Silverstone (United Kingdom) (AFP)

Current world championship leader Max Verstappen (Red Bull) won the first qualifying sprint race in Formula 1 history and will start from pole position at the British Grand Prix on Sunday at Silverstone.

Starting 2nd, Verstappen from the start overtook Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), his runner-up in the championship, before keeping his lead during the 17 laps of this new format tested by F1.

The two rivals will meet in the front row on Sunday for the Grand Prix (4:00 p.m. French time), the main event of the weekend with 52 laps.

Thanks to this 100 km sprint completed in 25 minutes, Verstappen took his 4th pole position in a row and the 8th of his career.

He also wins three points in the championship, against two for Hamilton and one for Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), 3rd.

The Red Bull driver, winner of four of the last five races, is now 33 points ahead of Hamilton heading into the 10th round of 23 on Sunday.

"We got off to a very good start (...) and then we had to manage the tires to the end," explained Verstappen, who had blisters on his tires, like Hamilton for that matter.

"We have to make sure we do the same tomorrow."

If he won at Hamilton's house GP, where the Englishman has won seven times (a record) including six since 2014, the Dutchman would strike a big blow.

A turning point, perhaps already decisive, towards his first world title at 23 years old.

- Hamilton not convinced by the sprint -

During the lap of honor of the first three, in a sort of double-decker truck in front of 105,000 spectators (86,000 were there on Friday and 140,000 are expected on Sunday), Hamilton thanked his supporters: "You can't imagine the energy that gives me this crowd ".

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He said he was "sorry" for not having been able to keep the lead, Red Bull being according to him "just too fast".

The pole position counter of the seven-time world champion therefore remains stuck at 100, a record, since the last one in May in Spain.

On the Grand Prix side, Hamilton remains on a five-game losing streak in a row since winning Barcelona.

Sir Lewis had yet taken the best time in the "classic" qualifying on Friday, but he had to confirm by winning in this unprecedented qualifying race.

With this format, F1 seeks to renew itself by offering one event per day over the weekend (qualifying - sprint - Grand Prix).

Many connoisseurs, fans, team managers or the drivers themselves, are not convinced by this format.

Hamilton himself had announced "a procession", a train without overtaking.

And of course, in the lead, apart from the initial overtaking, not much has happened.

Is he more convinced now?

"The race ...", he replied at a press conference, after an evocative silence, "it's very difficult to overtake and unfortunately these cars need pit stops and strategy to help them get into gear. place, otherwise it is very difficult to approach ".

Obviously not yet convinced, he called on the organizers to review their copy if they want to extend the concept in 2022 with a weekend "just Saturday and Sunday" from a perspective also "more ecological".

- Alonso does the show -

To find a show, we had to look behind, especially with veteran Fernando Alonso (Alpine), 39 years old.

Starting 11th, the Spaniard gained six places from the first corners.

With his soft tires he nevertheless lost pace and finished 7th.

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On the grid, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) will accompany Bottas on the second row, ahead of the McLarens of Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo.

Big loser of the day, Sergio Pérez spun off in the 5th round.

While he was 5th at the start on Saturday, the 2nd Red Bull driver will start right behind on Sunday.

Esteban Ocon (Alpine) won three places thanks to a good choice of soft tires and will start 10th.

The other Frenchman Pierre Gasly will be behind him in 12th place.

© 2021 AFP