Verstappen shades Piastri for pole at Silverstone
Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium after winning the 2025 Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix at the Imola autodrome in Imola, on May 18, 2025. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP)
Red Bull's Max Verstappen claimed pole for the British Grand Prix after qualifying at Silverstone on Saturday.
McLaren's championship leader Oscar Piastri will start alongside the Dutchman on the front row of Sunday's race.
Piastri's teammate Lando Norris starts on the second row with the Mercedes of George Russell for company.
Piastri took provisional pole until Verstappen produced a perfect final flying lap to front the grid by only a tenth of a second from the Australian.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc made it an all Ferrari third row.
'It was tricky out there with the wind, it was all shifting around a bit and around here with these cars, it is extremely sensitive to it,' said four-time former world champion Verstappen.
'This is a proper track, when you have to go flat out you have to be super committed.
'We are quite quick on the straight, we have to wait and see what tomorrow will do but I am happy — it is a big boost for the team and excited to go racing tomorrow,' the 27-year-old added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald
an hour ago
- The Herald
Verstappen puts Red Bull on pole at Silverstone
Red Bull's Max Verstappen timed his final lap perfectly to seize pole position at the British Grand Prix on Saturday with McLaren's Formula One leader Oscar Piastri alongside on the front row. Crowd favourite Lando Norris, Piastri's teammate and closest title rival, qualified third. Mercedes' George Russell took fourth place on the grid and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, last year's race winner for a record ninth time, will start fifth in his first home grand prix in the Italian team's red overalls. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc lines up sixth, with the top five split by barely two tenths of a second on an overcast and windy afternoon. 'It was tricky out there with the wind ... it was all shifting around a bit,' said Verstappen after his fourth pole in 12 races but first since Miami in May. 'These cars are extremely sensitive to it. 'That final lap was good enough. This is a proper track, in qualifying you have to go flat out. With these corners you have to be really committed and that's really enjoyable.' Verstappen is third overall in the standings, 61 points behind Piastri who leads Norris by 15, and chasing his third win of the campaign to make up for retirement in Austria last weekend. Verstappen was also quickest in the first phase of qualifying, ahead of Piastri, but Hamilton went top in the second and looked like he could end a wait for pole dating back to Hungary 2023. Verstappen pole It was not to be, however, with Piastri taking provisional pole after the first flying laps before Verstappen put in a best of 1:24.892 seconds — 0.103 quicker. Norris was only 0.015 slower than Piastri. 'The first lap was mega, to be honest,' said the Australian. 'I was trying to think how I could go quicker and I didn't. The last lap was a little bit messy but it's been tight all weekend.' Norris said it had been an afternoon of small margins. 'I think it's going to be fun tomorrow. I think it's going to be a good battle between the three of us — or probably more with Lewis, Charles and George,' he added. Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli qualified seventh but has a three- place grid penalty carried over from Austria as punishment for shunting Verstappen out on the opening lap. That should have raised Oliver Bearman's Haas up to seventh but the Briton has a 10-place penalty for failing to respect red flags in final practice. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso will start seventh with Alpine's Pierre Gasly moving up to eighth and Carlos Sainz ninth for Williams with Antonelli 10th. Franco Colapinto triggered red flags in the first phase when he careered off track and into the gravel in a cloud of tyre smoke and dust. 'I lost the rears. Probably touched a bump or something,' said the Argentine. He got going and extricated himself but had to stop before making it back to the pits. The session was halted for minor barrier repairs, to clear debris and recover the stricken Alpine. Both the Saubers, Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson and Aston Martin's Lance Stroll also failed to progress to phase two.
