Lewis Hamilton eyes British Grand Prix Dash victory after taking ‘wonderful shock’ pole at Silverstone for Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton stated his British Grand Prix Dash pole got here as an “amazing surprise” however now believes his Ferrari is fast sufficient to say victory at Silverstone in Saturday’s shortened race.

The seven-time world champion had been extremely pessimistic about his possibilities at his house race on Thursday, however answered his doubters by topping apply earlier than edging Mercedes’ championship chief Kimi Antonelli to pole by simply 0.011 seconds.

Hamilton claimed his first Grand Prix victory for Ferrari in Barcelona final month, however it was adopted by a disappointing weekend in Austria, the place the Italian crew’s upgraded engine – launched after issues it lacked the ability of Mercedes’ and Pink Bull’s – struggled within the scorching situations.

Hamilton stated: “We’re ahead of a Mercedes and the Red Bull, they have so much power these guys.”

“They have been doing wonderful all 12 months, the boys in blue [Mercedes] this weekend, these champs, however my crew will not let up, they will maintain pushing, and that is what I am so happy with.

“It won’t always be like this, but we didn’t expect coming to Silverstone that we’d be competing for the front row, we really, really didn’t, so, this is an amazing surprise. I’m ecstatic.”

After pulling off the upset in a session the place he and Antonelli gave the impression to be in a league of their very own, Hamilton expressed perception that he would possibly have the ability to maintain the Italian, and Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen in third, behind him throughout the 17-lap contest.

As a result of there being just one apply session on Dash weekends, drivers have restricted alternative to simulate longer race runs, however Hamilton was happy together with his expertise.

“I think our pace was good,” he added. “We did a short sort of longish run in practice. There wasn’t a lot of time.

“However the automobile felt good there, so I feel we should always have race tomorrow.

“I mean, starting from the front row, I don’t remember the last time I started from the front row here.

“Not really easy whenever you’ve received these guys that may observe you and be shut with the additional energy doubtlessly, however I am going to do my finest to maintain them behind.”

Antonelli: Lewis is in form, but we like the challenge!

Antonelli, who leads the Drivers’ Championship by 40 points from his team-mate George Russell, was on provisional pole before being edged out by Hamilton.

“It was so, so shut, and it was a disgrace,” Antonelli said.

“SQ1 I felt a bit unhealthy, I did not really feel nice within the automobile, however then we made a slight stability adjustment and SQ2 felt evening and day, and we instantly had been again on the tempo.

“SQ3 there was a little bit left on the table, but it was a decent lap, and unfortunately super close to Lewis.

“However congrats to him, and on our aspect, we’ll concentrate on tomorrow now.”

Hamilton is third in the standings, 46 points back from Antonelli, and the Italian is welcoming the challenge of the driver he replaced at Mercedes at the start of 2025.

He added: “Ferrari have performed an unbelievable step ahead, so positively it is going to be very powerful. Plus, Lewis is in nice kind, however that is good, we just like the problem and we’ll attempt to make the perfect out of it.

“Of course [I can fight for the win tomorrow], we’ll go for it and we’ll try to do our best. It’s not going to be easy, but everything is on the table to do well.”

Verstappen: Hamilton and Antonelli look a bit fast

Verstappen got here out on prime of a particularly shut battle for third, which noticed 4 drivers – Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri – end inside a tenth of a second of him.

The Dutchman was 0.321s behind Hamilton’s main effort, however simply 0.075 away from McLaren’s Piastri in seventh.

For that motive, he was capable of view the session positively however was additionally not overly optimistic about his possibilities of difficult the highest two on Saturday.

Verstappen stated: “It was very close, I could easily have been P3 or P6 or P7, but we were on the good side.

“We had been a bit nearer however we’re nonetheless not the place we need to be. Cornering, perhaps a tiny bit, but additionally deployment stuff, so a number of issues to determine to attempt to discover extra lap time. We’ll strive to try this after all after the Dash.

“They [Hamilton and Antonelli] look a bit quick. And if they look quick, normally their team-mates should also be quick in race pace when everything calms down a little bit.

“So, for me, I feel it will likely be extra of a battle with the fellows behind me.”

Sky Sports activities F1’s British GP schedule

Saturday July 4
9.30am: F3 Dash*
11am: British GP Dash build-up*
12pm: BRITISH GP SPRINT*
1.40pm: F2 Dash*
2.50pm: British GP Qualifying build-up*
4pm: BRITISH GP QUALIFYING*
6pm: F1 Academy Race 1
6.45pm: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book

Sunday July 5
8.20am: F3 Function Race*
9.55am: F1 Academy Race 2*
11.10am: F2 Function Race*
12.55pm: Grand Prix Sunday: British GP build-up*
3pm: THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX*
5pm: Chequered Flag: British GP response
6pm: Ted’s Pocket book

*additionally on Sky Sports activities Fundamental Occasion

Method 1 is in Silverstone for a Dash weekend on the British Grand Prix – dwell on Sky Sports activities F1 and Sky One – with Sunday’s race at 3pm. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime