Race Notes - Verstappen wins British GP

By Mark Karp

Max Verstappen took his sixth win in a row, taking the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in his Red Bull-Honda. Lando Norris, after taking the lead for the first 5 laps in his McLaren-Mercedes, finished second, 3.798s behind. Lewis Hamilton with good timing with a safety car at his pitstop finished third in his Mercedes GP, 6.783s behind.

The win is Verstappen’s eighth win of the 2023 season out of ten rounds. It is Verstappen’s second win at Silverstone, and Red Bull’s eleventh win in a row.

Hamilton third place is his 14th British GP podium.

Verstappen extends his Champion lead over team mate Perez

McLaren goes ahead of Alpine for fifth in the Constructors Championship.

Oscar Piastri (7.776s) in the second McLaren was fourth, followed by George Russell (11.206s) in the second Mercedes was fifth, Sergio Perez (12.882s) in the second Red Bull was sixth, Fernando Alonso (17.193s) in the Aston Martin-Mercedes was seventh, Alex Albon (17.878s) in the Williams-Mercedes was eighth, Charles Leclerc (18.689s) in the Ferrari was ninth, and his team mate Carlos Sainz (19.448s) took the final point in tenth.

Before the start the weather was warm with huge crowds at Silverstone. As the start approached, clouds came over the circuit and lower temperatures and with potential summer rain showers possible during the race.

Verstappen is on pole, with Norris alongside on the front row. His team mate Piastri and Leclerc on row two, Sainz and Russell on row three, Hamilton and Albon on row four, and Alonso and Gasly rounding out the top ten.

The top 15 starting on medium tyres except Russell and Ocon on soft tyres.

At the appointed time the field came around, the lights went out and the race started with Verstappen a good start, but Norris goes into the lead in the first corner, Verstappen and Piastri following. Hamilton goes wide and drops to ninth, but gets back past Gasly later in the lap.

There are reports of some drops of rain around the track.

On lap 4 Norris continues to lead Verstappen with Piastri, Leclerc, Russell, Sainz, Alonso, Hamilton Gasly and Albon in tenth.

On lap 5 Verstappen passes Norris for the lead.

Leclerc is closely followed by Russell.

Hamilton is challenging Alonso.

On lap 7 Hamilton passes Alonso for seventh.

Perez and Hulkenberg touch, Hulkenberg pits.

Ocon pulls into the pits and retires.

At lap 10 Verstappen leads Norris by 1.1 seconds, followed by Piastri (2.4s), Leclerc (6.1s), Russell (6.9s), Sainz (8.1s), Hamilton (10.8s), Alonso (12.8s), Gasly (13.7s) and Albon (15.3s) in tenth.

There are reports of potential rain in the next fews minutes.

On lap 13 Perez passes Stroll for 11th.

Gasly is closing on Alonso in eighth.

On lap 17 Perez passes Albon for tenth.

On lap 19 Leclerc pits from fourth for hard tyres and rejoins in 12.

Versatppen sets fast lap at 1m32.338s.

At lap 20 Verstappen leads Norris by 4.5 seconds, followed by Piastri (6.8s), Russell (12.1s), Sainz (15.3s), Hamilton (16.7s), Alonso (21.6s), Gasly (22.5s), Perez (24.7s), and Albon (27.7s) in tenth.

On lap 21 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m32.184s.

Many dark clouds surround the track.

On lap 26 Leclerc passes Stroll for 11th.

On lap 27 Sainz pits from fifth and changes to hard tyres and rejoins in 12th.

On lap 27 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m32.138s.

On lap 29 Russell pits from fourth and changes to medium tyres and rejoins ninth, Perez from ninth for soft tyres and rejoins 13th.

On lap 30 Piastri pits from third for hard tyres and rejoins sixth.

Sainz sets fast lap at 1m31.545s.

On lap 31 Perez sets fast lap at 1m31.408s.

Russell passes Lecler for eighth place.

Gasly and Stroll both pit, rejoining 11th and 14th.

On lap 32 Magnussen pulls to the side of the track with an engine failure, the virtual safety car is out.

The full safety car is out, Verstappen, Norris, Hamilton, Alonso all pit.

Behind the safety car, Verstappen on soft, Norris on hard, Hamilton on soft, Piastri on hard, Russell on medium, Alonso on soft, Sainz on hard, Perez on soft, Albon on soft, and Leclerc on medium tyres in tenth.

At the end of lap 38 the safety car is in and the race resumes with Verstappen leading Norris and Hamilton.

On lap 39 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m30.348s.

On lap 40 Hamilton goes side-by-side with Norris, but Norris stays ahead.

DRS in enabled.

On lap 41 Stroll passes Gasly for 11th.

Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m30.275s.

On lap 44 Perez passes Leclerc for seventh, Albon passes Leclerc as well for eighth.

At lap 45 Verstappen leads Norris by 3.6 seconds, followed by Hamilton (5.0s), Piastri (6.7s ), Russell (8.5s), Alonso (11.9s), Perez (12.7s), Albon (14.0s)m Leclerc (15.5s), and Sainz (17.2s) in tenth.

Gasly and Strolll touch, Gasly pits with damage and retires.

On lap 47 Perez passes Alonso for sixth.

On lap 48 Russell is shown the black and white flag for track limits.

Stroll is handed a 5-second penalty for contact with Gasly.

Albon chases Alonso in seventh.

At the flag Verstappen wins over Norris and Hamilton.