Bottas pips Hamilton for Eifel GP pole

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who had been on provisional pole after the first flying laps of the final session, qualified in third place, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc fourth. Bottas’s pole was his third of 2020 for Mercedes, but this one looked in the balance right to the end.

“It is such a nice feeling when you get it on the last lap, with the last chance,” said the Finn after celebrating his 14th career pole. “The last lap in Q3 (the final phase) was spot on.” Bottas is 44 points behind six-time world champion Hamilton, who will still fancy his chances of a record-equalling 91st career win on Sunday.

Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg will make an unexpected appearance on Sunday from last place on the grid after replacing an unwell Lance Stroll at Racing Point.