SPORT Sunday 26 August 2018 PAGE | 14 PAGE | 15 Stephens braces Hamilton snatches for US Open Spa pole in rain-hit title defence qualifying

Haroun, ’s Fares clinches silver in Ogunode qualify for weightlifting at finals ARMSTRONG VAS AFP ahead of the Olympic qualifying cycle beginning at November’s THE PENINSULA : Qatar’s Fares Elbakh World Championships. won silver medal in the men’s Moradi already owned the : Qatar’s medal hopes 94kg class weightlifting at the marks for the clean and jerk Abdalelah Haroun qualified Asian Games yesterday. (233kg) and total weight (417kg) for the final of the 400m with Elbakh came second on in the men’s light heavyweight a time of 45.83 while Tosin 381kg and proved a fans’ division which he set at the World Ogunode another medal hope favourite as he was surrounded Championships in Anaheim last also made to the final stage by a huge crowd of fans and year. in the 100m. posed for pictures with them “I really wanted to break the Ogunode, finished third after the medals ceremony. world record as it was the only overall in the Men’s 100m “This is great. I love all my one I didn’t have and this was my qualifying. fans,” he beamed. “I’m having a last chance,” Moradi said. Mohamed Abbas also great time.” “I feel very happy to know qualified for the Men’s 400m It was Qatar’s first weight- that my name will always remain final after finishing in the lifting medal of the Games and on all the 94kg world records,” ninth place with a time of came after ’s other great lifter added the man who has always 46.33 in the competition, 85kg world claimed he is 100 percent clean Elsewhere, Mahamat record-holder Kianoush , and has said it was a complete Hamdi cleared a mark of 2.15 failed three times to clean and mystery how the methadone got in the high jump and qualified jerk 220kg. into his sample. for the next stage. “I expected I could win a He will now step up to the Gold medallist of Iran, silver medallist Fares Elbakh of Qatar and bronze winner Sarat In Women’s Hammer medal but didn’t think it would new 96kg class. “My next goal is Sumpradit of pose on the podium during the 2018 Asian Games Men’s 94kg Medal Ceremony Throw Rania Al Naji finished be silver,” Elbakh said. the World Championships (in at the Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran, Jakarta, , yesterday. in the ninth place with a mark This is the second medal in November) and after that to put of 29.62 Qatar in the competition, fol- on a good show at the 2020 without a medal, leaving Elbakh he went down to Kyrgyzstan’s Games he has taken part so far, Qatar’s Mohamed Al lowing Hamad Al Marri’s bronze Tokyo Olympics.” grateful. Adilet 5-0. finished the day in the ninth Mannai took part in the Men’s in the double trap. Moradi just failed with an Moradi said he felt sorry for In Shooting, 2012 place. Decathlon competing in Sohrab Moradi of Iran broke attempt at 234kg which would his compatriot. “We trained Games bronze medal winner One place above him is 100m, Long jump, Shot put weightlifting’s longest standing have bettered his own world together and Kianoush was with Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah began Rashid Al Athba with a score of and High jump. world record on his way to gold records for the clean and jerk and me on the podium at 85kg many his campaign in the qualifying 73. In high jump of Decathlon in the men’s 94kg class. total lifts. times. I hope we can both be rounds of the skeet competition Elsewhere, Sarah Mohammed he finsihed fifth while in all Moradi hoisted 189kg in the But he did have the conso- together again in the medals at by shooting down 72 of the 75 finished in the eight place on day other events he took the eight competition’s opening discipline lation of a new Asian Games 96kg.” targets in the opening day of one of qualifying, while sister place. to better the snatch record set at record total of 410kg -- smashing Sumpradit Sarat won Thai- qualifying. Hajar Mohammed was in the 17th ’s Su Bingtian eased 188kg in 1999 by Greece’s the long-standing mark of 400kg land’s fifth weightlifting The two-time Dakar Rally spot. through the heats Akakios Kakiasvilis. set by Bakytbek Ahtemov of bronze of these Games. They winner who is looking to pick up The final qualifying rounds to remain on course to Moradi, who