Mercedes lock out front row as Lewis Hamilton claims pole at British Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton celebrates after claiming pole for the British Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg. Andrew Yates / Reuters / July 4, 2015

Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton took pole position for his home British Grand Prix on Saturday in a Mercedes one-two with team mate and title rival Nico Rosberg.

The pole was Hamilton’s eighth in nine races this season and the 46th of his career for the championship leader, who won at Silverstone last year and has a 10 point advantage over the German.

Brazilian Felipe Massa qualified third for Williams, ahead of Finnish team mate Valtteri Bottas, with the Ferraris of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel together on the third row.

Honda-powered McLaren’s miserable season continued with Spain’s Fernando Alonso qualifying 17th and Jenson Button 18th in his home grand prix.

STARTING GRID

1. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes

2. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes

3. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Williams-Mercedes

4. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Williams-Mercedes

5. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari

6. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Ferrari

7. Daniil Kvyat (Russia) RedBull — Renault

8. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain) Toro Rosso — Renault

9. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Force India — Mercedes

10. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) RedBull — Renault

11. Sergio Perez (Mexico) Force India — Mercedes

12. Romain Grosjean (France) Lotus — Mercedes

13. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Toro Rosso — Renault

14. Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Lotus — Mercedes

15. Marcus Ericsson (Sweden) Sauber — Ferrari

16. Felipe Nasr (Brazil) Sauber — Ferrari

17. Fernando Alonso (Spain) McLaren

18. Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren

19. Will Stevens (Britain) Marussia — Ferrari

20. Roberto Merhi (Spain) Marussia — Ferrari

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