F1 British Grand Prix sprint race LIVE: Qualifying results and reaction today

Follow live coverage of the first-ever F1 Sprint where the grid for Sunday’s British Grand Prix will be decided

''We got this done so early!'' - Hamilton and Wolffe delighted with new contract

Follow live reaction from the first-ever F1 Sprint ahead of the British Grand Prix on Sunday.

F1 is ushering in the biggest change to its weekend format in the modern era with Saturday's Sprint - one third distance of a traditional race - to determine the grid for Sunday's British Grand Prix.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the race to secure pole position for the British Grand Prix and extend his championship lead over Lewis Hamilton to 33 points. Seven-time world champion Hamilton will start alongside his Dutch rival on the front row after finishing second for Mercedes in a 17-lap race that offered three points for the winner, two for runner-up and one for third.

Hamilton’s team mate Valtteri Bottas was third in an experimental race that replaced the usual Saturday qualifying for the 10th round of the championship. Follow all the latest reaction today:

F1 Sprint race updates

• F1’s first Sprint to determine grid for British Grand Prix
• 17-lap race decides starting positions for Sunday’s race
• Max Verstappen passes Lewis Hamilton on first lap
• Dutchman wins and starts on pole position

[17 July 2021 16:57 · Jamie Braidwood]

F1 Sprint qualifying: Lap 15/17

“Stay off the kerbs on the tyres!”, is the message to Verstappen from Red Bull. He’s three laps away from a fourth pole position in a row.

[17 July 2021 16:57 · Jamie Braidwood]

F1 Sprint qualifying: Lap 14/17

Sainz has got past Gasly to take 11th place, he’s got Ocon up ahead now. Verstappen looks like he has this wrapped up. He sets a new fastest lap and is 2.9 seconds ahead of Hamilton.

[17 July 2021 16:54 · Jamie Braidwood]

F1 Sprint qualifying: Lap 13/17

Five laps to go! Do drivers stick or twist from here?

Sainz and Perez have been unable to recover their positions in the top 10 so far, while Vettel continues to push Alonso for seventh position.

[17 July 2021 16:53 · Jamie Braidwood]

F1 Sprint qualifying: Lap 12/17

Mercedes: “We can see Verstappen has blistering on his front-right [tyre].”

Hamilton: “So do I.”

[17 July 2021 16:52 · Jamie Braidwood]

F1 Sprint qualifying: Lap 11/17

Hamilton on the Mercedes team radio: “I’m giving it everything. Have we got more power?”

[17 July 2021 16:51 · Jamie Braidwood]

F1 Sprint qualifying: Lap 10/17

Hamilton sets a fastest lap - not that there’s an additional point available for that in the Sprint - but it’s evidence that the Mercedes is still trying to push and cut the gap to Verstappen.

Alonso is now coming under pressure from Vettel in the battle for seventh.

[17 July 2021 16:48 · Jamie Braidwood]

F1 Sprint qualifying: Lap 9/17

There’s still plenty of movement in midfield. Daniel Ricciardo gets ahead of Alonso to take sixth, and then the Spaniard goes back on the attack! Ricciardo holds him off, but that was great racing.

[17 July 2021 16:47 · Jamie Braidwood]

F1 Sprint qualifying: Lap 8/17

Max Verstappen has increased his lead over Hamilton to around 2.0 seconds. Bottas is comfortable in third with Leclerc 2.4 seconds behind. Then there’s a big gap from the Ferrari to Norris in fifth.

[17 July 2021 16:45 · Jamie Braidwood]

F1 Sprint qualifying: Lap 7/17

The contact between Russell and Sainz is under investigation. Russell has recovered a spot and is ninth, but Sainz is still paying the price for the incident and it 13th. Perez is 18th after his spin. The Red Bull managed to avoid hitting the wall as he ran into the gravel.

[17 July 2021 16:43 · Jamie Braidwood]

F1 Sprint qualifying: Lap 6/17

Lando Norris jumps past Alonso to take fifth! Hamilton sets a new fastest lap but the gap to Verstappen has grown to 1.6 seconds.