Lewis Hamilton Takes British Grand Prix Sprint Pole at Silverstone

Lewis Hamilton delivered a commanding performance at Silverstone to claim sprint pole position for the 2026 British Grand Prix, giving the home crowd plenty to celebrate after leading every phase of sprint qualifying.

The Ferrari driver looked sharp from the opening session and maintained that pace all the way to SQ3, ultimately sealing pole with a lap of 1:28.376. Hamilton’s advantage was razor-thin, however, with Kimi Antonelli missing out on top spot by just 0.011 seconds in another impressive qualifying display from the Mercedes rookie.

Max Verstappen secured third for Red Bull, while Charles Leclerc and George Russell completed the top five.

Ferrari Starts Strong as Hamilton Leads SQ1
Sprint qualifying began under warm conditions at Silverstone, with ambient temperatures at 25°C and track temperatures reaching 43°C, creating a demanding surface for tyre management.

Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar initially set the benchmark with a 1:29.470, briefly going fastest during the opening runs.

That advantage did not last long.

Ferrari quickly asserted itself, with both drivers moving ahead of Hadjar. Hamilton, who had already shown strong pace in practice, set the fastest lap of SQ1 with a 1:29.273, narrowly ahead of team-mate Leclerc.

Hadjar finished third, while Oscar Piastri and George Russell rounded out the top five.
SQ1 proved disappointing once again for Aston Martin, with both of its cars eliminated alongside Haas and Cadillac.

Hamilton and Antonelli Lead the Way in SQ2
The second segment began with urgency as all remaining 16 drivers wasted no time heading out for their runs.

Hamilton once again emerged as the benchmark.

The Ferrari driver improved further with a 1:28.747, once more finishing fastest and reinforcing his status as the clear pole favourite.

Antonelli continued his impressive form by placing second, just 0.099 seconds behind Hamilton. Leclerc followed in third, 0.175 seconds adrift.

Liam Lawson delivered one of the standout performances of the session by taking fourth, while Piastri completed the top five.

Further down the order, Alpine, Audi and Williams drivers failed to progress. Lando Norris narrowly escaped elimination, squeezing through in tenth place by the smallest of margins.

Hamilton Delivers Under Pressure in SQ3
The final sprint shootout brought the expected intensity, with all ten remaining drivers heading out simultaneously for one decisive attempt.

Unlike traditional qualifying sessions, where strategy and track evolution often shape the order, SQ3 became a pure one-lap battle.

Once again, Hamilton delivered when it mattered most.

Having topped both SQ1 and SQ2, the seven-time World Champion completed a clean final lap to secure sprint pole at his home Grand Prix, continuing his outstanding Silverstone form.

Antonelli came agonisingly close to an upset, finishing only 0.011 seconds behind Hamilton after another mature and composed performance.

Verstappen claimed third, while Leclerc finished fourth and Russell fifth.

The McLaren pair of Norris and Piastri followed, with both drivers unable to challenge for the front row despite showing competitive pace throughout the session.

2026 British Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying Results
1. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) — 1:28.376
2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) — 1:28.387
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) — 1:28.697
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) — 1:28.703
5. George Russell (Mercedes) — 1:28.733
6. Lando Norris (McLaren) — 1:28.740
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) — 1:28.772
8. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) — 1:28.835
9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) — 1:28.927
10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) — 1:29.367

Hamilton’s sprint pole adds another major chapter to his Silverstone story and gives Ferrari a valuable opportunity heading into Saturday’s sprint race.

Catch up with the 2026 British Grand Prix Sprint Qualification highlights here.