was suspended in 2002 -- also won a silver in the his first individual gold from the and medal shootouts will take become the continent’s for two years in 2013 for testing after a clean and jerk of 221kg. women’s 58kg through Asian Games having won three place today in both the skeet fastest man as athletics got off positive for banned painkiller Iran’s other great lifter in the Srisurat Sukanya. gold in team events in the five events for mean and women. to a controversial start at the methadone, but returned to win competition, 85kg world record- Meanwhile Asian Games on Saturday. Olympic gold in Rio, now has a holder Rostami, failed three times Qatar’s beach vol- In June Su became the complete set of 94kg world to clean and jerk 220kg. leyball team defeated first Asian-born sprinter to records that will remain on the Kianoush was stepping up Iran 2-1 and qualified run the distance in under 10 books forever. to 94kg from 85kg for these for the semi-final. seconds when twice in the After the Asian Games all the Games and despite lying second Today they will face space of eight days he clocked sport’s weight classes will change after the snatch he went home China in the last four 9.91 to match the Asian clash. In basketball, record held by Qatar’s Qatar lost thel lost Nigerian-born Femi Group C match to Ogunode. Chinese Taipei 83-70. He got off to a poor start In karate, Adham in Jakarta but his 10.27 was Hashem of Qatar lost enough to sail through, while in the quarter-finals. Taiwanese Yang Chun-han In the Men’s Kata, topped the times in the heats Adham defeated with 10.13. The loudest cheers Nepal’s Bastola in the were reserved for local hope pre-quarterfinals 5-0 Lalu Muhammad Zohri, who but lost to ’s Ryo matched Su’s time in his heat. 5-0 in the The Indonesian teenager quarter-finals. will carry the nation’s hopes In Kumite – Men’s after his triumph at the +84kg, Khalid Has- under-20 world champion- Qatar’s Fares Rania Alnaji of Qatar competes in the 2018 Asian Games Women’s Hammer sanein of Qatar lost in ships in Finland last month Elbakh Throw final at the GBK Main Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, yesterday. the last eight stage as when he clocked 10.18.

Qatari Team win silver in World Paralympic Military Championships

Qatar team, which won the free jump and Paramotor event to clinch a silver medal at the end of the 42nd World Paralympic Military Qatar’s Hamad Al Marri winner of the bronze medal in the double Championships pose for a picture with officials. The event held in the Hungarian city of Szolnok saw 38 countries taking part. Qatar trap shooting event accorded a welcome at the Hamad International finished behind Belgium, Swiss team took the bronze medal. Airport on Friday night. 14 SPORT SUNDAY 26 AUGUST 2018 Stephens braces for Return of big names US Open title defence bolsters men’s draw REUTERS NEW YORK: Sloane Stephens has a new swagger in her step since winning REUTERS I’m going to do whatever last year’s US Open but now faces the challenge of showing it in the New I can to make sure that NEW YORK: The return to form and York spotlight as she gets set to defend I’m prepared, in the best fitness of a host of big names in the a grand slam title for the first time in shape possible, hopefully men’s draw at the US Open has her career. strengthened the field for the year’s final “I think there is a lot of pressure. playing some good tennis Grand Slam but Rafa Nadal, Novak I’ve never done it before. A lot of other by the time the US Open Djokovic and Roger Federer are still the people have. First go around some- comes around: Sloane favourites for the title. times isn’t that great,” said the Stephens The trio have dominated the highest 25-year-old American baseliner. level of the sport for years and Djoko- “I’m going to do whatever I can to vic’s victory at Wimbledon, combined make sure that I’m prepared, in the February this year but she has since with an impressive hard court season, best shape possible, hopefully playing picked up a title in Miami, reached the sees him edge defending champion some good tennis by the time the US French Open final and is a career-high Nadal as the bookmakers’ pick to Open comes around.” third in the world rankings. succeed at Flushing Meadows. Stephens’s triumph over friend