Russell takes pole in British 1-2-3 at Silverstone

SILVERSTONE, England :George Russell led Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes front-row lockout in qualifying for the British Grand Prix on Saturday with McLaren's Lando Norris completing a rare one-two-three of home drivers.

Red Bull's Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen qualified fourth, after damaging his car by bouncing across the gravel at Copse in the first phase.

McLaren's Oscar Piastri was fifth fastest on a drying track after light rain.

"What a feeling, what a feeling," said Russell, the winner in Austria last weekend, as the Silverstone crowd roared and the achievement of a first home pole - and only his fourth anywhere - sunk in.

"At the start of this year we (Mercedes) couldn't have even dreamt of being on pole here and one-two for us and Lando P3, it's just mega.

"This is definitely one of the best feelings I've ever had on a Saturday afternoon."

Russell had been on provisional pole by a knife-edge from Norris after the first flying laps but the Mercedes drivers made sure of the one-two with their final efforts while the McLaren man slipped up.

Hamilton went fastest of the three, Norris aborted his lap and Russell grabbed pole at the chequered flag in one minute 25.819 seconds.

Seven-times world champion Hamilton, a record eight-times winner at Silverstone, set a time of 1:25.990 and Norris 1:26.030.

"I think ultimately there was still time left on the table, which George was able to find," said Hamilton, now out-qualified by his team mate 10 times in 12 races in his last season before moving to Ferrari.

"But I feel really confident about the car tomorrow and I think with the conditions we have, we can work together to keep Lando behind."

SUMMER SHOWERS

The trio had already fired up the crowd, undeterred by cold