At least qualifying for the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix here managed to deviate from what has become a well-thumbed script as Valtteri Bottas grabbed pole position ahead of his Mercedes teammate, Lewis Hamilton. But as F1 celebrates its seven decades of racing there was greater hope still that Sunday’s race may yet deliver an unlikely comeback story that will live long in the memory and only because of the spectre of the coronavirus. For Nico Hülkenberg, the driver with the most GP starts without a podium finish, Silverstone offers the chance of a lifetime. Bottas denied Hamilton delivering a carbon copy of his pole at the British Grand Prix last week with a superb lap, although at first it had appeared to be a case of history repeating itself. Bottas had led his teammate through the first two sessions but just as was the case last Saturday, on the final hot laps Hamilton looked to find another gear. On his first run he set a time of 1min 25.284sec, more than a 10th up on the Finn. This time, however, Bottas did not take it lying down. Both drivers went quicker on their final laps but it was Bottas who had the edge. He set a time of 1:25.154, six-hundredths quicker. “Mentally when you are starting from pole you can only aim to win,” he said. “The pace is there. First job is to get off the line and the mentality is try to win it. That’s it.” Hamilton said he simply could not quite better his teammate on their final laps. Both Mercedes suffered tyre failures in last weekend’s race and are expected to opt for a more conservative two-stop strategy on Sunday. They still dominated last weekend and were in a class of their own once more. Behind them, Hülkenberg in third for Racing Point was almost a second back. Which is of concern for the wider sport but will matter not a jot to the German who has not raced since December of last year. “The Hulk’s” achievement was magnificent. Hülkenberg had replaced Sergio Pérez who had tested positive for Covid-19 15 minutes before first practice began at the British Grand Prix. He had not raced since the last round of last season and had to familiarise himself with his team’s car from a standing start. Having done so he then suffered the disappointment of not starting the race because of a clutch problem. This week he was again only confirmed to drive on Friday when Pérez recorded a further positive test. Hülkenberg has won Le Mans for Porsche and for a well-rated driver he holds an ignominious record in F1, having the most race starts in 177 without finishing on the podium. His lap for third was superb while his teammate, Lance Stroll, managed only sixth. The German will not be in the fight with Mercedes but if he can keep Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who was fourth, at bay, a place on the top steps will finally be his. “I knew his subject would come up,” he said, smiling when asked about the “monkey on his back”. “It is very challenging and difficult circumstances but I know I have a fast car beneath me so I have to make sure I do everything right. The start and lap one will also be new for me, I will just to try to get it right with all the experience that I have. I am a couple of races behind the other guys but I remember what it feels like.” Hülkenberg drove for Racing Point in 2012 and between 2014 and 2016. The German’s last race was for Renault – where he has been replaced by Esteban Ocon this season. Third equals the team’s previous best qualifying result and that he stands such a good chance in the Racing Point has been at the centre of controversy this weekend. After the FIA gave Racing Point a points deduction and a fine for illegally copying parts of the Mercedes 2019 car on Friday, four teams have officially announced their intent to protest the punishment. Ferrari, McLaren, Williams and Renault are dissatisfied that Racing Point can continue to use their car without changes and the rear brake ducts it was found to have copied. Racing Point also intend to appeal against the decision. McLaren’s CEO, Zak Brown, described Racing Point’s position as “BS” and called out the team. To which the team principal, Otmar Szafnauer, issued a firm rebuttal. The controversy will drag on, but with Pérez likely to return for the next round in Spain, Hülkenberg’s focus is on the short-term fairy story at Silverstone on Sunday. Daniel Ricciardo was in fifth for Renault. Sebastian Vettel, who has struggled with his car at Silverstone since last week, had another trying day unable to find the pace in his car, going out in 12th for Ferrari. Pierre Gasly was in seventh for AlphaTauri, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in eighth, Alexander Albon in ninth for Red Bull and McLaren’s Lando Norris in 10th. Ocon was in 11th but will take a three-place grid penalty for impeding George Russell’s Williams. Russell finished in 15th. Carlos Sainz went out in 13th for McLaren in front of the Haas of Romain Grosjean. Daniil Kvyat was in 16th for AlphaTauri in front of the Haas of Kevin Magnussen. Williams’s Nicholas Latifi was in 18th. Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi and Kimi Räikkönen went out in 19th and 20th.