British Grand Prix – Sprint Qualifying: first for Verstappen

It’s a first, the starting grid for Sunday is determined in two steps: the qualifying session now takes place on Friday, then according to the result of the sprint race on Saturday.

This sprint race is officially held over 100km, equivalent to 17 laps, and the start is based on the previous day’s qualifying results.

The race of the day is therefore twofold: not losing position while trying to be opportunistic in order to try to be better ranked for the start on Sunday, at the risk of losing everything.

For some drivers who have a better pace in the race than in the single lap exercise, this session could help them.

Agressive start!

First surprise, we discover that Bottas, Alonso, Ocon, Räikkönen are shod with the red tires, the softest ones. The rest of the pack is equipped with yellow tires, the mediums. An aggressive bet to gain positions quickly. But what about the degradation of these tires over 17 laps, one-third of the race distance. Even though the cars are less loaded with fuel than usual, it is a real risk.

A departure under high tension, we observe more aggressiveness from everyone. Verstappen succeeds in his gamble and takes the lead in the first corner. The Englishman doesn’t release the pressure and stays glued to the Dutchman’s tail, but without being able to overtake him.

Winning aggressive strategy for Alonso who overtakes several drivers magnificiently and gains 6 positions. Räikkönen does the same and quickly finds himself in 13th place, gaining 4 positions.

The losers of this race are Perez -2, Russell -2, Sainz -6, and Giovinazzi -2.

The first rounds are always under high tension.

Our eyes are glued to the battle between Norris and Alonso. The Spaniard is having more and more trouble containing the British driver’s attacks. But it’s Perez positioned just behind who loses control of his car at the entry of Chapel in a violent oversteer. He rejoins the track in 18th position. He is inches away from crashing into the safety barriers.

During this incident, Norris finally finds the solution for Alonso. The latter is now under pressure from the other McLaren, that of Ricciardo. He also overtakes him 3 laps later at the entrance of Priory. The Spaniard does not back down and puts pressure on him until Stowe by threatening to overtake him on the outside, but without success.

A quieter racing heart, but with overtaking

At the front of the race, the positions now seem frozen. Verstappen is in the lead with just under two seconds ahead of Hamilton. Bottas remains slightly behind and forms a barrier for his team leader. Leclerc holds a strong 4th place.

After Alonso, the peloton is bunched up until the 18th, which is Perez. It is now Aston Martin’s turn with Vettel to put pressure on him. The soft tires seem to have had their time.

Räikkönen seems to be suffering in the same way as Alonso with his tires, allowing Carlos Sainz to snatch 12th place from him.

The French drivers Ocon and Gasly are respectively 10th and 11th.

A tense end of the race

The peloton is still tightly packed for the last three laps. From 7th place to 18th place, they all follow each other at one-second intervals. No one must give in, the tension is palpable. Carlos Sainz complains about the driver ahead of him: Russell. Each one hopes to still be able to gain at least one position.

We instruct Max Verstappen to be a little less aggressive on the kerbs so as not to damage the car for the race. Proof that he is constantly on the attack trying to hold on to this victory.

It is in the last lap that Hamilton tries to set the fastest lap to show that he will be a candidate for victory tomorrow.

But it is Max Verstappen who wins this first sprint race in the history of Formula 1, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.

They thus respectively earn 3, 2, and 1 points in the championship.

The best performance was achieved by Fernando Alonso who will start in 7th place tomorrow. Räikkönen also has a good performance by qualifying in 13th place.

Unfortunately, Perez has to retire. Following his off-track excursion, his team asks him to return to the pits in order to modify his single-seater.

The ranking