Stephens’s North American hard- The sixth-seeded Serb has played and compatriot Madison Keys in last court campaign has offered reason for his way back to form after a shaky start year’s final at Flushing Meadows optimism over the coming fortnight to the year following his return from a capped one of the most remarkable as it included a run to the Montreal long-standing elbow injury that needed injury comebacks in recent memory. final, where she lost to world number surgery, and is on the opposite side of By the time she lifted the US Open one Simona Halep in a tight three-set the draw to top seed Nadal. trophy, Stephens had recovered from match. Second seed Federer, now 37, is on foot surgery that forced her to miss “I’m playing good tennis. There’s the same side of the draw as 31-year- most of the season and from a ranking nothing to complain about. I hope that old Djokovic and they could meet in the that had fallen to nearly 1,000 to win it keeps getting better. I hope it keeps last eight at Flushing Meadows. her first slam all inside a year. improving,” said Stephens, who fell Nadal stormed to victory last year In doing so, Stephens became just to Belgian Elise Mertens in the third in a field weakened by the absence of the fourth black woman to win a grand round last week at Cincinnati in her several top 10 players, but to win a Rafael Nadal Novak Djokovic slam singles title, following Althea final US Open tune-up. fourth US Open title he will have to Gibson, Serena Williams and Venus “But the way that I’m playing, I outlast seven former champions. returning after hip surgery, adds another the most productive spell of the Scot’s Williams. Following her US Open title, mean, I hope to continue, yeah, just The Spaniard, fresh from victory at layer of stiff competition. career, might help his young charge Stephens embarked on an eight- kind of continue on this path and I the Rogers Cup, where won his 33rd Croat Marin Cilic and Argentine Juan finally fulfill his potential. match losing streak that lasted until think I’ll be okay.” Masters 1000 title,,y has been coy about Martin del Potro completep the ranks of “I think (Zverev) gets down on hishis chanceschances in New YorkYork givengiven hhowow wewellll formerformer winnerswinner who will himself. He gets emotional and I think Sloane Stephens hishis main rivalsrivals hhaveave bbeeneen playing,playing, attemptattempt to rreclaim the it does affect his play,” 18-times Grand of the USA speaks butbut is countingcounting on the atmatmos-os- title,title, whilwhilee Alexander Slam winner Chris Evert, who will be during a press pherephere to givegive him a lift.lift. Zverev’sZverev decision part of ESPN’s coverage of the US Open conference in New “The“The energyenergy hhereere in New to hhire Ivan in New York, said on a conference call. York on Friday. YorkYork is difficultdifficult to comparecompare LendlLen as his “I think if it’s true that Lendl is withwith anotanotherher place.place. I lovelove ccoachoa also coaching him now -- what he did with thehe nightnight sessions, I love ooffersff up an Andy Murray was phenomenal -- if he thehe coconnectionnnection wiwithth tthehe iintriguingn can improve the mental and emotional.. crowd.crowd. I feelfeel veryvery com-com- prospect.pros side of his game, I think Zverev will have fortablefortable alwaysalways hhere,”ere,” tthehe ZverevZ is it all.” 332-year-old2-year-old NadalNadal saisaidd in aarguablyrgu the a recent iinterview.nterview. strongeststron of the BehindBehind tthehe threethree nextnext gegeneration of favourites,favourites, thethe return ooff 2016 playersplayer who have championchampion Stan Wawrinka,Wawrinka, longlong beenbe tipped givengiven a wildwild carcardd by thethe ttoo bbreakrea the big Second seed Federer, now oorganisersrganisers afterafter three’sthree’s holdh on the 37, is on the same side of mmakingaking a comecomebackbacck sport’ssport’s bibiggestg prizes. the draw as 31-year-old ffromrom a kneeknee At 21, theth German Djokovic and they could injury,njury, andand AndyAndyy is rankedranked fourthfou in the Murray,M urray , worldworld bbutut hhisis tetemperamentm meet in the last eight at is sussuspectpect and Lendl, who Flushing Meadows. 