KIMI ANTONELLI dubbed Lewis Hamilton the “legend” of Silverstone, even after he left the track with a perfectly executed Italian job for pole at the British Grand Prix.
The Silverstone crowd had been hoping for one of the five Brits racing to take pole for Sunday’s Formula One race just as Hamilton had scored first blood with pole in sprint qualifying before Antonelli battled back to win.
And it proved to be a repeat performance as rapid Antonelli registered a time three-tenths faster than the seven-time world champion and Mercedes team-mate George Russell.
In fact, the pair were also both outdone by Charles Leclerc as the Tifosi sweetheart completed the front row of the grid.
Hamilton, 41, cast a sulky figure on the couch in the press conference as he was dubbed “the legend”of Silverstone by Antonelli, who said: “It’s incredible to see how much support there is for everyone, especially for Lewis in particular.
“He’s kind of a legend here, well actually he is the legend here around Silverstone so I think the crowd give you such positive energy.”
Hamilton was supported from the Ferrari paddock by mum, Carmen Larbalestier, and paternal half-brother Nicholas Hamilton.
But it was the father of 19-year-old Antonelli, Marco, who celebrated his son being at the front of the grid.
And it meant Mercedes continued their run of taking pole at every race this season, with championship leader Antonelli now on five to Russell’s four.
Asked whether he felt there was more time in the car, Hamilton said: “Not particularly.
Run two was pretty decent then I lost my [energy] deployment and lost like three tenths to them in that straight.
“I struggled more this session with the car, there was a lot more oversteer.”
On the race, Hamilton also downplayed any chance of a Ferrari victory, adding: “We couldn’t [beat them] this morning so don’t think that changes a lot.
“They went way quicker.
Nothing changed between morning and now, and nothing will change between today and tomorrow.
“We’ll do our best to hold onto them but ultimately if he gets a clean run he will win.”
Russell’s nightmare Silverstone weekend looked set to continue when he locked up to go into the gravel and wall on the final corner before the start-finish line in Q1, but the 28-year-old only ended up kissing the wall, allowing him to limp back to the piTS.
He was joined in an off track escapade by Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, who lost control of his car at Chapel and went over the grass but was not afforded the luxury of another run as he qualified in 19th.
Meanwhile, fellow Brit Ollie Bearman enjoyed better fortunes than on Friday by progressing into Q2 after he was eliminated in 17th in sprint qualifying, but only managed 14th for the full race.
Antonelli had a lock up at the start of Q2 that threatened to compromise his run, but the teen was undeterred and went on to set the pace by over a tenth quicker than Leclerc in second, a sign of things to come.
Lando Norris also squeezed into Q3, and went on to qualify in sixth directly behind Max Verstappen in seventh while McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri came eighth, with Isack Hadjar the surprise package of the session with an impressive fifth.
Racing Bulls duo Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad made up the final two spots in the top 10.
