'I've got the car where I want it to be', says Hamilton

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Lewis Hamilton clinched his fourth British GP and 55th career pole this afternoon at Silverstone, throwing down the gauntlet to team mate Nico Rosberg and placing himself as the clear favourite to take top honors tomorrow for his home race.

Hamilton led all segments of the session with authority but put in a absolutely scintillating performance in Q2 when he was clocked in 1:29.243, an new outright track record which surpasses the previous time also set by Hamilton in 2013.

In Q3, there was a bit of a relative scare when the Mercedes driver ran wide at Copse, thus exceeding track limitations and having his lap - the fastest in that segment - discarded.

"It wasn't the cleanest qualifying session, but we had really good pace from the beginning of Q1," said the defending world champion.

"The penultimate lap in Q3 was a very good one but was unfortunately taken away. I touched the curb [at Copse] but it just pulled me further. It didn't feel like I was going to be running wide but the car bottomed and bounded just outside the lines.

"There was a lot of pressure on that last lap, but I was sitting in the garage and just knew I couldn't let the guys down. But honestly it just energized me, I don't know why. It is in those moments that I'm the most excited.

"Being under pressure is not something to shy away from, it's something to hold on to, and that's what I try to do. The team also did an amazing job to deliver the performance we have this weekend."

Hamilton will be going for a hat trick of wins at Silverstone when the lights go green tomorrow and the British driver will likely get all the boost he needs from the grandstands.

"I want to say how amazing the fans are this weekend, and I'm grateful for that. From Thursday until today it's just the biggest crowd I've ever seen, the energy and the wave they send is just mesmerizing.

"Tomorrow as always is going to be a very tough race, so it's important we do our due diligence tonight and tomorrow morning to understand the strategy, the tyres.

"My long- run pace yesterday was very strong so I think I've got the car in a real nice place in terms of balance for qualifying and for the race."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.