Lewis Hamilton clinched pole for the British Grand Prix sprint at Silverstone, edging championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 0.011 seconds. The seven‑time world champion recorded a 1:28.376 lap, his ninth home‑race victory and first sprint‑qualifying pole. Fans cheered as the sun bathed the circuit, and the 17‑lap dash on Saturday now features Lewis Hamilton at the front of a grid stacked with title contenders.

Antonelli secured second, Max Verstappen third and Charles Leclerc fourth, while George Russell slipped to fifth despite his Mercedes pace. Verstappen’s 0.321‑second gap underscored Red Bull’s speed, yet the Italian’s front‑row start keeps Ferrari in the sprint mix. Russell remains 40 points adrift, highlighting Mercedes’ struggle to match the pace. Russell lamented being “always on the backfoot” after missing Q3 pace.

Hamilton called the result an “amazing surprise,” noting Ferrari never expected a front‑row fight at Silverstone. The pole gives him a rare chance to convert home advantage into sprint points, a boost for his championship bid. The Ferrari team praised the car’s balance and tyre management, crediting recent aerodynamic tweaks. He will line up first when lights go out at 12:00 BST on Saturday.