Valtteri Bottas beats Lewis Hamilton to take 70th Anniversary pole position
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Mercedes' Finnish racer Valtteri Bottas wins the pole position for the F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone circuit in Northampton, UK, August 8, 2020. /VCG

Mercedes' Finnish racer Valtteri Bottas wins the pole position for the F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone circuit in Northampton, UK, August 8, 2020. /VCG

Valtteri Bottas pipped championship-leading Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton by 0.063 seconds to pole position for F1's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone on Saturday with Nico Hulkenberg qualifying a stunning third for Racing Point.

It was the Finnish racer's 13th career pole, and first since the Austrian season-opener last month, ending six-time world champion Hamilton's bid for a fourth in a row and second at home on successive weekends.

The Mercedes have dominated the season so far, winning all four races from pole position – three by Hamilton and one by Bottas.

Finnish racer Valtteri Bottas drives the Mercedes AMG Petronas #77 during the final practice for the F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone circuit, UK, August 8, 2020. /VCG

Finnish racer Valtteri Bottas drives the Mercedes AMG Petronas #77 during the final practice for the F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone circuit, UK, August 8, 2020. /VCG

During last Sunday's British Grand Prix grid, held behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hamilton took his 91st pole and won despite a last lap puncture.

"Things are going to be a bit different to last weekend in terms of the strategy," said Bottas, who beat Hamilton by 0.063 seconds with a last flying lap on a hot afternoon.

He added that his expectations for the weekend event are "nothing more than to win the race."

Hamilton congratulated the Finn on ending his own run of three in a row.

"Valtteri did a fantastic job today. Just a bit too quick for me," said the Briton, who leads his teammate by 30 points.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen (C) and Renault's Daniel Ricciardo congratulate Nico Hulkenberg (L) after the Racing Point racer wins the third position for the F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone circuit, UK, August 8, 2020. /VCG

Red Bull's Max Verstappen (C) and Renault's Daniel Ricciardo congratulate Nico Hulkenberg (L) after the Racing Point racer wins the third position for the F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone circuit, UK, August 8, 2020. /VCG

Incredible Hulkenberg stands out as a stand-in

Nico Hulkenberg stood out as a stand-in at the event on Saturday, qualifying his Racing Point as best of the rest behind Bottas and Hamilton's dominant Mercedes cars.

Racing Point had a controversial weekend as they had been fined and docked 15 points for the copied brake ducts on their "Pink Mercedes", excelled.

The German is standing in for absent Mexican Sergio Perez, who failed another COVID-19 test this week, for a second successive race.

After failing to start at Silverstone last Sunday due to an engine problem, Hulkenberg was set to begin this 178th start on the grid.

"I knew this was going to come up now, obviously," he said.

"To be honest, it's very challenging and difficult circumstances but I know I have a fast car beneath me. So it's just trying to make sure to do everything right."

"Last week, or last weekend, was really extreme," he said. "To come back in the paddock without any preparation, 10 minutes before the session, was challenging to say the least but good fun at the same time.

"I felt much better prepared for this weekend. I didn't think much, just trying to squeeze everything out of the car and the tires and myself. Quite happy to be here."

Valtteri Bottas (R) finishes ahead of his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton by 0.063 seconds to win the pole position for F1's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, at Silverstone circuit, UK, August 8, 2020. /VCG

Valtteri Bottas (R) finishes ahead of his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton by 0.063 seconds to win the pole position for F1's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, at Silverstone circuit, UK, August 8, 2020. /VCG

Pirelli's tire issue

The softer tires introduced by Pirelli this weekend suggest a more tactical race is in prospect, as both drivers said.

"We have different tire compounds," said Bottas.

"So, of course, there is some more management required in certain places on the track for those and strategy is going to be different than last weekend."

Charles Leclerc was the highest-placed Ferrari driver in eighth, with his four-time world champion team mate Sebastian Vettel failing to make the top 10 session and qualifying only 12th.

Ferrari had changed the engines in both cars before qualifying after Vettel suffered a failure in Friday practice but they clearly struggled.

Vettel even went to softer tires to try and reach the final phase but to no avail.

(With input from agencies)