07/17/2021 2:27 PM
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 07/17/2021 2:31 PM
The Dutchman Max Verstappen, leader of the Formula 1 championship, won pole position at the Silverstone circuit and will start the Great Britain Grand Prix first, the tenth round of the contest, after being the fastest this Saturday in the new qualifying sprint of the that the Spanish Fernando Alonso came out very benefited, who gained four positions.
On board his Red Bull, Verstappen was the great protagonist with a spectacular start, in which he was able to masterfully overcome local Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), who started in first place.
The Dutchman took pole position with authority after 17 laps, a third of which will be held this Sunday in the race in this new format.
The day was sensational in this experiment that, to top it off for the nostalgic ones, ended with the first three crowned with a pendant of laurels, something that had not been produced since the 1985 Italian Grand Prix. An iconic image that - in addition to Verstappen and Hamilton - also included Finn Valtteri Bottas, who saved Mercedes' honor after the Briton's misstep.
Wins the first ever F1 Sprint
Three extra championship points
Starts from pole for Sunday's race
Decent Saturday at Silverstone for @ Max33Verstappen 👀👏 # BritishGP 🇬🇧 # F1 pic.twitter.com/KUuYQA60Rw
- Formula 1 (@ F1) July 17, 2021
The second placed in the championship (33 points from the top) was stuck when the traffic lights went out and gave way to Verstappen, who came out through the dirty area of the grid.
However, not only was he able to put himself first, but he boldly confirmed pole position.
“It's difficult to pass here, but I had a good start and a good fight with Lewis in the first round.
Then I tried to do my own pace, but you could see that we were putting a lot of pressure on ourselves because at the end of the race the tires were worn.
I am happy to have scored all three points.
I think tomorrow will be a really exciting and exciting battle, "said Verstappen.
Behind Verstappen, Hamilton, Bottas and the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), who finished fourth, there was plenty of action and one of those who made the most of it was Fernando Alonso, with his Alpine.
He's pretty good at these race starts, isn't he?
🚀 @ alo_oficial absolutely aces it at lights out in the F1 Sprint #BritishGP 🇬🇧 # F1 pic.twitter.com/RpA4JnDr1v
- Formula 1 (@ F1) July 17, 2021
The Asturian will start seventh after achieving a spectacular comeback at the beginning of the sprint.
The two-time world champion reached fifth place, but could not withstand the power of his rivals, especially the McLaren.
First it was the British Lando Norris who surpassed him and then his partner, the Australian Daniel Ricciardo.
However, Alonso showed great strength when he was squeezed by German Sebastian Vettel, who could not snatch seventh position from him despite his efforts in the last four laps of this novel qualifying format.
His decision to go for white tires, despite their high degradation, especially due to the intense heat at Silverstone - close to 30 degrees - was decisive.
“The start was explosive, we went from 11th to 5th.
But we knew we were too slow to finish fifth, so it was better to let the McLarens pass;
let them go and focus on Sebastian later, ”Alonso explained.
“The first lap was fun, but the rest was all the while defending myself.
For you it was a sprint, but for me it was a marathon ”, he acknowledged.
Max Verstappen celebrates with his laurel wreath after winning the first sprint in the history of Formula 1 at Silverstone. (Photo: Lars Baron / Reuters)
The British George Russell (Williams) and the Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Alpine) completed the top 10 places in the classification, while the Spanish Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) will start 11th after suffering a friction with Russell on the first lap that will drop him to the penultimate place.
The Madrilenian was climbing positions with great ease and managed to come out quite well after the initial incident.
Further back will depart the French Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), Kimi Räikkönen (Alfa Romeo), the Canadian Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), the Italian Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo), the Japanese Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri), the Canadian Nicholas Latifi (Williams ), the German Mick Schumacher (Haas), the Russian Nikita Mazepin (Haas) and the Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull).
Look also
Formula 1: Sebastian Vettel and a special helmet with a tribute to Carlos Reutemann at the Silverstone Grand Prix practice
Formula 1 - British Grand Prix: when Lewis Hamilton won on three wheels already more than 200 km / h