British Grand Prix sprint qualifying: Who to watch out for in the opening lap
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Silverstone will host the first sprint qualifying race in Formula 1 history at this weekend’s British Grand Prix. But which drivers have the most exits on the first lap?
Formula 1 intends to trial sprint qualifying at three Grand Prix races in 2021, starting with the British Grand Prix. On Saturday, drivers will compete in a 17-lap sprint race, with qualifying moved to Friday to determine the grid.
The results of the sprint will determine the starting order for Sunday’s Grand Prix, with the aim of changing the order. But that was no consolation for those who were worse than others on the opening lap.
One of them is Kimi Raikkonen, who holds the record for the most first-lap retirements by any active F1 starting group. He has missed 11 Grand Prix races in his career, the fourth most races ever, due to a first-lap accident.
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Experience won’t pay off in Raikkonen’s record book
During his F1 career, Raikkonen has retired on the first lap of a Grand Prix 11 times. His record is the most by any starter in 2021, but the Finn has already entered 341 races, the most accumulated by anyone in the history of the sport.
Raikkonen had a huge first-lap collision with his former Ferrari team-mate Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the 2017 Singapore Grand Prix. Raikkonen got a fine launch on the slippery track, but Vettel turned to Verstappen.
The German’s move caught Verstappen between the two Ferraris, with the Dutch driver’s wheel hitting Raikkonen’s, sending the Finn into a spin. Raikkonen then collided with Vettel’s side box, causing damage and ultimately causing the trio to withdraw from the race.
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Fernando Alonso, who has raced 324, and Vettel, who has 274 Grand Prix races, have both retired on the first lap seven times in their F1 careers. It is the second largest in the current grid and the 15th largest in history.
Former Minardi, Jordan, Renault and Toyota driver Arno Trulli retired on the first lap of the most grand prix ever. In his 14-year sporting career, the Italian suffered 14 unfinished matches on the original tour and played in 256 matches.
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Home Comforts in Hamilton at the British Grand Prix
After Raikkonen, Alonso and Vettel, reigning F1 drivers’ world champion Lewis Hamilton suffered the second-most first-lap DNF in active qualifying. The Mercedes driver, who has won a record seven British Grand Prix races, retired four times in the first lap of his career.
However, Hamilton has never lost a home race and has been on the podium in all but four of his 15 visits at Silverstone. The seven-time world champion’s worst finish in Northamptonshire was also in 2009, with a P16.
Hamilton also won the checkered flag at nine rounds in 2021, including seven podium finishes. His worst result of the season so far has been locked after a restart after P15 in Azerbaijan.
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Four F1 drivers who scored unhappy hat tricks
Sergio Perez, Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll and Charles Leclerc current four F1 Drivers have a record of unpopular first-lap retirement hat-tricks throughout their careers. They are one of 31 drivers who have faced DNF on the opening lap in Formula 1’s 71-year history.
Ferrari driver Leclerc suffered his final lap retirement at the 2020 Sakir Grand Prix. The Monaco driver collided with Red Bull’s Verstappen and then Racing Point’s Perez at Turn 4 after braking late, damaging his right front suspension.
Other names to retire on the opening lap three times include former world champion James Hunt and Jacques Villeneuve. Three-time Le Mans 24 Hours champion Alan McNish shared the honor in 2002 during his 16-race F1 career.
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Latifi and Mazepin start recording unwanted records in 2021
Williams and Haas drivers Nicolas Latifi and Nikita Mazepin have already retired on the first lap of the 2021 Grand Prix. In his F1 debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Ma Zeping suffered his first DNF on the opening lap after turning out of Turn 3 and hitting a wall.
Mazepin later had a first lap accident with Latifi at the Emilia Romagna GP in Mugello. Latifi pushed the Russian driver to the edge of the wet track after rejoining the track after an earlier break.
Mazepin then touched the back right corner of the Latifi car, pushing Williams into the barrier. The incident was the Canadian’s first and only first-lap retirement in his F1 career after 26 grands prix.
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A graduate of Bournemouth University with a degree in multimedia journalism, Kyle has worked for many years in online publications covering the Premier League, EFL and European football.
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