Formula 1 qualifying results: Starting grid for 2021 British Grand Prix

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More than races past, this is truly a sprint.

For the first time in F1, sprint qualifying belongs to Red Bull and Max Verstappen after the sport's first tremendously entertaining foray into a new qualifying format for Sunday's race. Lewis Hamilton entered the day on pole position, but got off to a slow start, leading way for Verstappen to take pole:

MORE: Watch Formula 1 live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)

The grid for Saturday's sprint qualifying session was set with the qualifying session on Friday; usually the second practice session, a sprint quali weekend means that the typical FP1-FP2-FP3-Q lineup is replaced by FP1-Q-FP2-SQ over Friday and Saturday.

In addition, top three racers will pick up some points for finishing on a metaphorical podium: Verstappen takes three driver's championship points for Sunday's race, with Mercedes teammates Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas taking second and third, respectively.

Here's how they'll line up this Sunday in the UK:

Formula 1 starting lineup for 2021 British Grand Prix

Here's how they lined up for Saturday's sprint qualifying, with qualifying for Sunday's race below:

At the end of it, pole position mattered not for Lewis Hamilton, who was out-started and out-paced by Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

Verstappen sits on pole for Sunday's race. George Russell is under investigation for a collision with Carlos Sainz:

Position Driver (Team)
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
5. Lando Norris (McLaren)
6. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren)
7. Fernando Alonso (Alpine)
8. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin)
9. George Russell (Williams)
10. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
11. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
12. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri)
13. Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo)
14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
15. Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo)
16. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri)
17. Nicholas Latifi (Williams)
18. Mick Schumacher (Haas)
19. Nikita Mazepin (Haas)
20. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)

What channel is the F1 race on Sunday?

  • Race: British Grand Prix
  • Date: Sunday, July 18, 2021
  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Live stream: WatchESPN, fuboTV

The ESPN family of networks will broadcast all 2021 F1 races in the United States using Sky Sports' feed, with a few races heading to ABC later in the season.

In addition, ESPN Deportes serves as the exclusive Spanish-language home for all 2021 F1 races in the U.S.

What time does the F1 race start on Sunday?

  • Date: Sunday, July 18
  • Start time: 10 a.m. ET

The 10 a.m. ET start time for Sunday's race means the 2021 British GP will start at 3 p.m. local time. The on-the-hour start time means lights out will likely take place just after 10 a.m. ESPN's pre-race show usually airs in the hour prior to the start of the race.

Below is the complete TV schedule for the weekend's F1 events at the British GP.

Date Event Time (ET) TV channel
Friday, July 16 Practice 1 9:30 a.m. ESPN2
Friday, July 16 Qualifying 1 p.m. ESPN2
Saturday, July 17 Practice 2 7 a.m. ESPN2
Saturday, July 17 Sprint qualifying 11:30 a.m. ESPN2
Sunday, July 18 Race 10 a.m. ESPN

Formula 1 live stream for British Grand Prix

For those who don't have a cable or satellite subscription, there are four major OTT TV streaming options that carry ESPN — fuboTV, Sling, Hulu, YouTubeTV and AT&T Now. Of the four, Hulu and YouTubeTV offer free trial options.

Below are links to each.

For those who do have a cable or satellite subscription but are not in front of a TV, Formula 1 races in 2021 can be streamed live via phones, tablets and other devices on the ESPN app with authentication.

Formula 1 schedule 2021

Formula 1 returns in 2021 with a zaftig 23-race schedule, starting with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 28, and concluding with the customary Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Dec. 12.

The Canadian GP was canned as the country continues to wrangle with coronavirus issues, and F1 added the Styrian GP in its stead. The French GP moves up a week to June 20.

The race originally scheduled for Oct. 3 in Singapore was also axed, with the Turkish GP rejoining the schedule for the same date. That race takes place at Istanbul City Circuit.

The Portuguese Grand Prix returns for its second-consecutive running after a 22-year absence. Also making its debut this year is the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix taking place on the Jeddah Street Circuit, scheduled for December.

Date Race Course Start time (ET) TV channel Winner
March 28 Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain International Circuit 11 a.m. ESPN2 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
April 18 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari 9 a.m. TBD Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
May 2 Portuguese Grand Prix Algarve International Circuit 10 a.m. ESPN Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
May 9 Spanish Grand Prix Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 9 a.m. ESPN Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
May 23 Monaco Grand Prix Circuit de Monaco 9 a.m. ESPN2 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
June 6 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Baku City Circuit 8 a.m. ESPN Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
June 20 French Grand Prix Circuit Paul Ricard 9 a.m. ESPN2 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
June 27 Styrian Grand Prix Red Bull Ring 9 a.m. ESPN Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
July 4 Austrian Grand Prix Red Bull Ring 9 a.m. ESPN Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
July 18 British Grand Prix Silverstone Circuit 10 a.m. ESPN TBD
Aug. 1 Hungarian Grand Prix Hungaroring 9 a.m. ESPN TBD
Aug. 29 Belgian Grand Prix Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 9 a.m. ESPN2 TBD
Sept. 5 Dutch Grand Prix Circuit Zandvoort 9 a.m. ESPN2 TBD
Sept. 12 Italian Grand Prix Autodromo Nazionale di Monza 9 a.m. ESPN2 TBD
Sept. 26 Russian Grand Prix Sochi Autodrom 8 a.m. ESPN2 TBD
Oct. 3 Turkish Grand Prix Istanbul City Circuit TBD ESPN2 TBD
Oct. 10 Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka International Racing Course 1 a.m. ESPN2 TBD
Oct. 24 United States Grand Prix Circuit of the Americas 3 p.m. ABC TBD
Oct. 31 Mexico City Grand Prix Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez 3 p.m. ABC TBD
Nov. 7 Brazilian Grand Prix Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace Noon ESPN2 TBD
Nov. 21 Australian Grand Prix Albert Park Circuit 1 a.m. ESPN News TBD
Dec. 5 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Jeddah Street Circuit 11 p.m. ESPN2 TBD
Dec. 12 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Yas Marina Circuit 8 a.m. ESPN2 TBD
Author(s)
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Joe Rivera is a senior content producer at The Sporting News and teaches Multimedia Sports Reporting at his alma mater, Rutgers University.