George Russell takes POLE place for the British GP in Mercedes 1-2

They came like Spitfires through the gloom at the old airfield, three British drivers warming the crowd that huddled in hope and rose in joy. To George Russell pole, Lewis Hamilton second on the grid, Lando Norris third.

It was cagoule and galoshes weather, a typical English scene ahead of qualifying for today’s Silverstone spectacle in front of an anticipated crowd of 160,000. And local familiarity with the inclement weather – 14C, a chill wind blowing – may have lent a hand as the track dried, was sprinkled again, and dried once more.

Russell, who kept his nerve despite admitting to feeling the biggest pressure he has known in qualifying, finished 0.171sec ahead of his fellow Mercedes man Hamilton. That in itself sets up the 52-lap contest intriguingly because the seven-time world champion does not relish an unaccustomed role as Robin to anyone’s Batman. And all the more so at his home track, where he has triumphed a record eight times. He has not been off the podium here since 2014, a mighty record for the crowd-surfing hero.

Norris could also have a say in the outcome, with his McLaren expected to be a live threat. And best of all for the Brits, world champion Max Verstappen qualified fourth, his floor damaged in an off-track excursion.

‘This is definitely one of the best feelings I’ve ever had on a Saturday afternoon,’ eulogised Russell. ‘The car was just insane. Crossing the line and seeing my name P1 was brilliant.

George Russell will start on pole position for tomorrow’s British Grand Prix in a Mercedes 1-2 from Lewis Hamilton (left) and Lando Norris (right) in the McLaren in third

It is the first time that Hamilton (seen speaking to Sir Jackie Stewart) has qualified on the front row this season 

Norris will line up third alongside Max Verstappen after their crash last weekend

There is a strong chance of a British winner at Silverstone after an excellent qualifying session

‘These conditions really got us into a perfect window. There are no guarantees for tomorrow, but we really feel like we’re riding this wave. It was just on rails… I was so confident.’

What a turnaround by Mercedes, who struggled to find north through the technical meanderings of the last few years. No fix worked. But for four weekends now, solid progress – and then this vault to their first front-row lockout achieved via qualifying (rather than through the sprint shake-up) since Saudi Arabia in 2021, the last race Hamilton won, 944 days ago.

As for Norris, he was a little crestfallen, his words a touch croaky after being eclipsed at the last moment. The McLaren man had looked pole man-elect throughout the session, but he couldn’t better his previous time in his final run. He ran wide at Stowe, though by then he was already a tenth down. Russell’s mark, just set, stood. The King’s Lynn-born, Monaco-based Russell punched the air hard and whooped his delight from the cockpit.

Back in the garage, team principal Toto Wolff shook hands animatedly with his close associates. Relief for him, an Austrian understanding what was turning into a very British occasion.

This is the first time since January 1, 1968 in Kyalami, South Africa, that a British trio have qualified one-two-three: Jim Clark, Graham Hill and Jackie Stewart. Not a bad line-up. For the record, Clark won, Hill finished second, the Austrian interloper Jochen Rindt third.

It has happened at the British Grand Prix before, too. The last time came at Aintree six years earlier: Clark, John Surtees and Innes Ireland dominating the grid in a race won by Clark before he went back to his Borders farm to herd his sheep.

Yesterday a leading journalist from France’s L’Equipe newspaper, Frederic Ferret, did his bit for entente cordiale by asking why the Brits are so good at Formula One.

Actor Brad Pitt was in attendance as he continues filming his movie called ‘F1’ which is released next year

‘Roast dinners,’ ventured Hamilton. Russell went off menu, citing not only an understanding of the weather but saying: ‘Grassroots in the UK are the most advanced in motor sport and some of the best drivers push each other along the journey. The history of great champions has also inspired a new generation to follow in their footsteps.’

As for Verstappen, he only just survived Q1 after catching a patch of rain coming into Copse and slithering through a Brighton beach of pebbles, to jeers. His mechanics were on their hands and knees in the garage trying to repair the damage. Holes in the floor, holes in his hopes.

You never write off a talent like Verstappen, but with three of our boys up front surely one of them can find the net.