The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs star close to joining Austrian Bundesliga newcomers
Kaizer Chiefs have begun their pre-season tour of the Netherlands without club captain Yusuf Maart, fuelling intense speculation about his immediate future. While the rest of the squad departed for Amsterdam on Thursday night, Maart remained in South Africa, not due to injury, but because a transfer abroad appears to be imminent. Despite signing a fresh contract with Amakhosi recently, Maart stayed behind as his teammates touched down in Apeldoorn on Friday morning. Chiefs will base themselves in the Dutch city, about 80 kilometres outside of Amsterdam, until 19 July as they ramp up preparations for the new Premiership campaign. The two-week camp will see the Glamour Boys test themselves against five top-level Dutch sides from both the Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie. Yet the absence of Maart, a key figure in the midfield, has quickly become the dominant talking point. A source indicated that Austrian Bundesliga newcomers SV Ried are on the verge of finalising a deal for the 29-year-old midfielder. Although Maart is still in South Africa, he is awaiting a work visa, the final step before sealing the move. 'It appears that the two clubs have reached an agreement, but the 29-year-old player is still awaiting the issuance of his visa.' The timing raises eyebrows, especially considering Maart's recent contract renewal. However, the allure of European football and a fresh challenge seems to have tipped the scales. SV Ried, newly promoted to Austria's top tier, now look set to become Maart's next destination. The club already boasts South African winger Antonio Van Wyk and continues to build a competitive squad for the upcoming campaign. Maart joined Kaizer Chiefs from Sekhukhune United in July 2022, inking a three-year deal. That initial contract expired at the end of June, but he had just renewed terms, a move now seemingly part of a well-managed exit strategy. Will the Kaizer Chiefs captain Maart do well at SV Ried? Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
The Economic Impact of Cricket in South Africa: Insights from CSA
Cricket South Africa (CSA) said the sport of cricket plays a huge role in contributing to the South African GDP, tourism, and economy. Image: AFP Cricket South Africa (CSA) said the sport of cricket plays a huge role in contributing to the South African GDP, tourism, and economy. Speaking to the Business Report, CSA said that India's tour to South Africa in the 2024/2025 season created a big economic boost. CSA believes that the Proteas' recent victory in the ICC World Test Championship will further elevate the sport in the country. The Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (FEDHASA) has also welcomed the role of cricket in growing hospitality and tourism. Edward Khoza, Executive, Domestic Cricket (CSA), said that cricket plays a vital part in our economy, especially in transport, playing equipment, maintenance of infrastructure, and keeping individuals employed (especially coaches who operate one-on-one coaching and private academy landscapes). 'With the results that the Proteas Test Team has attained, there will be an enhanced positiveness towards the game, which will benefit all these markets.' Wanele Mngomezulu, Chief Marketing Officer (CSA), said that cricket plays a huge contribution in drawing international fans to South Africa, contributing to sports tourism. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'According to BDO, the direct, indirect, and induced economic impact was approximately R218 million for the recent SA vs India inbound tour. The total contribution to the national government via various taxes amounted to R14 million.' Mngomezulu added that the total number of full-time equivalent employment created/sustained was approximately 405. 'Skills level breakdown (Skilled – 61; Semi-skilled – 137; Unskilled / low – 67; and Informal – 140). The total direct expenditure generated by the event amounted to R75 million. In total, i.e., the direct, indirect, and induced economic impact of the event for South Africa was approximately R218 million.' Enoch Nkwe, Director: National Teams and High Performance (CSA), said that every tournament that a South African team wins and becomes world champions has a huge positive impact on South Africa. 'The team's achievements have helped restore belief and confidence in the country and have also provided a foundation for the 2027 Cricket World Cup. We hope this success will give us an opportunity to attract more Test matches in the next FTP cycle (2027–2031).' Khoza added that the impact of the win was felt immediately by those who were in London to support the team and those who received the team at OR Tambo upon their return. 'Many school-going kids participating at various levels of our pathway shared how the win inspires their desire and commitment to the game. The national players are now regarded as heroes and role models for the game – they have inspired people who follow cricket to take up bat and ball in a positive way with the long-term ambitions of following in their heroes' footsteps.' Rosemary Anderson, Fedhasa National Chairperson, said that cricket is immensely important to tourism. 'Events like the recent South Africa vs India tour bring in large numbers of international visitors who spend on accommodation, dining, transport, and experiences - directly benefitting thousands of businesses across the tourism value chain. The figures from the BDO are compelling numbers that show how cricket can be a job creator and a revenue booster. But the impact goes even further. International visitors often come for the cricket and stay for South Africa. Our country has one of the highest tourism return rates globally. Visitors fall in love with our landscapes, culture, and hospitality. It's not uncommon for someone who first visits to support their team to return later with family or friends for a broader leisure holiday. ' Anderson added that more international cricket fixtures are directly linked to more inbound travel. 'Hotels fill up, restaurants are booked, transport companies benefit, and tour operators see increased activity. But just as importantly, the media coverage of these events gives South Africa positive exposure on a global scale - showcasing our stadiums, cities, and natural beauty to millions of viewers. This kind of destination marketing, coupled with actual visitor arrivals, creates both short-term and long-term returns. Globally, the value of sports tourism is immense, contributing over 10% of global tourism spending according to UNWTO estimates. Anderson said that their recent win boosts national pride and positions South Africa as a cricket powerhouse - encouraging more international tours and tests here. 'Hosting the 2027 World Cup is even more significant. It offers us a golden opportunity to package and promote our country to a global audience, drive up arrivals, and attract investment in tourism infrastructure.' Following the conclusion of the third season of the Betway SA20 cricket competition in South Africa in February, League Commissioner Graeme Smith said that Season 3 of the Betway SA20 has been an absolute game-changer. 'This is the third year running that we have seen unprecedented growth across broadcast, attendance, and digital platforms; we have really made a mark as one of the leading sport and entertainment brands in the country. Globally, our numbers continue to increase and support our vision of being the biggest T20 cricket league outside of India.' BUSINESS REPORT Visit:
