Eifel GP: Bottas beat Hamilton on the last lap to take pole at the Nürburgring | Formula 1

Second on the grid, Hamilton remains on track to match Michael Schumacher’s record of 91 wins in the category on Sunday.

In a classification marked by the low temperature of the track (nine degrees), Charles Leclerc did an excellent training and, despite the limitations of Ferrari, he was fourth on the grid, 0s012 ahead of Alexander Albon of RBR. The top ten, from sixth to tenth positions, were completed by Daniel Ricciardo (Renault), Esteban Ocon (Renault), Lando Norris (McLaren), Sergio Pérez (Racing Point) and Carlos Sainz Jr. (McLaren).

The Formula 1 Eifel GP begins at 9:10 am (Brasilia time) this Sunday, with a live broadcast on TV Globo. The narration will be provided by Everaldo Marques, with comments from Luciano Burti and Felipe Giaffone. The ge also shows the race on video.

New opportunity for Hulkenberg

After Lance Stroll fell ill and was unable to participate in track activities, Racing Point turned to Nico Hulkenberg again. The German, who had already replaced Sergio Pérez (for Covid-19) in the two Silverstone weekends, was ranked 20th and last on the grid, but was praised by the engineer on the radio.

BOTTLE: “It feels great when you get to the last lap! I was treacherous today with little training and putting the tires in place.”

HAMILTON: “It’s an amazing circuit. It’s definitely great to be back here. Tomorrow there is a lot to play, I need to bow my head.”

VERSTAPPEN: “Overall, we are getting closer to Mercedes, which is very positive. In a way, I am a little disappointed, but I can still be happy. It is a fun track to drive. I am looking forward to seeing what I can do tomorrow.”

What do you need to know?

– Bottas third pole of the season and 14th of his career.

– With fourth place, Leclerc equaled his best starting position of the year (England).

– Even without having been in free practice, Hulkenberg was 0s4 to advance from Q1.

Q1 – 18 minutes and five eliminated

With Hulkenberg immediately on the track, qualifying began with Hamilton setting the best time, 1m26s703, followed by Bottas, 1m26s926. Third in the only free practice sessions, Leclerc was among the Mercedes, with 1m26s857. But with nine minutes to go, Verstappen took the lead with 1’26.3319, and Bottas improved to take second place, 0.2525 behind.

In the final minutes, Norris moved up to fourth place, which pushed Leclerc to fifth, while Vettel risked not qualifying for Q2, but moved up to ninth on the final lap. Giovinazzi also advanced on the last lap, and Pérez also only got the position at the end, when he put on a set of soft tires.

Both Williams and Grosjean drivers were eliminated. Already Raikkonen will start penultimate in the race in which he will break the record for grand prix in Formula 1. Without having been in free practice, Hulkenberg was last on the grid, at 0488 of Giovinazzi, the last classified for the second stage of training .

16th ROMAIN GROSJEAN (HAAS)
17th GEORGE RUSSELL (WILLIAMS)
18th NICHOLAS LATIFI (WILLIAMS)
19th KIMI RAIKKONEN (ALFA ROMEO)
20th NICO HULKENBERG (RACING POINT)

Q2 – 15 minutes and five eliminated

On medium tires early in Q2, Hamilton ran 1m26s181 on the first lap of Q2, leading 0s771 over Bottas, who had the same compound but missed. Soon after, Norris and Pérez were placed between the two.

Shortly after, on soft tires, Verstappen broke the track record with 1’25’720, and Albon jumped to third position, 0’1 behind Hamilton. With other riders using the softs, Bottas fell to eighth.

Forced to use a set of soft tires so as not to risk being eliminated, Bottas climbed to second with five minutes to go, but was still 0251 behind Verstappen’s time. Hamilton also played a soft game and regained first place with 1’25.3390. Max also entered the track and approached the Englishman, with 1´25s467.

In the fight for the last places, Leclerc made sure in Q3 by taking the fifth best time on the last lap: Vettel was eliminated, in eleventh place. The two AlphaTauri drivers, as well as Giovinazzi and Magnussen, were also eliminated. The Renault and McLaren teams advanced, as did Albon and Pérez.

XI SEBASTIAN VETTEL (FERRARI)
12th PIERRE GASLY (ALPHATAURI)
13th DANIIL KVYAT (ALPHATAURI)
14th ANTONIO GIOVINAZZI (ALFA ROMEO)
15th KEVIN MAGNUSSEN (HAAS)

Q3: ten minutes and contest for pole

The final stage of training had Hamilton hitting 1’25s825 on the first attempt, but Bottas immediately took first place, only 0s013 ahead. Verstappen was the next and took the provisional pole, with 1´25.7744.

At the last attempt, all three improved their times, but Bottas made the three best stages of the circuit to secure third pole in 11 races of the season, with a good lead over Hamilton.