Ahead of today's Shootout, the air temperature is 25 degrees C, while the track temperature is 44 degrees. It remains bright and sunny.

Track limits proved to be an issue earlier, with almost everyone running wide at some point or another, though with 5 Norris topped the table.

Turn 3 was the most problematic, though Turns 9, 13 and 15 also caused issues.

Though Hamilton set the pace, he went out later than his main rivals and therefore enjoyed the best conditions. He finished 0.213s up on Antonelli, with both Leclerc and Russell over 0.5s off the pace.

The pace of the Ferraris surprised everyone, probably even the drivers, while the McLarens, other than looking slow and nervous, struggled to remain on track, while the Red Bulls also looked a handful.

Sainz, the Haas, Alpine and Cadillac duos have all taken on new ICE's this weekend, along with Turbochargers and MGU-Ks.

There is a headwind on the Hangar Straight into Stowe.

Green light, and Perez is first out, followed by Bottas, Bearman, Ocon and Antonelli.

Perez posts a benchmark 31.862, with his teammate crossing the line at 32.508.

A 31.714 from Ocon, but Bearman responds with a 31.416 until Antonelli gets serious with a 29.818.

A 30.152 puts Russell second, 0.359s down on his Mercedes teammate.

A 29.793 from Leclerc, but Hamilton responds with a 29.582.

Piastri and Hadjar trade fastest sectors, as Lawson goes fourth.

Hadjar goes top with a 29.470 as Piastri goes third and Verstappen sixth.

Norris goes eighth, ahead of Russell and Gasly.

Sainz goes fifteenth, ahead of Albon, Bearman and Ocon.

Leclerc goes top with a 29.380, but again his teammate has the better of him, crossing the line at 29.273.

Antonelli remains fifth as Lawson improves to sixth.

Rusell improves to fifth with a 29.675, thereby demoting his teammate.

Bortoleto goes tenth, Verstappen sixth and Hulkenberg ninth.

Albon goes fourteenth and thereby demotes Bearman into the drop zone.

Quickest is Hamilton, ahead of Leclerc, Hadjar, Piastri, Russell, Verstappen, Antonelli, Lawson, Hulkenberg and Norris.

We lose Bearman, Ocon, Perez, Bottas, Alonso and Stroll.

Hulkenberg is first out for SQ2, followed by Sainz, Verstappen, Albon and Hadjar.

Norris has incurred some brake duct damage during one of his offs, which Zak Brown claims is affecting performance.

Hulkenberg posts a benchmark 29.729, Sainz can only manage 30.197.

Norris posts a 29.401, but Hadjar, Verstappen, Piastri and Leclerc all go quicker.

As does Hamilton, who crosses the line at 28.747, as Antonelli posts a 28.846 and Russell a 29.474.

Lawson, Gasly, Lindblad and Colapinto are each going for one flyer, while the rest are pitting ahead of their second run.

Lawson goes fourth, Lindblad eighth, Gasly eleventh and Colapinto fourteenth.

Hadjar remains seventh, Norris remains ninth and Leclerc third.

Russell improves to seventh, and when Hulkenberg fails to improve it means Norris makes the cut by the skin of his teeth.

Quickest is Hamilton, ahead of Antonelli, Leclerc, Lawson, Piastri, Verstappen, Russell, Hadjar, Lindblad and Norris.

We lose Gasly, Bortoleto, Hulkenberg, Colapinto, Sainz and Albon.

Ahead of SQ3, mechanics are working on the front-right of Norris's car.

Green light, but there is no rush to action. Indeed, Zak Brown claims its going to be sudden death, in terms of a single flying lap.

With just over 3 minutes remaining, Piastri heads out, followed by Lindblad, Norris, Lawson and Antonelli. Russell is last out.

Piastri posts a 28.772, Lindblad a 29.367 and Norris a 28.740.

Lawson goes third with a 28.927, as Antonelli goes top with a 28.387.

Leclerc goes second (28.703), but a 28.376 puts Hamilton on provisional pole.

Verstappen goes third, Hadjar seventh and Russell fifth.

The seven-time world champion takes pole by just 0.011s.

Hamilton is on pole, ahead of Antonelli, Verstappen, Leclerc, Russell, Norris, Piastri, Hadjar, Lawson and Lindblad

Gasly is eleventh, ahead of Bortoleto, Hulkenberg, Colapinto, Sainz, Albon, Bearman, Ocon, Perez, Bottas, Alonso and Stroll.

"I love this place," says Hamilton, "I love this crowd and I can't express how big a dream it is, and still is to this day, building up to this race and the flow you get if you get the set-up right.

"The car has felt really good today," he continues, "so thank you to the guys back at the factory. I'm really grateful to get the pole, I was quick but it was only ten milliseconds or something like that so really grateful.

"Look, we are ahead of Mercedes," he smiles, "those guys and Red Bull have so much power here. But my team keep on pushing, it won't always be like this, but this is an amazing surprise. I am ecstatic!"

While the Briton claimed that last weekend was a "reality check", it appears that just seven days later this applies to his rivals, particularly at Mercedes.

"Very surprised," says Russell of Ferrari. "They look the best at the moment, so that is a real surprise.

"We always knew they had a great chassis," he adds.

"I'm very much off the pace of Lewis and Kimi," he admits, "so I need to understand why that was, as it is very strange.

"It feels good out there, it doesn't feel too bad. The relative lap time is just not really there."

"It was so, so close so it was a shame.," says his Mercedes teammate. "To be fair, in SQ1 I felt bad in the car, we made a small adjustment and in SQ2 I was back on the pace, it was night and day.

"I was super close to Lewis so congrats to him, but we focus on our side now.

"The car felt good, Ferrari have done an incredible step forward so it will be tough, Lewis is in great form but it is good, we love the challenge. We will go for it, everything is on the table to do well."

The top seven are covered by less than 0.4s, but for the likes of Leclerc, Russell and the McLaren pair it must feel like a lifetime.