Lewis Hamilton takes British Grand Prix pole after stunning Silverstone performance

ByEurosport

Updated 15/07/2017 at 14:15 GMT

Lewis Hamilton will start on pole for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone after a dramatic qualifying session on Saturday saw him crush his nearest rivals.

Lewis Hamilton is all smiles at Silverstone.

Image credit: Eurosport

The home fans were thrilled by the Mercedes driver as he produced a stunning fastest lap time of 1:26.600 that was more than half a second quicker than the chasing pack.

"This is definitely the best position to start from (P1). I need to make sure I do it tomorrow for these fans," said Hamilton, whose performance equals the record of fellow British driver Jim Clark in earning five pole positions at their home race.

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It is also a third straight pole for Hamilton around the Silverstone circuit.

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) - Grand Prix of Great Britain 2017

Image credit: Getty Images

Hamilton still faced a nervous wait after race stewards announced they were investigating an incident involving French driver Romain Grosjean, who complained he had been blocked earlier in the session.

They swiftly decided to take no further action.

"I feel amazing, especially with a great crowd like this. I hope you liked the lap. I always try and save the best until last," said Hamilton as he waved to the fans.

"I knew how much support I had this weekend so I had to get that lap in."

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen will join the Mercedes driver on the front row, with championship leading team mate Sebastian Vettel qualifying third.

Hamilton's mastery of a damp but drying track lit up an overcast afternoon as he chalked up the 67th pole of his career, and sixth of the season, with every chance of equalling Michael Schumacher's 68 before the August break.

The triple world champion has won the last three British Grands Prix and starts as favourite to equal the late Clark's feat of four home wins in a row, and five in total, on Sunday.

Hamilton's Finnish team mate Valtteri Bottas, winner in Austria, was fourth fastest but has a five-place penalty following a gearbox change.

That promoted Red Bull's Dutch teenager Max Verstappen, who has suffered five retirements in the last seven races, to the second row.

Renault's Nico Hulkenberg and his former Force India team mate Sergio Perez filled the third row.

There was good news for beleaguered McLaren, who raised a cheer when Fernando Alonso made the most of improving conditions to set the fastest time in the first phase of qualifying, with Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne qualifying ninth.

That was the first time he had outqualified Alonso, who has a 30-place grid penalty, and will move up a place thanks to Bottas's drop.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo, a winner in Azerbaijan in June, will join Alonso at the rear after a gearbox penalty followed by the car halting on track in the first phase and bringing out the red flags

Qualifying from the Formula One British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Saturday

1. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes 1:26.600
2. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari 1:27.147
3. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Ferrari 1:27.356
4. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Mercedes 1:27.376
5. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Red Bull - TAG Heuer 1:28.130
6. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Renault 1:28.856
7. Sergio Perez (Mexico) Force India - Mercedes 1:28.902
8. Esteban Ocon (France) Force India - Mercedes 1:29.074
9. Stoffel Vandoorne (Belgium) McLaren 1:29.418
10. Romain Grosjean (France) Haas - Ferrari 1:29.549

- - - - - - - - - -

11. Jolyon Palmer (Britain) Renault 1:30.193
12. Daniil Kvyat (Russia) Toro Rosso - Renault 1:30.355
13. Fernando Alonso (Spain) McLaren 1:30.600
14. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain) Toro Rosso - Renault 1:31.368
15. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Williams-Mercedes 1:31.482

- - - - - - - - - -

16. Lance Stroll (Canada) Williams-Mercedes 1:42.573
17. Kevin Magnussen (Denmark) Haas - Ferrari 1:42.577
18. Pascal Wehrlein (Germany) Sauber - Ferrari 1:42.593
19. Marcus Ericsson (Sweden) Sauber - Ferrari 1:42.633
20. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Red Bull - TAG Heuer 1:42.966

- - - - - - - - - -

1-10: third and final qualifying session
11-15: second qualifying session
16-20: first qualifying session

- - - - - - - - - -

Starting grid from the Formula One British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday

1. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes
2. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari
3. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Ferrari
4. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Red Bull - TAG Heuer
5. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Renault
6. Sergio Perez (Mexico) Force India - Mercedes
7. Esteban Ocon (France) Force India - Mercedes
8. Stoffel Vandoorne (Belgium) McLaren
9. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Mercedes
10. Romain Grosjean (France) Haas - Ferrari
11. Jolyon Palmer (Britain) Renault
12. Daniil Kvyat (Russia) Toro Rosso - Renault
13. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain) Toro Rosso - Renault
14. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Williams-Mercedes
15. Lance Stroll (Canada) Williams-Mercedes
16. Kevin Magnussen (Denmark) Haas - Ferrari
17. Pascal Wehrlein (Germany) Sauber - Ferrari
18. Marcus Ericsson (Sweden) Sauber - Ferrari
19. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Red Bull - TAG Heuer
20. Fernando Alonso (Spain) McLaren

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