace in practice, even topping some sessions, but seemed to struggle for ultimate one-lap speed in Q3. Hamilton managed to out-qualify his teammate Leclerc for only the second time this season in regular qualifying, despite reportedly running low on fuel at one point in Q1. Leclerc, on the other hand, hinted at a “very weird” problem that has been holding Ferrari back in qualifying throughout the season.
Further down the grid, several drivers will face penalties. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, who qualified seventh, will drop three places due to a penalty carried over from the Austrian Grand Prix for colliding with Verstappen.4 Haas rookie Oliver Bearman, who put in an impressive qualifying performance to secure eighth, will also start further back due to a 10-place grid penalty for a red flag infringement in Friday’s practice.5 These penalties will elevate Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and Pierre Gasly (Alpine) into seventh and eighth positions, respectively, while Carlos Sainz (Williams) moves up to ninth.
Looking Ahead to Race Day
The qualifying session was marked by tricky and shifting winds, which Verstappen himself noted made the cars “extremely sensitive.” This factor, combined with the tight margins between the top teams, sets the stage for a compelling British Grand Prix on Sunday. With championship implications and home hopes for the British drivers, the race promises to be a thrilling spectacle.
Discussion about this post