How Lewis Hamilton ‘enthusiast’ Isack Hadjar reacted in media pen when he blew British Grand Prix pole

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Lewis Hamilton would have been a popular polesitter at the British Grand Prix on Saturday, and not just with the fans in attendance.

Hamilton is no longer the dominant driver he once was, but this would have been a fairytale venue to score his first Ferrari pole position. A worthy follow-up to his emotional 2024 victory for Mercedes was on the cards.

Hamilton showed contending pace throughout practice, setting the pace in FP1, and arguably went into the top-10 shoot-out as the favourite after topping Q2. But a poor final sector cost him, and he ended up down in fifth on the grid.

He shouldn’t be counted out for Sunday’s race, but while Ferrari are enjoying arguably their strongest weekend of the year, they may not have the pace advantage required to overtake the cars ahead.

Isack Hadjar looked disappointed when Lewis Hamilton spurned British Grand Prix pole

Ahead of this weekend’s race, Lando Norris said he was cheering on Hamilton and longing for more battles before he retires. Norris recalled watching his fellow countryman win the title at McLaren in 2008.

Indeed, the new generation of F1 drivers were still children when he was setting the benchmark at Mercedes. Many of them naturally idolise Hamilton as a result.

That group includes Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar. Hadjar and Hamilton have developed a bond during the former’s rookie campaign.

The Frenchman was knocked out in Q2 here (P13) but was a keen observer in the media pen as the fight for pole unfolded. According to The Race’s Scott Mitchell-Malm, he was visibly ‘disappointed’ that he missed out, bowing his head as he turned away from the screens.

Ferrari’s unbroadcast radio to Lewis Hamilton after Silverstone qualifying

Hamilton, who was already on for the front row, got the crowd excited by setting a purple first sector on his final run. But his lap fell away in the last few corners.

Martin Brundle says Hamilton chased an ‘impossible’ time, carrying too much speed and losing control of his car. Ferrari engineer Riccardo Adami agreed that he’d squandered pole at the end of the lap.

Encouragingly, the SF-25 has come alive around Silverstone, just a week after a key floor upgrade. The drivers will hope that their long-run pace isn’t derailed by lift-and-coast instructions.

Verstappen can tie Hamilton for grand slams if he leads throughout Sunday’s race and sets the fastest lap.