Saturday 17th July 2021
Verstappen to pole with race win
First F1 sprint finds a clear loser
The eagerly awaited first sprint qualifying of Formula 1 convinces with the hoped for action. Max Verstappen pulls past Lewis Hamilton into pole position, followed by Fernando Alonso at the start. The second Red Bull driver experienced a bitter disappointment.
World championship leader Max Verstappen has won the first sprint in the history of Formula 1 and thus taken pole position for the Grand Prix in Silverstone. The Red Bull driver won the short race over 17 laps ahead of world champion Lewis Hamilton, who won qualifying in classic mode on Friday evening, and his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas. The trio will start at the front in the race on Sunday (4 p.m. / Sky and in the live ticker at ntv.de). Verstappen also got three World Cup points, Hamilton two, Bottas one.
“It’s a bit strange to get pole this way,” said Verstappen. The key was his good start: “It’s difficult to get past on this track.” From second on the grid, he overtook Hamilton in the first few meters. “I lost it then,” said the Englishman, “the Red Bulls are very strong, I couldn’t attack Max after that.”
Sebastian Vettel in the Aston Martin crossed the finish line in eighth place after an exciting duel with his long-time opponent Fernando Alonso, after the Alpine driver had improved by six positions at the start and then defended to the limit of what was allowed. Unlike most of the field, Alonso had opted for the softest tire compound and thus pushed it far forward in the first corners. Against the McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo, he asserted himself with serpentine lines on the straights, but received a warning from the race management. While the duo was able to pass, Vettel was unable to overtake the Spaniard.
Sergio Perez is the big loser in the first sprint qualification. Max Verstappen’s team-mate was able to narrowly avoid hitting the lane after a driving error, but apparently damaged his Red Bull permanently and lost numerous positions. In the final phase, he received an instruction over the pit radio to take care of the car and let himself fall back. He saw the checkered flag as 20th and last. However, it is unlikely that he will also start the race from this place, rather he should go out of the pits into his 52 laps long race to catch up. Mick Schumacher starts at the Haas as 18th.
Formula 1 is testing this mode for the first time at the British Grand Prix. The usual qualification with the hunt for the fastest lap is replaced by a 30-minute race. The format is to be used two more times this season; if it proves itself, it could become standard in some races each year in the future. “I think that’s great,” said Hamilton, “with the first qualifying on Friday it was a lot more fun, the weekend will be upgraded overall. We should do that more often.”
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