Image Credentials: Image Title: Hamilton Beats Antonelli to Sprint Pole at Silverstone. Source: (chatgpt.com) Date: June 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (chatgpt.com) by Open Chronicle and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle with Agencies
Lewis Hamilton delighted the Silverstone crowd by taking pole position for the Sprint at the 2026 Formula 1 British Grand Prix, beating Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli by just 0.011 seconds in a tense Sprint Qualifying session.
The Ferrari driver, racing in front of his home fans, delivered when it mattered most and secured the leading position for Saturday’s Sprint on one of the most symbolic weekends of his season.
Hamilton had already shown strong pace in the only practice session of the weekend, and he carried that form into Sprint Qualifying, where the final phase became a one-lap shootout on soft tyres.
The moment Lewis Hamilton secured the sprint pole at Silverstone. #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/6tthbKDDfa
— Motorsport (@Motorsport) July 3, 2026
Hamilton Edges Antonelli
Antonelli briefly looked set to claim Sprint pole after producing a highly competitive lap, but Hamilton responded with a marginally faster effort to move ahead by the smallest of margins.
The result gave Hamilton his first Sprint pole since the Chinese Grand Prix and confirmed Ferrari’s strong start to the British Grand Prix weekend.
Antonelli will share the front row with Hamilton, keeping Mercedes firmly in contention for the Sprint victory.
#F1SPRINT QUALIFYING CLASSIFICATION
Hamilton takes pole by a whisker from Antonelli 🤏#F1 #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/qjuLYGYMma
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 3, 2026
Verstappen Starts Third
Max Verstappen secured third place for Red Bull, placing himself directly behind Hamilton and Antonelli for the short race.
Charles Leclerc qualified fourth, giving Ferrari two cars inside the top four, while George Russell completed the top five for Mercedes.
The result sets up a highly competitive Sprint, with Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull all represented at the front of the grid.
Bortoleto Lines Up 12th
Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto qualified 12th for the Sprint.
The rookie had shown promising pace earlier in the weekend but was unable to progress into the final Sprint Qualifying segment. Even so, starting from 12th keeps him within reach of the points if he can make early progress in the opening laps.
Bortoleto’s performance continues to show steady development during his first Formula 1 season, particularly on demanding circuits such as Silverstone.
Sprint Start Time
The Sprint for the British Grand Prix is scheduled for Saturday at 8 a.m. Brasília time.
With Hamilton on pole, Antonelli alongside him and Verstappen close behind, the opening corners at Silverstone could prove decisive.
The result also adds further intrigue to the weekend, with Hamilton aiming to convert his Sprint pole into victory in front of the British fans.