Max takes pole after exciting qualifying at Silverstone: 'It has been hectic'

Published on 08 July 2023 by Kees-Jan Koster

Max Verstappen set the fastest time during qualifying for the British Grand Prix. It is the fifth pole in a row for the reigning world champion. A bit of rain made for an exciting session at Silverstone. It was an excellent qualifying for McLaren: Lando Norris set the second time, and teammate Oscar Piastri took third. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz completed the top five.

“Qualifying has been hectic”, says Verstappen afterwards. “It was quite slippery at some places. We had good pace. In Q1 the circumstances made it a bit tricky, including the red flag. When I went out again the track was drying up. Then you know that it is going to be an important lap. There was a bit of chaos in the out lap with all the traffic. But in the end, it was all fine and I went safely through.”

McLaren was very strong today in qualifying, finishing in second and third. Max says: “In Q3 I was quite surprised to see those two there [Norris and Piastri]. It is great for McLaren to be here. From our side very happy of course to be on pole.” For a short moment Norris was on pole but was surpassed by Verstappen. “Max always ruins everything for everyone”, says a laughing Norris afterwards.

During qualifying Max had a moment when he hit the wall in the pitlane. “I drove out and steered but slid straight into the wall. That is not ideal, but it can happen”, says Max.

The light rain now and then during the session made for an exciting qualifying. Verstappen: “In Q1 and Q2 there were still a few damp spots. You had to be a little bit careful. Of course, you push close to the limit, but knowing that we have a quick car you do not need to go to the 100% limit. A great day, looking forward to tomorrow. I think we will be strong tomorrow. Normally we are faster in the race than on one lap.”

At the start of qualifying the track is almost dry, after a rainy FP3. A few drivers choose intermediate tyres. But it does not take long for everyone to be on slicks. Verstappen opens with a 1:33.535 and then improves it to a 1:30.719. After ten minutes it starts to rain again, making it difficult to set faster times. With only couple of minutes to go, a red flag, caused by Kevin Magnussen, stops the session. His Haas suddenly stopped on track. Verstappen is in first postion. Teammate Pérez in fourteenth.

When Verstappen wants to queue in the pitlane for the final few minutes of Q1, he damages his front wing. “I understeered and had no grip”, he reports. Luckily only a new front wing is needed for the Red Bull. Max comes out back on track in last position. The track dried up and one after the other sets a faster time. Pérez does not get through to Q3 for the fifth time in a row; he finishes in sixteenth position. Tsunoda, Zhou, De Vries and Magnussen drop out of Q3. Also, Valtteri Bottas will not compete in Q2, he causes a yellow flag during the final moments of Q1 when his Alfa Romeo breaks down.

Q2 starts dry, but most drivers are told that rain is coming. The first lap of Verstappen is good for third position, seven tenths behind Norris and four tenths behind Gasly. But Max falls down the order when Leclerc, Albon and Alonso set faster times. At his second attempt, Max is back in first position, but Piastri puts him back in second. Piasti is three thousandths of a second faster than the Dutchman. Hamilton and Norris are also faster, which causes a lot of cheers at Silverstone. Just before the end Max sets the fastest time, a 1:27.702. He is followed by Piastri and Norris. It is finished for Hülkenberg, Stroll, Ocon and Sargeant. As Bottas did not participate he also is out.

Starting the final part of qualifying, Verstappen does three purple sectors, setting a 1:27.084. He is six tenths faster than Hamilton in second position. The Dutchman is on new softs, while the others are on used tyres. For the final bit of qualifying everyone is on a new set of soft tyres. Each of them finishes behind Verstappen, until Norris sets a faster time. But then Verstappen sets the fastest time, putting Norris in second position. 

Contest GP Silverstone: win a by Max Verstappen signed Orange Lion Driver Cap!

Results qualifying Great Britain: