Sainz takes 1st career pole position for British Grand Prix

SILVERSTONE, England: Carlos Sainz was fastest in the rain in Saturday qualifying for the British Grand Prix to earn his first career pole position in his 150th start. He edged reigning Formula One champion Max Verstappen, who was booed by some in the crowd at the end of the session. “Maybe some of them don’t like me, but that’s fine,” Verstappen said.

“I don’t care.” Sainz set the fastest time late in the third qualifying session to edge Verstappen by just .072 seconds. It was the seventh pole in 10 races for Ferrari this season, though Sainz teammate Charles Leclerc had earned the first six poles prior to Sainz’s surprise run. “First pole position, it’s always special, and especially to do it in Silverstone in the wet,” Sainz said.

“Kept it cool through the session and toward the end I decided to push.” Sainz narrowly missed out on what would have been his first career win at the last race in Canada, when he finished just behind Verstappen. Leclerc will start third, ahead of Sergio Pérez in the second Red Bull. Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton qualified fifth for his home race as Mercedes seemed to have made progress with its problems of bouncing at high speed.

His teammate George Russell was eighth. As Verstappen spoke trackside following qualifying the boos were audible for the Dutchman. Verstappen and Hamilton collided in last year’s race, with Verstappen hitting the wall while Hamilton overcame a penalty to win.