HOCKENHEIM – Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton snatched
pole position on Saturday for Sunday's German Formula One Grand Prix
after Ferrari duo Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc both suffered
car problems when looking well set.
A power problem meant Vettel failed to set a time in the opening Q1
of qualifying and is poised to have to start his home race from the
back of the grid.
Leclerc, quickest in second and third practice, meanwhile failed to
leave the garage in Q3 and is due to start in 10th.
World champion and championship leader Hamilton had looked off the
pace in practice but took his 87th pole ahead of Red Bull's Max
Verstappen and Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.
"You never stop to amaze us, congratulations," Mercedes team boss
Toto Wolff told Hamilton over the radio.
Hamilton told reporters: "I don't really know how we did it."
Pierre Gasly was fourth quickest in his Red Bull with Kimi Raikkonen
fifth in the Alfa Romeo ahead of Romain Grosjean, Carlos Sainz,
Sergio Perez and Nico Huelkenberg.
Vettel, yet to win this year during a hugely disappointing season,
could only look on forlornly with his helmet off as mechanics
scratched their heads about his power issue.
The four-times world champion, quickest in first practice on Friday,
crashed out while leading the German Grand Prix last year.
"I don't know what happened - something broke from the turbo," Vettel
told BBC radio.
"The car was great but we lost out on a chance. The car was good, we
did some changes that would have been great but it is not meant to
be."
This could end up being his final race in front of his home fans with
Hockenheim bosses doubtful they will be able to host the event again
because of costs and competition from new venues in Vietnam and the
Netherlands on the calendar.
Mercedes have won all but one race so far this year with Hamilton
streaking away at the top of the driver standings. But the Briton had
been struggling in south-west Germany before Ferrari again shot
themselves in the foot after the latest mishap in two dreadful
seasons.
Mercedes brought out a new white livery for their home race to
celebrate 125 years of their involvement in motorsport as well their
200th Formula One start. The white mirrored the colours of the old
Germany team but few home fans could have predicted a pole position.
As well as Vettel, Q1 paid for McLaren's Lando Norris, Toro Rosso's
Alexander Albon and the Williams duo of George Russell and Robert
Kubica.
Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo), Kevin Magnussen (Haas), Daniel
Ricciardo (Renault), Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso) and Lance Stroll
(Racing Point) went out in Q2 with Verstappen, winner last month in
Austria, only just sneaking through to Q3 after an engine problem
limited his track time.