Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Image source, Getty Images

Red Bull's Max Verstappen stole pole position from McLaren's Lando Norris in a gripping and surprising qualifying session at the British Grand Prix.

Verstappen dashed the hopes of the British fans in the packed grandstands after Norris went fastest with three drivers still to set their final times.

One of them was Verstappen, who grabbed pole by 0.241 seconds.

Norris led a McLaren two-three ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri, for McLaren's best qualifying for years.

Read the full qualifying report here

Image source, Getty Images

Two McLaren drivers at the front of the pack and cars out of position across the grid. Surely the British Grand Prix will serve up a classic race for us after that qualifying session?

Go and enjoy the rest of your Saturday and then head back to the live page on Sunday for Silverstone build-up from 13:30 BST.

See you tomorrow.

Looking for something to listen to tonight as a starter before Sunday's main meal?

The story of Silverstone and some of Formula 1's most famous bends is being told in a new podcast series focusing on the home of British motorsport.

The Total Sport Podcast, Corner by Corner: Silverstone looks back at 75 years of history through the experiences of the people who have witnessed some of its most iconic moments.

Listen to all episodes on BBC Sounds here

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think George Russell had a real breakout season last year. This year I think Lewis Hamilton has upped his game and there has been a swing in the intra-team battle.

Zak Brown tells Sky Sports that he hasn't seen Lando Norris yet for a mighty high five. That's going to hurt.

The McLaren boss adds that team's season finally started after the good result in Austria last week, which he jokes is obviously a lot later compared to everyone else.

"We've just got to keep our head down and keep pushing," he says.

Craig: McLaren in P2 and P3?! WHAT YEAR IS THIS?!

Deanna Troi: LANDO NORRIS!

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McLaren driver Oscar Piastri will start P3 for the race tomorrow: "What a qualifying session - we were almost out in Q1! The car was a rocket ship in Q2 and Q3 and felt like I put a pretty good lap together and it is a massive result for the team as well. To have both of us up here is a mega result and we have got to try and stay there for tomorrow.

"I think yesterday, we had a rough day and struggled to get the car in the right window and I think we did a better job of that today and in these conditions we do really well in them all the time, like in Barcelona, Monaco and Canada as well.

"Both of us have the new bits on the car so can't thank the team enough for continuing to push. Where we were at the start of the season to where we are now - it's a massive step in the right direction."

Image source, Getty Images

Mclaren's Lando Norris qualified second to start on the front row of the grid for his home Grand Prix. He said after the session: "I was close. I was P1 in Q1, pretty sure I was P1 in Q2 and just a couple of tenths off being P1 in Q3. Pretty insane!

"My last lap was a good lap. I could hear Zach on the radio on the last lap. For us to be 2nd and 3rd is great for the team. It's always Max, he always ruins everything for everyone!

"Thanks to the whole crowd here. It's a special day for us and I look forward to tomorrow. We couldn't have had a better result today apart from Max who ruins everything but a great result."

Image source, Getty Images

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will start on pole for the fifth time in a row. He said post-qualifying: “It’s been quite a crazy qualifying, quite hectic, also quite slippery in some places but we did our laps and Q3 I was quite surprised to see those two there. But I mean, it’s great for McLaren to be here and from our side very happy to be on pole.”

On the difficulty of qualifying with the ever-changing weather conditions, he added: “Yeah, especially Q1, Q2, there were a few little damp spots so we had to be a little bit careful. Of course you push close to the limit, obviously we have a quick car so we don’t need to go to the 100% limit and I think that’s why in Q3 you really just go for it and I think that’s where we eeked up the gap a little bit but still it was not a very big gap today. Of course, for us today, a great day and looking forward to tomorrow already.”

Zak Brown is one step away from ripping his shirt off and running topless through Silverstone, he's that elated with the result. What will he do if Lando and Oscar finish on the podium tomorrow?

Time to hear from our top three drivers...

I asked just before the start of Q2 if you thought Sergio Perez would lose his seat at Red Bull after another disappointing early exit in qualifying this season.

Sorry, Checo. The up thumbs have it.

1,415 of you think he'll be given the boot by Red Bull, while 401 feel the Mexican will be safe.

Image source, .

11. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)

12. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

13. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

14. Logan Sargeant (Williams)

15. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)

16. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)

17. Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri)

18. Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo)

19. Nyck de Vries (Alpha Tauri)

20. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

2. Lando Norris (McLaren)

3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

5. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)

6. George Russell (Mercedes)

7. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

8. Alex Albon (Williams)

9. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

"Yeah baby!"

Lando Norris is chatting to Jenson Button in the post-qualifying interviews. "It's always Max. He always ruins everything for everyone," the McLaren man jokes. The Dutchman is laughing as the crowd go wild.

McLaren boss Zak Brown was slapping every crew member on the back and dishing out high fives with a massive grin on his face. So close to pole position for Lando Norris but what a result for the team. The fingers and toes will be crossed in the papaya garage that these Saturday's scenes can be replicated tomorrow.

"Very lovely that."

McLaren can party tonight (sensibly), as Oscar Piastri qualifies in third place. The Australian will share the second row with the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.

Carlos Sainz, last year's polesitter, will start in fifth, George Russell will line up in sixth and Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton will be just behind in seventh.

But here comes Max Verstappen. Can he snatch back the front-row spot? Yes he can!