Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen will start the 2025 F1 British Grand Prix from pole position after another unbelievable lap.
Max Verstappen has now matched the number of pole positions Sebastian Vettel achieved during his time at Red Bull.
Heading into qualifying, it appeared as though fans at the British Grand Prix had a decent chance of seeing one of their home town heroes take pole position.
Lando Norris showed exceptional one-lap pace, and Lewis Hamilton topped a practice session for the first time since signing for Ferrari.
Verstappen was left impressed with Hamilton’s Ferrari, but the Dutchman produced a 1:24.892 to pip drivers’ championship leader Oscar Piastri to top spot.
Former F1 world champion Jenson Button was watching Verstappen’s final flying lap closely, and noticed one moment that he simply couldn’t believe.
It’s not unusual for the four-time champion to produce moments of brilliance, and he had to do so again to come out on top at Silverstone as the leading cars continue to get closer and closer.
Photo by Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Jenson Button couldn’t ‘comprehend’ Max Verstappen’s speed at the British Grand Prix
Button was analysing Verstappen’s lap for Sky Sports F1 (5/7 4:34 pm) and explained why Red Bull’s set-up choices led to him beating both McLarens.
He said: “Yeah, I mean the thing is, when you’re going through Maggotts, Becketts, and you’re behind a car, if you have more downforce, you lose more downforce than when you have less downforce.
“You end up with the same downforce, but do you know what I mean, there’s a smaller difference for someone like Max.
“But the thing is, around here, Copse is a flat-out corner. It’s still a corner, it’s fully loaded the car, but if you have less downforce going through that corner, the car is freer.
“You don’t just gain on the straight up to Copse, you gain on the straight after Copse because your minimum speed is higher, and it just stays higher the whole time.
“The bit that’s amazing for me is that he’s going through Becketts quicker, and that’s the bit that I can’t comprehend.
“All the other bits, fair enough! It does blow my mind!”
Fans think Verstappen sent Toto Wolff a message over the radio after taking pole position, with rumours about his future continuing to circulate.
George Russell produced a phenomenal lap of his own and will start Sunday’s race in fourth, beating both Ferraris when they would have felt they were in contention to secure their first Grand Prix pole position this season.
Naomi Schiff lauds Max Verstappen after British Grand Prix pole position
Naomi Schiff added to Button’s praise of Verstappen after the session, and said: “Fantastic, we obviously didn’t get to see Oscar’s quickest lap, that was his last run where he made a mistake and wasn’t able to improve.
“So, it would have been interesting to see how the lap compared on his quickest run.
“Look, a Max masterclass, I would say. Fantastic job from him, on these quick circuits he does just seem to come alive.
“We saw it at Suzuka, we saw it in Saudi, and now we’re seeing it here again, so hat’s off to him.”
Verstappen’s Red Bull is set up to maximise top speed on the straights, which is going to make him very difficult to overtake.
McLaren’s car is the most balanced, while the Ferraris are supreme through the corners, which could lead to a fascinating Grand Prix.
