Antonelli beats Hamilton to win British GP sprint at Silverstone
Synopsis
A 19-year-old in his debut season just outdrove a seven-time world champion on his home turf. Kimi Antonelli's controlled pass on Lewis Hamilton at Silverstone's Hangar Straight was not a lucky break — it was a championship statement. With a 43-point lead and a main race still to come, Antonelli is making a very strong case for the title.
Key Takeaways
Kimi Antonelli won the British GP sprint race at Silverstone on 4 July , overtaking Lewis Hamilton on the Hangar Straight on lap eight.
Antonelli now leads the F1 drivers' championship by 43 points over Mercedes teammate George Russell .
Lando Norris finished third after a strong start from sixth, with Russell fourth and Charles Leclerc fifth.
Max Verstappen held sixth, fending off Oscar Piastri in the closing laps.
Liam Lawson secured the final points position ahead of Isack Hadjar .
Qualifying for the British Grand Prix is scheduled at 7:30 pm IST on Saturday.
Kimi Antonelli delivered a composed and clinical performance to win the Formula 1 British Grand Prix sprint race at Silverstone on Saturday, 4 July, overtaking Lewis Hamilton on the Hangar Straight to extend his lead at the top of the drivers' championship. The 19-year-old Italian now holds a 43-point advantage over Mercedes teammate George Russell.
How Antonelli Sealed the Win
Starting from the front, Antonelli kept his composure through a frenetic opening sequence at Silverstone. He bided his time, carefully managing his battery deployment before unleashing a decisive burst of speed to pass Hamilton's Ferrari on lap eight. Once ahead, he never looked back, converting the move into a controlled victory that underlined his growing authority in this championship.
The win is another landmark moment in what has been a remarkable debut season for the teenager, who showed maturity well beyond his years by seeing off the seven-time world champion.
The Battle Behind: Norris, Russell and Verstappen Trade Blows
While Antonelli pulled clear, the midfield delivered the sprint's most entertaining passages. McLaren's Lando Norris, starting sixth, gained two positions on the opening lap before passing Russell on lap two. The trio of Norris, Russell, and Red Bull's Max Verstappen exchanged positions repeatedly in the early stages before the order settled.
Russell eventually reclaimed the advantage over Verstappen on lap nine. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc then applied pressure from behind, passing Verstappen a lap later to take fifth. Verstappen, unable to respond, held on to sixth ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri in the closing stages.
Lawson Holds Off Hadjar for Final Points
Further down the order, Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson withstood persistent late pressure from Red Bull's Isack Hadjar to secure the final points-paying position. The battle between the two young drivers added a competitive edge to the tail end of the sprint.
Championship Picture and What Comes Next
Antonelli's victory further consolidates his position at the summit of the Formula 1 drivers' standings. With a 43-point buffer over Russell, the Italian's consistency across sprint and feature races has made him the clear favourite heading into the second half of the season.
Attention now turns to the main event, with qualifying for the British Grand Prix scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm IST on Saturday. A strong grid position could give Antonelli the platform to extend his championship lead further at one of the sport's most celebrated circuits.
Point of View
A seven-time champion racing on a circuit where he has won a record number of times, in front of a home crowd, is the kind of moment that defines a career trajectory. What is striking is not just the pace but the method: battery management, patience, and a single clean move. That is championship-calibre racecraft from a teenager in his first season. If Mercedes can keep the car competitive through the summer, the title conversation may be over sooner than the calendar suggests.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the British GP sprint race at Silverstone?
Kimi Antonelli won the British Grand Prix sprint race at Silverstone on 4 July, overtaking Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari on the Hangar Straight on lap eight. The 19-year-old Italian secured victory and extended his championship lead to 43 points.
How did Antonelli pass Hamilton in the sprint?
Antonelli managed his battery charge carefully before deploying a sharp burst of speed on the Hangar Straight on lap eight to pass Hamilton's Ferrari. Once ahead, he controlled the race to the finish without further challenge.
What is Antonelli's championship lead after the British GP sprint?
Following his sprint victory, Kimi Antonelli leads the Formula 1 drivers' championship by 43 points over his Mercedes teammate George Russell.
Where did Norris, Russell, and Verstappen finish?
Lando Norris finished third after climbing from sixth on the grid. George Russell came fourth and Max Verstappen sixth, with Charles Leclerc splitting them in fifth after passing Verstappen on lap ten.
When is qualifying for the British Grand Prix?
Qualifying for the main British Grand Prix at Silverstone is scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm IST on Saturday, 4 July.
