Sensation in Silverstone! Kimi Antonelli schnappt sich die Pole – Hamilton und die Konkurrenz bleiben chancenlos!
KIMI ANTONELLI dubbed Lewis Hamilton the “legend” of Silverstone, even after he left the track with a perfectly executed Italian job for pole at the British Grand Prix.
The Silverstone crowd had been hoping for one of the five Brits racing to take pole for Sunday’s Formula One race just as Hamilton had scored first blood with pole in sprint qualifying before Antonelli battled back to win.
Lewis Hamilton only managed third as Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc came second Credit: Getty
And it proved to be a repeat performance as rapid Antonelli registered a time three-tenths faster than the seven-time world champion and Mercedes team-mate George Russell.
In fact, the pair were also both outdone by Charles Leclerc as the Tifosi sweetheart completed the front row of the grid.
Hamilton, 41, cast a sulky figure on the couch in the press conference as he was dubbed “the legend”of Silverstone by Antonelli, who said: “It’s incredible to see how much support there is for everyone, especially for Lewis in particular.
“He’s kind of a legend here, well actually he is the legend here around Silverstone so I think the crowd give you such positive energy.”
Hamilton was supported from the Ferrari paddock by mum, Carmen Larbalestier, and paternal half-brother Nicholas Hamilton.
But it was the father of 19-year-old Antonelli, Marco, who celebrated his son being at the front of the grid.
And it meant Mercedes continued their run of taking pole at every race this season, with championship leader Antonelli now on five to Russell’s four.
Asked whether he felt there was more time in the car, Hamilton said: “Not particularly. Run two was pretty decent then I lost my [energy] deployment and lost like three tenths to them in that straight.
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“I struggled more this session with the car, there was a lot more oversteer.”
On the race, Hamilton also downplayed any chance of a Ferrari victory, adding: “We couldn’t [beat them] this morning so don’t think that changes a lot.
“They went way quicker. Nothing changed between morning and now, and nothing will change between today and tomorrow.
“We’ll do our best to hold onto them but ultimately if he gets a clean run he will win.”
Lewis Hamilton’s mum Carmen Larbalestier watched on in support of the seven-time world champion Credit: EPA
