Formula One’s maiden ‘sprint’ race took place on Saturday, with Max Verstappen taking the honours ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.Â
Verstappen started second behind Hamilton but overtook his rival at the start and kept the Briton behind for the next 17 laps to take pole position for the Grand Prix at Silverstone and with it three championship points.Â
He extends his title lead to 33 points over Hamilton with another possible 26 on offer for Sunday’s race.Â
When is it?
In a shake-up of F1’s traditional schedule and format, first practice and qualifying took place on Friday July 16. Second practice and the new ‘sprint’ qualifying were on Saturday July 17. The British Grand Prix itself is on Sunday July 18.Â
What time does it start?
The race itself is at 3pm BST this afternoon.Â
What were the positions after Sprint Qualifying?
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull 3pts
- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 2pts
- Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 1pt
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
- Lando Norris, McLaren
- Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren
- Fernando Alonso, Alpine
- Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin
- George Russell, Williams *three-place grid penalty
- Esteban Ocon, Alpine
- Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
- Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
- Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo
- Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
- Antonio Giovinazzi, Alfa Romeo
- Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
- Nicholas Latifi, Williams
- Mick Schumacher, Haas
- Nikita Mazepin, Haas
- Sergio Pérez, Red Bull (DNF)
Hang on, what is ‘sprint qualifying’?
This year F1 has introduced a new weekend format at three rounds, with the British GP being the first time it is tried. This is aimed at increasing the excitement and action over a race weekend, primarily.Â
Sprint qualifying in this case is a 17-lap race with a grid determined by Friday’s ‘traditional’ qualifying session, which has the usual Q1, Q2 and Q3 segments.Â
The final order of the sprint qualifying race determines the order for the grid on Sunday. So, if Lewis Hamilton qualifies first on Friday – as he did – but then collides with Max Verstappen and crashes out on the first lap of the sprint race on Saturday, he will start from the back of the grid on Sunday.
As well as deciding Sunday’s starting order, championship points (three, two and one) will be awarded to the top three finishers and the winner will be declared the man who has taken pole position.Â
For more detailed information on this weekend’s sprint race, click here.Â
What are the championship standings?
Drivers’ top 10: