1 F1 sectors, explained Every lap gets carved into three timed sections and dozens of hidden mini-sectors, and reading the colours tells you exactly where a driver is winning or losing the race. 7 Sep 2026 5 MIN 2 Abu Dhabi GP 2018: Hamilton Takes Pole by 0.04s From Bottas Lewis Hamilton banked another pole under the Yas Marina lights, but it was the final sector, not the straights, that separated the front row from the rest. Qualifying 24 Nov 2018 4 MIN 3 Singapore GP 2018: Hamilton Pole by 0.319s Over Verstappen Marina Bay was supposed to belong to Ferrari and Red Bull, yet Lewis Hamilton found a lap from nowhere to take pole by three-tenths and leave Sebastian Vettel staring at two cars he has to get past on Sunday. Qualifying 15 Sep 2018 4 MIN 4 British GP 2018: Hamilton Takes Pole by 0.044s From Vettel Kimi Raikkonen was quicker through two of the lap's three sectors, yet Lewis Hamilton's speed through Aintree and Wellington was worth more than both of them combined. Qualifying 7 Jul 2018 5 MIN 5 Bottas Beats Hamilton to Austrian GP 2018 Pole by 0.019s Valtteri Bottas out-nudged his own team-mate for pole at the Red Bull Ring, but the bigger story down the order was a Red Bull garage that spent Saturday fighting itself as much as Mercedes and Ferrari. Qualifying 30 Jun 2018 4 MIN