F1 British Grand Prix Qualifying: Finally, Carlos Sainz Jr. Takes a Formula 1 Pole

Since making his Formula 1 debut in 2015, Carlos Sainz has been chasing No. 1's to no avail.

No wins.

No poles.

Well, he’s still chasing his first career F1 victory—he does have 11 podiums—but on Saturday, the Ferrari driver finally grabbed his first pole position at the 151st attempt. The pole came at a soggy Silverstone circuit.

Only Sergio Perez, who took pole on his 216th try, had entered more F1 races before finally topping qualifying earlier this year at Saudi Arabia.

The typical British summer was in full effect at Silverstone, as rain fell 10 minutes before qualifying and continued throughout the three-stage session, with air temperature a paltry 57 degrees. Sainz beat Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc to wind up atop the time sheets, and Sainz was surprised at the outcome.

“I was struggling a lot with the standing water in the racing line and it was very easy to get snaps and lose the laps,” said Sainz. “I put together a lap that I thought was nothing special, put it on the board and see how it is, but it was pole position, definitely a bit of a surprise.”

Sainz was undoubtedly assisted by what went on further behind on the track.

Leclerc spun through Chapel curve on his final push lap, squandering his prospects, while the resultant local yellow flags prompted Verstappen to back off. That meant neither were able to improve during the optimum track conditions in the last few moments of the session.