Hamilton takes pole in last qualifying lap at British GP
Lewis Hamilton demonstrated the sangfroid of a champion and the enthusiasm of a rookie when he shrugged off intense pressure and expectation to take the pole position for the British Grand Prix on Saturday.
Knowing he had only one chance with just three minutes remaining, Hamilton responded with a spectacular lap in the final seconds of a dramatic qualifying session in Silverstone, England.
After his first flying run in Q3 was deleted because he went off the track, he edged Formula One leader and Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg by three-tenths of a second.
The rule exists to help reduce the risk of accidents caused by slow drivers interfering with others on fast laps.
F1 titleholder Hamilton and series leader Rosberg are set to start together on the front row, and confirmed they understood their responsibility to avoid another collision as they race under revised team rules of engagement, following a last-lap crash in the Austrian GP last Sunday.
Pagenaud, the series points leader, qualified with a two-lap time of 185.886 mph and gave Team Penske its 500th pole across all forms of motorsports.
Helio Castroneves, Pagenaud’s teammate, will start third, followed by rookie Max Chilton and Charlie Kimball.