For the first time since the 2013 Indian Grand Prix, a McLaren driver set the pace in Q1. Yep, Fernando Alonso was quickest in the first qualifying segment at the 2017 British GP.
Conditions in Q1 were wet and slippery to begin with but the track dried out as the session progressed, so towards the end, a lot of people were thinking about slick tyres.
At the last minute, Alonso scrapped his intermediate tyre lap for a very late move onto super-softs, and no one else followed him into the pits. It was a risky move.
But, Alonso and McLaren had nothing to lose because the Spaniard has a 30-place grid penalty for the Silverstone race anyway…
He just (and we mean, just) made it across the line to put in a timed lap and went quickest with a 1:37.598. And everyone went crazy for it. Here are some of the internet’s best reactions:
Latest edition of 'Sneak peak of Fernando Alonso's upcoming media session.' pic.twitter.com/TJwxeZTFL0
— Nate Saunders (@natesaundESPNF1) July 15, 2017
I SWEAR YOU'LL NEVER SEE ANYTHING LIKE IT EVER AGAIN! SO WATCH IT! DRINK IT IN! #BritishGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/Jlww6NLTR4
— Nino @ Silverstone (@AfNino) July 15, 2017
FERNANDO ALONSO up to P1 right now 😱🏁 #BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/feDNGIgWvj
— Elliot Horwood #44 (@ElliotHorwoodF1) July 15, 2017
When the VTEC kicks in #F1 #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/IOlILsCc0O
— WTF1 (@wtf1official) July 15, 2017
Great stuff. If Alonso can repeat that performance in Q2 and Q3, he will start… Last #F1 #BritishGP
— Chris Medland (@ChrisMedlandF1) July 15, 2017
Alonso P1. It's not a typo.
— Pablo Elizalde (@EliGP) July 15, 2017
The checkered flag falls and Alonso just managed to get over the line with enough time for a final lap, by about 0.001 #F1 #BritishGP 🇬🇧
— Motorsport Week (@MotorsportWeek) July 15, 2017
ALONSO P1!!!!! #F1 #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/F3bo5TadSo
— Marc T #44 (@F1Tricky) July 15, 2017
Alonso P1!#BritishGrandPrix pic.twitter.com/IBsOBjECuS
— Nettieruns (@annetteestwick) July 15, 2017
FERNANDO ALONSO WINS Q1!
Okay, you can't win Q1, and he has a grid penalty, but fantastic to see the Spaniard in P1! #BritishGP #C4F1 pic.twitter.com/EdTHlvUW1G
— Channel 4 F1® (@C4F1) July 15, 2017
It amazes me than even in a poor car, Fernando Alonso can still command the attention of EVERYONE. He's a genius at the wheel #BritishGP
— Sean Kelly (@virtualstatman) July 15, 2017
THE MOST EXCITING MEANINGLESS LAP IN HISTORY! #Alonso #F1onNBC #BritishGP
— Tony DiZinno (@tonydizinno) July 15, 2017
Sadly, he was eliminated in Q2, out-qualified by his team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne and will start last. But, still. He was P1 in Q1 and no one can take that away from him.
