2024 F1 British GP Qualifying: Key Takeaways

The 2024 F1 British GP qualifying was a classic, as it saw all three weather conditions. It was damp at the start, then it dried out, then it rained, and then it dried out again. Eventually, George Russell stood tall with his second pole of the season.

He will have his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton alongside him in the front row. In the second row will be Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. The mixed conditions induced mistakes but also saw the cream rise to the top. So, what did we learn from the qualifying session? Let's take a look.

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2024 F1 British GP Qualifying: What did we learn?

#1 Mercedes back at the front

Canada was considered a bit of a fluke. Barcelona was the first step of verification, while Austria was another positive, but what Mercedes have done in Silverstone marks their return to the front. It's a front row locked up by both their drivers out of nowhere, as Verstappen or the McLarens were seen as the contenders.

Mercedes had started the season with one setback after another, but how they are redeeming themselves s very impressive. They are well and truly back as a frontrunner in F1 now.

#2 Red Bull cannot afford Sergio Perez as the second driver

The British GP might just be the final straw that breaks the camel's back, as Sergio Perez suffered another humiliating result in qualifying. As he beached his car in Q1, it was evident how desperate he was as he begged the marshalls to push the car, even though that would have been illegal.

With Max Verstappen having an off-day, Red Bull have no one in the front row, and that would increase the danger Perez faces over his future.

#3 Ferrari starting to look like their old selves

There were a few signs earlier in the season that were ignored amidst the euphoria of the team's improvements.

Nevertheless, Ferrari under Fred Vasseur are starting to sound more and more like the squad led by Mattia Binotto, Maurizio Arrivabene or even Stefano Domenicali. Fast-tracked upgrades have never been a recipe for success, nor have hyping up the new parts.

That's something Ferrari have done in the past, and even this season, they have continued to do that. What we have right now at Ferrari is a team that has no clue about what to do with their rushed upgrades. The British GP qualifying saw Charles Leclerc eliminated in Q2 after being forced to drive a completely different car from what he had the entire weekend.

The trajectory of the team should worry Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, both of whom are looking for long-term success with the team.

#4 It's a travesty Nico Hulkenberg doesn't have a better seat on the grid

The British GP qualifying was another instance where Nico Hulkenberg showed up with far too many talents on the grid. He also showed the kind of skill he has even at his advanced age, as he placed the Haas in P6.

The most sought-after talent in the driver market, Carlos Sainz, was once upon a time a teammate of Nico Hulkenberg and lost comfortably.

It's just a travesty that the German might end up spending his entire career with impressive drives that never earn him anything big in terms of a drive with a frontrunner.

#5 The mixed conditions leave everything out in the open

If there's one thing that's certainly true after the British GP qualifying, it's the fact that nothing is certain on this track, especially with the weather playing games.

Every changing condition affected each car differently, as was evident during the session. It could be evident even more in the race, where the weather is expected to mix things up once again.

Expect the unexpected at the British GP because it's going to take a brave man to predict what's going to happen on Sunday.