F1 British GP: Bottas takes pole as Mercedes lock out front row

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Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas (C) takes pole position followed by teammate Lewis Hamilton (L) and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc during the F1 British Grand Prix in Northampton, UK, July 13, 2019. /VCG Photo

Valtteri Bottas upstaged his team-mate Lewis Hamilton on Saturday when he secured pole position as Mercedes locked out the front row of the grid for Sunday's British Grand Prix.

The Finn, who is 31 points adrift of defending world champion Hamilton in this year's title race, clocked a track record fastest lap in one minute and 25.093 seconds to outpace the local hero by just 0.006 seconds.

"It was really good and it reminds me of why we do this," said a smiling Bottas after securing his first British pole position and tenth of his career.

"It's been really close with Lewis all weekend and I am really happy to get such a good lap and pole."

Hamilton, who is hunting a record sixth victory in his home event, said: "Congratulations to Valtteri – he did a really good job. It wasn't quite good enough... But this is the best Grand Prix of the year because of the energy this crowd and all these people bring."

It was Mercedes' 64th front-row lockout of the grid for a Grand Prix.

Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas (L) shakes hands with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc during the F1 British Grand Prix in Northampton, UK, July 13, 2019. /VCG Photo

Charles Leclerc of Ferrari was third, just 0.079 seconds adrift of Bottas, ahead of Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team-mate Pierre Gasly with four-time champion Sebastian Vettel sixth in the second Ferrari.

Leclerc said: "I think Mercedes turned up the engine a little bit and they were so good in the corners, which we know we need to work on."

Bottas, who took pole ahead of Hamilton by just 0.006 seconds, ended the championship leader's hopes of claiming a fifth consecutive British pole and seventh overall at his home race.

The five-time world champion rejected suggestions that his regular trans-Atlantic commuting from Los Angeles to race at European Grands Prix was affecting his performances.

"I do have five world titles and they didn't come on their own," he said. "My preparation comes first and I've felt fantastic all weekend.

"The pressure's quite high here, being a home Grand Prix. I prepare the best I can, but I do what I want.

"I don't do what you think I should do or anyone else thinks I should do and that's what has led me to five world titles."

Source(s): AFP