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HIGHLIGHTS OF DAY EIGHT OF THE 18TH ASIAN GAMES IRAN’S MORADI SETS WORLD RECORD IN WEIGHTLIFTING Unified Korea win breakthrough medal Iranian weightlifter Sohrab Moradi broke the world record in the 94kg snatch event by lifting REUTERS 189kg. He eclipsed the previous mark of 188kg set by Akakios Kakiavilis of Greece in 1999. awarded to Korea, not North or South and canoeing. “While others prepared Bahrain complain after Inoue wins marathon Korea. A unified Korean team also com- for years, we just had 20 days,” team Japan swim queen Ikee makes light of burden PALEMBANG: The unified Korean team peted at this year’s Winter Olympic drummer To Myong-suk said. OCA confirms Korea swimming complaint tasted their first success at a multi-sport Games in Pyeongchang. “This is a result that showed the Ikee sets record but Japan, China share honours event when their canoeing team won “In the first place, we weren’t sure bravery and wisdom of Korean people Insider who plotted India’s kabaddi downfall the bronze medal in women’s 200 if this unified team would be formed, by combining our hearts and goals,” Su to lead China’s Asian athletics gold rush metre dragon boat racing at the Asian but I’m so happy that we won the added the North Korean. Wang Tokyo-bound after Asian tennis defence Games yesterday. bronze medal in the end,” captain Kim Joint Korean teams will be in action The crew clocked 56.851 seconds Hyeon-hee was quoted as saying by in men’s and women’s 500m dragon wrestler fails doping test to finish third behind China and hosts Yonhap news agency. boat racing today. It was China’s fourth Pakistan rower Ejaz barred from Games Indonesia at the Jakabaring Rowing and “It’s a pity that we were not able to gold in traditional boat racing and the Son’s beat Iran to reach quarters Canoeing Regatta Course in Palembang, win gold, but we’ll do our best to do trio of Song Yanbing, Liang Liping and ISTOMIN BEATS WU TO TAKE TENNIS GOLD which is co-hosting the Games along better in the 500m race,” said the South Huang Yi have been part of the winning ’s Denis Istomin rallied from a set down to beat China’s Wu Yibing 2-6 6-2 7-6(2) with the Indonesia capital of Jakarta. Korean. The Koreas marched together team each time. and clinch the men’s singles tennis gold. Istomin fired 15 aces and 47 winners in the match lasting two The team in the final comprised under a common flag at the opening It was Indonesia’s fourth successive hours and 16 minutes. eight canoeists from North Korea and ceremony and they have fielded joint silver in women’s traditional boat JAPAN CLAIM KARATE GOLD MEDALS four from South. The medal was teams in women’s basketball, rowing racing. Japanese karateka Riyo Kiyuna won the men’s individual kata event, while compatriot Kiyou Shimizu triumphed in the women’s competition to defend her gold medal from the Games. CHINA WINS WOMEN’S TENNIS DOUBLES GOLD The second seeded Chinese pair of Xu Yifan and Yang Zhaoxuan edged Taiwan’s top-seeded sisters Latisha Chan and Chan Hao-ching 6-2 1-6 11-9 to win the women’s tennis doubles gold at the Asian Games. China also won the women’s singles gold when Wang Qiang defended her title by defeating compatriot Zhang Shuai on Friday. THAI BUREE BAGS JET SKI GOLD TO BECOME OLDEST WINNER Thai Phadit Buree became the oldest gold medallist at the 2018 Asian Games when the 45-year-old won the Jet Ski Runabout 1100 Stock ahead of compatriot Attapon Kunsa. Khalid Al- maazmi of the United Arab Emirates took bronze. THAI PORNCHAI WINS 10TH SEPAKTAKRAW GOLD Pornchai Kaokaew won his 10th gold medal at the Asian Games when Thailand defeated Laos to win the men’s team doubles event in sepaktakraw. Thailand has now won 25 of the possible 36 gold medals in Asian Games sepaktakraw events. JAPAN’S INOUE WINS MEN’S MARATHON Hiroto Inoue ended Japan’s 32-year wait for men’s marathon gold at the Asian Games when he edged Bahrain’s Elhassan Elabbassi to win the first medal in athletics on Saturday. Takeyuki Nakayama won Japan’s last gold in the event when he clocked an Asian Games record time of two hours, eight minutes and 21 seconds in Seoul in 1986. Inoue ran neck and neck with the Moroccan-born Elabbassi in the closing kilometres and both athletes finished in 2:18:22 on a warm morning in the Indonesian capital. Dou Bujie of China finished 26 seconds behind to claim bronze.

