British Grand Prix: Russell Secures Second Pole Position of 2024 in Dramatic Formula 1 Qualifying
George Russell claimed his second pole position of the 2024 Formula 1 season, edging out Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton by a mere 0.171 seconds at the British Grand Prix. The thrilling qualifying session saw Lando Norris take third place for McLaren, as the Silverstone circuit proved to be a challenging and unpredictable battleground.
The Qualifying Session Unfolds
The rain-soaked earlier sessions gave way to sunny skies, but the track still held damp patches, prompting drivers to start with Intermediate tires. Max Verstappen initially led the times, but Russell and Hamilton soon demoted him to third as they showcased their Mercedes’ dominance.
“The car was handling really well, and I’m delighted to have secured another pole position here at Silverstone,” said Russell.
As the session progressed, drivers switched to slick tires, and Sergio Perez’s Red Bull spun at Copse, ending his hopes of a strong qualifying performance. Meanwhile, the Sauber drivers posted the first laps on Softs, briefly leading the pack before being overtaken by their competitors.
The Dramatic Finale
In the final minutes of the session, Hamilton and Russell pulled off last-gasp improvements to retake the top spots, with the Ferraris narrowly avoiding elimination to claim third and fourth places. The first stage saw Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen, Esteban Ocon, Perez, and Pierre Gasly exit the competition.
The second stage saw Piastri lead the way, but Carlos Sainz and Norris soon supplanted him. Russell, however, faced elimination with three minutes remaining but managed to salvage his qualifying with a late flourish, booking his place in Q3.
In the top-10 shootout, Russell took provisional pole, only for Hamilton to split the McLaren duo and Verstappen to complete the top five. In a stunning finale, Russell produced a 1:25.819s lap to secure pole, ahead of Hamilton and Norris. Piastri and Nico Hulkenberg completed the top six, while Lance Stroll, Alex Albon, and Fernando Alonso rounded out the top 10.
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