F1's Most Dramatic Qualifying Of The Season Did Not Award A Pole

Today's qualifying session for Sunday's British Grand Prix was among the best of the season. Unfortunately, they were also arguably the least meaningful of the season.

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have been locked in a tight battle since the first race of the 2021 season, but Verstappen has had the upper hand of late. The Dutch driver captured the last three poles, and four of the last five races, while Hamilton has not started from pole since early May. Both easily made the final round of elimination qualifying, where Hamilton quickly got a small upper hand on the first of two chances to run.

Then, with time expiring, both went out for their final laps. Hamilton seemed poised to crush his own time and set an unbeatable number, but he had a big slide in sector 3 and lost the pace. He would have to rely on his first lap, which was well within reach of Verstappen. The Red Bull driver was not quite on the pace, but he was on a fast lap of his own and had a shot heading into sector 3. He slipped up just enough, falling to second and guaranteeing a massive ovation for the English Hamilton in his home event.