Bottas dominated the qualification for the annual F1 race, the Ferrari drivers did not succeed

Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton (right) and Valtteri Bottas (left) dominated Saturday’s qualifying for the annual Formula 1 race in Silverston.

Andrew Boyers, Reuters

“I love qualifying, especially when such a round is done,” Bottas praised the successful attack on first place at the last possible moment. “Valtteri did a better job and he deserves a pole position. My last lap was not ideal,” said Hamilton.

Both favored riders outclassed the rest of the field. Surprisingly, the third place was won by the German Nico Hülkenberg, who almost surprised for Sergio Pérez in the Racing Point team, who did not pass the positive coronavirus test again.

“I’m a little surprised and I have a wide smile under the veil. It was the peak, but it’s not appropriate to rejoice prematurely,” said Hülkenberg before the second chance to race in Formula 1 after last year’s Renault. He qualified thirteenth in Silverstone last week, but did not even start for the British Grand Prix itself due to an engine failure.

Racing Point driver Nico Hülkenberg celebrates third place in qualifying for the Grand Prix on the 70th anniversary of Formula 1.

Andrew Boyers, Reuters

Other pilots in qualifying, starting with the fourth Dutchman Max Verstappen from Red Bull, did not fit even a second apart. Even Sebastian Vettel finished 12th, although after an additional penalty for Esteban Ocon of Renault, he will start from eleventh place. The four-time world champion did not advance to the ten-member qualifying final for the second time in his last season at Ferrari. “I’m very happy with my bikes, he’s not in that car anymore,” Vettel said. Only three positions ahead of him will be his teammate Charles Leclerc.

Sunday’s jubilee Grand Prix will start at 15:10 CEST. Hamilton leads the standings after four races with a 30-point lead over Bottas. Both Mercedes drivers dominated all previous races – Bottas won the inaugural Grand Prix in Austria from pole position and then triumphed three times from first place at the start of Hamilton.