A British one-two-three for Sunday's British Grand Prix

Perez brings out the red flag

This afternoon's qualifying was highly competitive. In Q1, Lewis Hamilton set the initial top time with a 1:37.759s, with his teammate George Russell just a few seconds behind. This didn't last long for the Brits, after Max Verstappen topped the table with a 1:37.518s, with Lando Norris coming in second. The drivers featured on a mix of intermediate and soft tyres, with Charles Leclerc being one of the first on the softs. With seven minutes left of Q1, the red flag was brought out after Sergio Perez went off at Copse as a result of over sterring and ending up stuck in the gravel. This was the end of the Red Bull driver's session. During this time, drivers headed back into the pits - Lance Stroll will be investigated after the session for leaving the pit exit on a red. Like Perez, other drivers struggled at Copse when the session resumed. Both Verstappen and Kevin Magnussen went off but managed to get back onto the track. 

Despite setting the fastest lap at one point, Valtteri Bottas was eliminated alongside Magnussen, Esteban Ocon, Perez and Pierre Gasly, who automatically starts in 20th tomorrow. Hamilton, Russell and Leclerc featured in the top three. Ocon was not happy with his team, and was seen to be frustrated that his only push lap was when it was wet. The FIA also announced it would investigate a pit lance incident between Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll at the end of the session. 

Stroll knocks Leclerc out of Q3

Normal grip conditions returned in Q2, with DRS being enabled. The remaining 15 drivers debuted on a soft tyre as they fought to get into Q3. Alexander Albon was the first driver to set a lap time - 1:27.983s. With ten minutes remaining, Carlos Sainz set the fastest time 1:27.540s, with Oscar Piastri and Alonso behind. The session continued to be unpredictable, with Verstappen appearing not to be in his own league. As five minutes remained, Piastri went first, with Sainz and Alonso behind. Verstappen remained in fourth. Red Bull reported the Dutchman had picked up damage to his car following his incident in Q1. 

After a series of flying laps at the end of the session, Leclerc, Logan Sargeant, Yuki Tsunoda, Zhou Guanyu, and Daniel Ricciardo were eliminated. Norris set the fastest time, with Russell and Alonso behind. 

Russell takes pole position

Once again, Albon was first out on track for the final qualifying session. With seven minutes to go, the flying lap times started. They were incredibly close, with Norris on provisional pole, followed by Piastri and Verstappen. Only two tenths separated the McLarens. Not long after though, as five minutes remained, Russell went first, moving Norris to second. Hamilton followed in third. In the final few minutes, the cars steamed out of the pits to set their final times and secure their place on the grid for Sunday's British Grand Prix. 

Nevertheless, it was Russell who snatched pole position from Hamilton at the last second. Norris took third, with Verstappen behind in fourth. This is the Brit's second pole of the season. He has never qualified in the top five before at Silverstone. Sunday's Grand Prix will feature a British one-two-three.