YOU’LL NEED DRIVE OF A LIFETIME TO STOP LEWIS SAYS COULTHARD

LEWIS HAMILTON today goes looking for a record sixth British Grand Prix triumph – but admits his pursuit of pole position was just not up to scratch.

As England’s cricketers pursue World Cup glory at Lord’s, Hamilton had hoped to start on the front foot at Silverstone, where he is the qualifying master, with an unprecedented six poles.

But Mercedes team- mate Valtteri Bottas proved to be a party pooper yesterday and grabbed top spot by the smallest of margins.

Just 0.006 seconds split the Silver Arrows pair, their joint effort securing the team a seventh front-row lock-out this season as they kept Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at bay.

Amid Bottas’s jubilation, five-time world champion Hamilton was left to DAVID COULTHARD says if anyone takes the chequered flag ahead of Lewis Hamilton this afternoon they will have had to produce the race of their life.

The former F1 ace (right) reckons that Hamilton always raises himself for the challenge of Silverstone, and is ready to thrill the legions of home fans.

Scot Coulthard said: “He might be a global citizen these days but there’s no doubt this race means a lot to him – Lewis drove like a man possessed last year in an effort to cross the line first. Somehow the greatest do that. They raise themselves when it is demanded.

“Look at Muhammad Ali when he fought George Foreman in the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’.

“No-one thought that Ali stood a chance. But he came up Mercedes Mercedes Ferrari Red Bull Red Bull 1:25.093 1:25.099 1:25.172 1:25.276 1:25.590 Max Verstappen to win British GP with the goods – and that’s what Lewis does at this track.

“Ferrari? Man and machine have not yet been in harmony. If they find it, it could be interesting. But that’s a big ‘if.’

“And although Red Bull and Max Verstappen will have taken a huge amount from winning in Austria, you are asking them to topple Lewis in sight of a record sixth win that will mean so much to him.

“As long as Mercedes have ironed out their glitches, it will take something special to stop Lewis.”

David Coulthard will be commentating on today’s British GP, live on Channel 4 from 1.15pm

Steps to redeem your Free Bet:

Hamilton hails home fans after landing front-row slot with Bottas (far right) Just go to: on your mobile, tablet or computer, click the ‘Sign Up’ button and register your details. Full account details must be registered. You must be a new user, and no deposit is required. The Pools will then credit your account with a £1 free bet that can be used on any outright sports market on www.thepools.com in July 2019. 1. Log in to your account. 2. Pick your bet selection. 3. Open your bet slip. 4. Select ‘free bet’ from the drop-down. 5. Select ‘bet now’. Your free bet expires if not used by 23:59 on Wednesday July 31.