Top drivers react to British GP qualifying: 'It couldn't have gone better, apart from Max'

The top three qualifiers for the 2023 British Grand Prix gave the crowd in attendance something to cheer about as the final result was left to the last moment of the session.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen secured his 27th career pole position, elevating himself into the top 10 all-time list. The Dutchman is on a stellar run of form, but admitted that the two McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri surprised him.

"It's been quite a crazy qualifying; it's been quite hectic, also quite slippery in some places," the defending two-time Formula 1 champion said.

"We did our laps, and then, in Q3, I was quite surprised to see (Norris and Piastri) there, but it's great for McLaren as well to be here. From our side, very happy, of course, to be on pole!"

Qualifying was run in mixed conditions, with a damp track making way for dry running and the edge-of-your-seat final moments.

Our top three qualifiers! ??#BritishGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/RMSt28EeFm

Let's go, Norris!

Coming into the race weekend, Norris made it clear that he planned on being the highest-finishing British driver in Sunday's race. And for it to happen, he needed to have a strong qualifying.

After the initial Q3 runs, Verstappen was on provisional pole, but McLaren's lead driver took it for himself, albeit momentarily.

"I was close, you know!" Norris said after qualifying. "I was P1 in Q1, I was [P2] in Q2, and close - two-tenths - to P1 in Q3, so pretty insane, and my last lap was a good lap.

READ: British Grand Prix - Verstappen on pole, but Norris, Piastri steal show for McLaren

"To be second and third is pretty amazing for the whole team."

"It makes up for everything, you know," he said. "All the hard work that we've been putting in, especially here, with the new livery, a