What happened: Lewis Hamilton claimed pole position for the British Grand Prix sprint race at Silverstone on Saturday. He held off Kimi Antonelli, the driver who succeeded him at Mercedes, to take the top spot on the sprint grid.

Why it matters: A home sprint pole gives Hamilton prime track position at the circuit where British fans pack the grandstands for him every July, and it extends a strong stretch of form since his move to Ferrari, including his first win for the team in Barcelona. The duel at the front also sharpens the Hamilton-Mercedes storyline, with Antonelli arriving off a strong Silverstone practice run that had Mercedes praising his pace.

What to watch: The sprint race runs later in the British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone, with Hamilton launching from the front and Antonelli chasing. Sprint results will set the tone before main qualifying and Sunday's grand prix.