SILVERSTONE, England (Reuters) -Max Verstappen took pole position for the British Grand Prix and made Formula One history by winning the sport’s first Saturday sprint race to stretch his lead over Lewis Hamilton to 33 points.
Seven-times world champion Hamilton will start alongside his Dutch rival in Sunday’s grand prix after finishing second for Mercedes in a 17-lap qualifying race that lasted just over half an hour.
The winner took three points, with two for the runner-up and one for third place.
Hamilton’s team mate Valtteri Bottas finished third, ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, in a race aimed at providing more thrills for fans over the three days of track action and potentially shaking up the starting grid.
Reuters
Photo Dutch Formula One driver Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing steps out of his car after he took the first position during the sprint qualifying session of the Formula One Grand Prix of Great Britain at the Silverstone Circuit, in Northamptonshire, Britain, 17 July 2021. The 2021 Formula One Grand Prix of Great Britain will take place on 18 July. EPA-EFE/Lars Baron / POOL
