Silverstone qualifying in the live ticker: Mercedes comeback in sight - Schumacher has to deliver
Created: 07/02/2022 13:56
By: Marius Epp
Lewis Hamilton could be up front again at Silverstone.
© JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP
Who drives the fastest lap?
The starting grid for the Formula 1 race at Silverstone will be decided on Saturday.
Qualifying in the live ticker.
Formula 1: Qualifying at the Silverstone Circuit |
Saturday, 4 p.m
Mercedes wants to confirm its upward trend - and Mick Schumacher finally gets his first points.
Who grabs the pole?
This live ticker for qualifying at Silverstone is constantly updated.
Silverstone - In the stands, fans cheered, waving their Union Jack flags, and their hero, Lewis Hamilton, did not disappoint.
With a strong performance in free practice for his home round at Silverstone, the Mercedes star raised hopes of a coup in Sunday's race.
World champion Max Verstappen in the Red Bull and Ferrari star Charles Leclerc had trouble with the traditional track before the British Grand Prix (Sunday, 4 p.m. / RTL and Sky).
Formula 1 at Silverstone: Verstappen with problems, Hamilton strong
Hamilton surprisingly set the second fastest lap on Friday in 1:29.105 minutes, his Mercedes team had made numerous updates to his car especially for the home race.
Nevertheless, Hamilton, who has already won eight times at Silverstone, complained again on the radio about bouncing on the fast straights.
And yet: only Carlos Sainz in the second Ferrari was better in practice, covering the 5.891 km in 1:28.942 minutes.
After the first free practice session was spoiled by the notorious English weather, the sun shone over Silverstone in the afternoon.
On a dry track, ex-world champion Sebastian Vettel (Heppenheim/+1.393) in the Aston Martin in twelfth place and Haas driver Mick Schumacher (+1.667) in 19th place had no chance of a front place.
Verstappen, who confidently leads the World Championship with 46 points, apparently did not feel really comfortable in his car and finished fourth, a good two tenths of a second behind.
Behind him came Leclerc, who despite all the setbacks doesn't want to give up the title: "I still believe in it as much as I did five races ago.
It will be more difficult, but anything is possible.”
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Formula 1: World Championship is far from decided - Verstappen and Leclerc stack deep
Verstappen is also (still) stacked low after six wins from the previous nine races.
"There's not really a reason to celebrate because I'd rather be where I'm at now, even at the end of the season," said the Dutchman: "So there's still a lot to do and we can improve, that's what we're concentrating on." us.” Even if things didn't go so well in training, Verstappen is again the favorite for the win with the bookmakers.
But Hamilton goes into his home race with great motivation.
The grandstands at Silverstone were already packed on Friday, and a total of 400,000 spectators are expected to watch the Formula 1 classic at the weekend.
And most will roar Hamilton forward.
Mercedes Motorsport Director Toto Wolff believes Hamilton may be able to capitalize on that advantage.
"If we give him a car that is only a few tenths behind the leaders, he will win the race," said the Austrian.
(epp/SID)