Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended

F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix qualifying LIVE: Latest updates as Lewis Hamilton goes for pole position

Follow the latest updates from qualifying for F1’s 70th Anniversary Grand Prix

Jack de Menezes
Sports News Correspondent
Saturday 08 August 2020 09:45 EDT
Comments
F1: 70th Anniversary Grand Prix preview

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Follow the latest updates live from qualifying for F1’s 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton will be bidding to clinch his fourth consecutive pole position fresh from his victory at Silverstone last weekend.

The reigning champion is romping clear at the top of the table, with last Sunday's British Grand Prix triumph putting him 30 points ahead of Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in the world championship standings. After dominating last weekend, the two Mercs go into the session as red hot favourites to continue their dominance, but the hot weather that has baked Britain this weekend has been causing havoc with the Pirelli tyres.

As a result, the likes of Max Verstappen in the Red Bull and Daniel Ricciardo in the Renault will harbour hopes of an upset this afternoon, while Ferrari look in store for another difficult weekend. Follow the live updates below.

When is qualifying?

Qualifying for the F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix begins at 2pm on Saturday 8 August.

When is the race?

The F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix takes place on Sunday 9 August from 2:10pm BST.

Q2Verstappen is going for the alternative strategy. He's out on the hard tyres in the hope that he can then start tomorrow's race on the hards and mix up the strategy from Mercedes. All he needs to do is make it through Q2...

Jack de Menezes8 August 2020 14:28

Q2Hamilton puts in a bit of a messy lap, a 1:26.266, which Bottas obliterates and goes half a second faster. Hamilton will need to go again with that.

Jack de Menezes8 August 2020 14:30

Q2Hulkenberg was on an impressive lap only for it to go wrong in the final sector, and replays show he went off on the exit of Becketts to cross the dirt and wreck his lap. He's in the drop zone, when he was on course to go second.

Jack de Menezes8 August 2020 14:31

Q2Vettel's nightmare of a weekend continues as he can only manage 10th with his first lap, compared to Leclerc who goes fourth in the same car.

Jack de Menezes8 August 2020 14:33

Jack de Menezes8 August 2020 14:35

Q2Russell is out early and has a clear track to work with. The Williams is currently in 15th with no time set - what can he do with the freedom of Silverstone?

Jack de Menezes8 August 2020 14:36

Q2It's only enough for 12th, but he's just two-thousandths off the Ferrari of Vettel - who is going out on the soft tyres! That looks a terrible decision personally, as if he now makes it into Q3, he'll have to start on the worst set of tyres int he race.

Jack de Menezes8 August 2020 14:38

Q2Current drop zone with 1 minutes to go:

11th - Vettel

12th - Russell

13th - Sainz 

14th - Hulkenberg

15th - Grosjean

Jack de Menezes8 August 2020 14:40

Q2Hulkenberg goes second fastest!

Jack de Menezes8 August 2020 14:40

Q2Sainz and Ocon can't improve, and they're out of qualifying. What can Vettel do?

Jack de Menezes8 August 2020 14:41

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in