2018 F1 qualifying reports articles

Hamilton on pole as Mercedes sweep front row for finale

2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying

24th November 2018, 14:0925th November 2018, 10:04 | Written by Keith Collantine

Lewis Hamilton took his 11th pole position of the 2018 season in Abu Dhabi as Mercedes swept the front row of the grid for the season finale.

Controversy reigns as Hamilton beats frustrated Vettel to Brazil pole

2018 Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying

10th November 2018, 19:1011th November 2018, 8:50 | Written by Keith Collantine

Lewis Hamilton claimed pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix ahead of Sebastian Vettel but both courted controversy during the rain-affected session.

Ricciardo denies Verstappen his first pole position

2018 Mexican Grand Prix qualifying

27th October 2018, 20:0828th October 2018, 8:25 | Written by Keith Collantine

Daniel Ricciardo stunned team mate Max Verstappen by beating him to pole position for the Mexican Grand Prix by two-hundredths of a second.

Hamilton on pole after Ferrari battle in Austin

2018 United States Grand Prix qualifying

20th October 2018, 23:499th December 2018, 12:45 | Written by Hazel Southwell

Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the 2018 United States Grand Prix after trading lap records with Kimi Raikkonen throughout the sessions.

Hamilton on pole, Vettel ninth after rain in qualifying

2018 Japanese Grand Prix qualifying

6th October 2018, 8:137th October 2018, 4:51 | Written by Keith Collantine

Lewis Hamilton grabbed his eighth pole position in qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix but a slip-up in a wet Q3 left his championship rival Sebastian Vettel only ninth.

Bottas leads Mercedes front row lock-out in Russia

2018 Russian Grand Prix qualifying

29th September 2018, 14:1429th September 2018, 15:17 | Written by Keith Collantine

Valtteri Bottas denied Lewis Hamilton pole position for the Russian Grand Prix and led a Mercedes sweep of the front row of the grid.

Hamilton storms to pole ahead of Verstappen in Singapore

2018 Singapore Grand Prix qualifying

15th September 2018, 15:1216th September 2018, 7:29 | Written by Will Wood

Lewis Hamilton took pole position at the Singapore Grand Prix with a stunning lap ahead of Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel.

Raikkonen sets F1’s fastest-ever lap to lead Ferrari one-two at Monza

2018 Italian Grand Prix qualifying

1st September 2018, 15:172nd September 2018, 0:05 | Written by Keith Collantine

Kimi Raikkonen broke Juan Pablo Montoya’s 14-year-old record for the fastest ever lap in an official Formula 1 session as he took pole position for the Italian Grand Prix.

Hamilton snatches pole as Force India star at damp Spa

2018 Belgian Grand Prix qualifying

25th August 2018, 15:3726th August 2018, 11:02 | Written by Keith Collantine

Lewis Hamilton took pole position after a rain shower hit Spa-Francorchamps in the latter stages of qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix.

Hamilton masters wet conditions for Hungarian Grand Prix pole

2018 Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying

28th July 2018, 15:1629th July 2018, 1:33 | Written by Keith Collantine

Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix with a perfectly-timed lap on a very wet Hungaroring.

Vettel on pole at home as problem halts Hamilton in Q1

2018 German Grand Prix qualifying

21st July 2018, 15:4922nd July 2018, 7:39 | Written by Hazel Southwell

Sebastian Vettel has taken pole at Hockenheim, while rival Lewis Hamilton damages car to go out in Q1.

Hamilton takes pole at home by 44 thousandths of a second

2018 British Grand Prix qualifying

7th July 2018, 15:14 | Written by Keith Collantine

Lewis Hamilton claimed pole position again at Silverstone by the slender margin of 44 thousandths of a second.

Bottas wins tight all-Mercedes fight for pole in Austria

2018 Austrian Grand Prix qualifying

30th June 2018, 15:4530th June 2018, 17:03 | Written by Keith Collantine

Valtteri Bottas made best use of Mercedes’ upgraded W09 to take his first pole position of 2018 by a tiny margin over team mate Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton leads Mercedes one-two as Leclerc stars

2018 French Grand Prix qualifying

23rd June 2018, 16:2323rd June 2018, 16:25 | Written by Keith Collantine

Lewis Hamilton needed a flying late effort to beat team mate Valtteri Bottas to pole position at Paul Ricard.

Vettel narrowly takes fourth pole of 2018 in Canada

2018 Canadian Grand Prix qualifying

9th June 2018, 20:1210th June 2018, 8:14 | Written by Keith Collantine

Sebastian Vettel put his Ferrari on pole position in Canada but a mistake left team mate Kimi Raikkonen fifth. Valtteri Bottas joins Vettel on the front row.

Ricciardo dominates qualifying in Monaco for second pole position

2018 Monaco Grand Prix qualifying

26th May 2018, 15:119th December 2018, 12:11 | Written by Keith Collantine

Daniel Ricciardo completed a faultless job so far this weekend by taking pole position after leading every stage of qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Hamilton leads Mercedes front row lockout in Spanish GP qualifying

2018 Spanish Grand Prix qualifying

12th May 2018, 15:1313th May 2018, 1:02 | Written by Will Wood

Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas with the Ferraris of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen behind.