“It was a tough race. I knew I’d win in the home stretch so I went all out. I’m glad I managed to win,” Inoue said. The members of the Unified Korea team celebrate with their bronze medals, yesterday. SUNDAY 26 AUGUST 2018 SPORT 15

Salah strike Cavani makes sends Liverpool Al Sadd eye first leg edge quick impact as top in EPL PSG win again REUTERS against Iran’s Esteghlal REUTERS LONDON: Mohammed Salah’s : Paris St Germain forward 23rd-minute strike yesterday was FAWAD HUSSAIN AL SADD SQUAD Esteghlal, who topped a Edinson Cavani struck 12 minutes enough to earn Liverpool a 1-0 THE PENINSULA strong Group D, at their into his first match of the season win over a dogged Brighton and Yasir Abubakar, Musab Kheder, Baghdad Bounedjah, Khoukhi Boualem, home will be a tough task. while Kylian Mbappe and Neymar Hove Albion and give them an DOHA: Al Sadd will be Salem Al Hajri, Akram Afif, Meshaal Barsham, Saoud Al Hajri, Jung “We hope luck will be on also scored in a 3-1 win over lowly early top spot in the English hoping to continue with our side against Esteghlal so Angers in Ligue 1 yesterday. Premier League (EPL) with three their good form when they Woo-young, Hamza Al Sanhaji, Pedro Miguel, Abdelkarim Hassan, that we can return home with The visitors put up a brave wins out of three. will meet Iran’s Esteghlal in Ahmed Suhail, Ahmed Sayyar, Ali Asad, Hassan Al Haydos, Hassan a positive result before the fight in the first half, levelling

Juergen Klopp’s side made a the first leg of the AFC second leg in Doha,” he said. through a Thomas Mangani Ahmed, Jehad Mohammed, Xavi Hernandez, Gabi Fernandez strong start, and Brighton’s Aus- Champions League quarter- “Every team looks to win penalty after Cavani’s early goal. tralian keeper Mathew Ryan did finals at their home turf and will look to make use of But the almost inevitable well to keep out a Roberto Firmino tomorrow. Xavi Hernandez, Spanish and also in 1988 before the small details to clinch the eventual loss left them with three header before Trent Alexander- The Jesualdo Ferreira’s midfielder Gabi, top QSL competition was revamped, match,” said the Al Sadd straight league defeats this season Arnold rattled the crossbar with a side yesterday flew to scorer Baghdad Bounedjah, won four of their six forward before adding that while titleholders PSG have the 15th-minute free kick. where they will meet Qatar international striker matches while losing two en his team has a good expe- same number of wins. The breakthrough came when Esteghlal at Hassan Al Haydous, South route to finishing second rience of playing in front of PSG coach Thomas Tuchel James Milner robbed Yves Bis- at 7pm (Qatar time). Korean midfielder Jung behind Iran’s Persepolis in Iranian fans. rested 40-year-old goalkeeper souma as Brighton tried to play Al Sadd have started the Woo-Young, young forward Group C. “We have played against Gianluigi Buffon and gave the ball out from the back and a new season well and are Akram Afif and Boualem The group also consisted them (Esteghlal) on many Alphonse Areola -- last season’s quick exchange of passes from currently leading the QNB Khoukhi. of Uzbekistan’s Nasaf and occasions. The team has the first choice -- his first outing of Sadio Mane and Firmino ended Stars League (QSL) after Al Sadd, however, will the UAE’s Al Wasl. Al Sadd experience of playing in the campaign. Uruguay forward with a clinical finish from Salah, scoring 17 goals in just three miss their experienced beat Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli Iranian stadiums in front of Cavani, injured during the World last season’s top scorer with 32 matches. player Ibrahim Majid who 4-3 on aggregate in the their fans which will help us Cup, was also included for the first league goals. Ferreira will be expecting suffered a muscle injury Round of 16 to book their in the crucial game,” he said. time after regaining full fitness -- Brighton, who beat Man- a similar performance at the during QSL match against Al quarter-final berth for the The return leg between and he made an immediate impact. chester United last week, Asian stage from his star- Gharafa last week. first time since 2014. the two teams will be played Angers lost possession in mid- defended with determination, studded line-up that includes Al Sadd, who won Asia’s However, Al Sadd star Al at Doha’s Al Sadd Stadium field and paid dearly as Neymar got frustrating Liverpool but creating Barcelona legend top club tournament in 2011 Haydous said beating on September 17. free on the right and his pass was little until a Pascal Gross header deflected into the path of Cavani in the 88th minute forced a good for last season’s Ligue 1 top scorer save out Liverpool keeper Alisson to net from close range, with little Becker. more than ten minutes gone. Cavani thumped the foot of ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE the post with a downward header Yesterday’s results minutes later but Angers refused to cave in and stunned the hosts Arsenal 3 (Monreal 30, Diop 70-og, by equalising in the 22nd minute. Welbeck 90+2) West Ham 1 (Arnautovic PSG defender Thilo Kehrer, 25) making his debut after his move Bournemouth 2 (King 75-pen, Ake 79) from Schalke 04, gave away a penalty with a clumsy tackle on Everton 2 (Walcott 56, Keane 66) Flavien Tait and Mangani con- Huddersfield 0 Cardiff 0 verted from the spot. Liverpool 1 (Salah 23) Brighton 0 Angers looked comfortable Southampton 1 (Bertrand 52) Leicester 2 until PSG regained the lead six minutes after halftime when (Gray 56, Maguire 90+2) Angel Di Maria’s cross was vol- Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 (Boly 57) leyed home by Mbappe for his Manchester City 1 (Laporte 69) third league goal of the season. Playing today The 19-year-old World Cup winner then set up the third for Watford vs Crystal Palace (1230), Ful- Al Sadd’s players during a training Neymar, exchanging passes with

