Bottas ends Hamilton's streak with pole position for the Eifel Grand Prix

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10 October 2020 at 15:02
Last update 10 October 2020 at 15:07
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  • Matt Gretton
  • Editor-in-Chief

Valtteri Bottas has qualified on pole for the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. The Mercedes driver records his 14th career pole position and keeps Lewis Hamilton behind him on track again after winning the Russian Grand Prix last time out. Hamilton, who is looking to equal Michael Schumacher's career win record this weekend, will start the race from second-place. Max Verstappen rounds out the top three. 

After the first run in Q3, Verstappen beat both Mercedes cars. Bottas was just 0.068 behind, while Hamilton was a further 0.081 back.

But on the final run, Verstappen struggled to improve while the two Mercedes drivers found the required time on the track. 

With Lance Stroll feeling unwell, Racing Point called up Nico Hulkenberg for the second time this season. The German arrived at the circuit with just a couple of hours before qualifying. He recorded 10 laps in the session but wasn't quick enough to escape.

Despite being equipped with upgrades and Ferrari's best result in FP3 all season, Sebastian Vettel couldn't escape from Q2. However, Charles Leclerc impressed once again this season, with a 1:26.035 to put him in the best of the rest position. 

Q1

After being drafted in at the final minute, Racing Point's Nico Hulkenberg was one of the first drivers on the track. The Hulk was in the drop zone after the first run in Q1. Both Haas drivers and both Alfa Romeo drivers joined him.

Antonio Giovinazzi posted a 1:27.532 which was good enough to escape Q1 for the first time this season. Hulkenberg locked up multiple times on his final lap and wasn't quick enough to move up from 20th.

The two Haas pushed both Willaims drivers out, but George Russell managed to keep his unbeaten streak alive over his teammate. At the top, Verstappen posted an early marker in P1 while Norris finished best of the rest. 

OUT
16th - Grosjean
17th - Russell
18th - Latifi
19th - Raikkonen
20th - Hulkenberg

Q2

The Mercedes drivers put on the medium tyres for Q2 while Red Bull's Verstappen opted to run the soft tyres. Despite the tyre difference, Hamilton was only 0.400 down on the Dutchman.

Bottas lost a lot of time when his rear snapped out towards the end of his lap. As a result, he opted to use the soft tyres second time around. Hamilton joined him on the soft tyre for the second run.

Ferrari had also hoped to escape Q2 with the medium tyres, but they were flirting with the elimination zone. Home favourite Vettel posted a 1:26.738 which was only quick enough for 11th, but Leclerc jumped up to 5th as the chequered flag dropped. At the top, Verstapen split the two Mercedes. 

OUT
11th - Vettel
12th - Gasly
13th - Kvyat
14th - Giovinazzi
15th - Magnussen