ham vs Burnley (1500), Newcastle vs session on Friday. Adrien Rabiot before cutting the Chelsea (1500) ball back for the Brazilian to score easily. Ducati’s Lorenzo Belgian GP: Hamilton snatches on MotoGP pole Spa pole in rain-hit qualifying AFP in Silverstone Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton competes during the AFP fifth, behind Cal Crutchlow, SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, qualifying session at the Spa- who is hoping to become the BELGIUM: Lewis Hamilton Francorchamps Circuit in Spa, SILVERSTONE, UK: Three- first British rider to win on tip-toed his way to a memorable yesterday. time MotoGP world champion home soil. record fifth pole position at the Jorge Lorenzo gave his hopes Veteran Valentino Rossi Belgian Grand Prix yesterday as of catching Marc Marquez in the stands between Marquez and he and Mercedes handled the championship standings a boost Lorenzo in the championship capricious weather conditions by claiming pole for the British standings, but the Italian’s at the famous Spa-Francor- Grand Prix yesterday. 59-point deficit to Marquez champs Circuit with tactical The Spaniard edged out threatens to grow after the aplomb. Ducati team-mate Andrea nine-time world champion The championship leader Dovizioso by 0.159 seconds could only qualify down in produced a decisive lap in the with ’s Johann Zarco 12th. last drying seconds of a rain-hit completing the front row of the Earlier, Spain’s Jorge Martin session in 1min 58.179sec to grid. claimed his seventh pole outpace nearest rival Sebastian In a delayed qualifying position of the season to start Vettel of Ferrari, who is 24 points FORMULA ONE: BELGIAN GRAND PRIX GRID session due to heavy rain at Sil- Sunday’s Moto3 race from the behind him in the title race, by 1st row Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) verstone Circuit and a crash front of the grid. 0.726sec. that saw Tito Rabat taken to Championship leader “That was excruciating, an 2nd row Esteban Ocon (FRA/Racing Point Force India) Sergio Pérez (MEX/Racing Point hospital with multiple right leg Marco Bezzecchi will start from awesome lap, you really nailed Force India) fractures, championship leader way down in 11th handing it in that last sector,” Hamilton’s 3rd row Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Ferrari) Marquez was happy just to Martin the chance to usurp the race engineer Pete Bonnington escape unscathed. Italian’s 12-point lead in the told him on team radio. 4th row Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) Marquez will start from standings. “That was one of the 5th row Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas) Pierre Gasly (FRA/Toro Rosso) toughest I can remember,” said 6th row Brendon Hartley (NZL/Toro Rosso) Charles Leclerc (MON/Sauber) Hamilton who had claimed the 7th row Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Renault) 78th pole of his career thanks to well-timed laps in the improving 8th row Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren) Sergey Sirotkin (RUS/Williams) conditions at the end of the 9th row Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) session. 10th row Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) “The track looked dry in some places, but it was actually wet. It was so hard... I went off twice, but I am so glad I might as well take second,” he for the re-born Force India team, ahead of Max Verstappen and managed to keep it together. said. under new ownership, ahead of his Renault-bound Red Bull “It’s so competitive this year “Kimi (Raikkonen) was obvi- his team-mate Sergio Perez and team-mate Daniel Ricciardo. and we are in a big fight with ously rushing to get out again - Romain Grosjean of Haas, their Kevin Magnussen, in the Ferrari. Everyone is on the edge but look now and we have sun- teams taking a positive view of second Haas, was ninth and of their seats.” shine and it is dry. the conditions and timing their Valtteri Bottas, in the second Vettel conceded that Ferrari “I had a bit of traffic with tyre-changes perfectly. Mercedes, 10th, with the Finn had not managed their strategy Esteban and maybe I was not as Kimi Raikkonen, in the knowing that he starts today’s Ducati’s Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo takes part in the MotoGP well in the rapidly-changing calm as I would like to be, but second Ferrari, had looked a race from the back of the grid practice session of the motorcycling British Grand Prix at conditions. hopefully tomorrow we will likely front-row qualifier before after collecting grid penalties for Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire, yesterday. “We didn’t time it great, but, have the pace with the car.” heavy rain swept across the taking a limit-breaking fourth look, in these conditions we Esteban Ocon took third place circuit and he ended up sixth new engine.