Race Notes - Leclerc wins at Silverstone

By Mark Karp

Charles Leclerc won the British Grand Prix in his Ferrari, taking the checkered flag under the Safety Car. George Russell in the Mercedes GP finished second, and Lewis Hamilton in the second Ferrari was third.

With ten laps left, Antonelli was attacking Leclerc with fresher tyres, but pitted with mechanical issues.

It is Leclerc’s first win since Austin 2024. It is Leclerc’s first win at the British GP and ninth win of his career, in his 180th Grand Prix start.’

Finishing third is Hamilton’s 16th podium finish at the British GP, and Russell’s first.

Antonelli still leads the Drivers Standings with 179 points over Russell (154), Hamilton (147), Leclerc (108) and Norris (97).

In the Constructors’ Championship Mercedes GP leads with 333 points over Ferrari (255), McLaren-Mercedes (179), Red Bull-Ford (128), and Alpine-Mercedes (60).

Lando Norris in the McLaren-Mercedes was fourth, Isack Hadjar in the Red Bull-Ford was fifth, Liam Lawson in the Racing Bulls-Ford was sixth, his team mate Arvid Lindblad was seventh, Gabriel Bortoleto in the Audi was eighth, Franco Colapinto in the Alpine-Mercedes was ninth, and his team mate Pierre Gasly was tenth.

Before the start Antonelli is on pole, with Leclerc alongside on the front row, Hamilton and Russell on row 2, Hadjar and Norris on row 3, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri on row 4, and Racing Rules team mates Lindblad and Lawson rounding out the top ten.

Most drivers expecting a one-stop, starting on mediums and switching to hard tyres. Just before the start, all drivers are starting on medium tyres.

At 3p local time, with no rain expected, the field came around on the formation lap to line up on the grid. The lights went off and the race began with Antonelli getting a slow start, Leclerc in the lead with Hamilton in second, followed by Antonelli , Russell, Hadjar, Verstappen, Norris, Lawson. Lindblad, and Sainz in tenth. Oliver Bearman and Alex Albon touch.

On lap 2 Hamilton is under pressure from Antonelli.

On lap 3 Verstappen passes his team mate Hadjar for fifth.

On lap 4 Hamilton is 1.2 seconds behind Leclerc in the lead.

Leclerc sets fast lap at 1m33.737s.

On lap 8, Hamilton is given a 5-second penalty for a jump start.

Gasly passes Sainz for 11th place.

Colapinto passes Sainz for 12th.

At lap 10 Leclerc leads Hamilton by 3.1s, followed by Antonelli (3.9s), Russell (6.6s), Verstappen (7.8s), Hadjar (10.9s), Norris (12.8s), Lawson (21.4s), Lindblad (22.9s) and Bortoleto (27.1s) in tenth place.

On lap 11 Antonelli passes Hamilton for second place. Leclerc leads Antonelli by 4.2 seconds.

Hamilton seems to be losing grip on his rear tyres.

On lap 15 Leclerc leads Antonelli by 4.5 seconds, over Hamilton (5.8s), Russell (9.7s) and Verstappen (10.8s) in fifth.

On lap 17 Verstappen passes Russell for fourth, and then immediately pits for hard tyres, and rejoins seventh.

On lap 19 Hadjar pits from fifth for hard tyres and rejoins tenth.

On lap 20 Hadjar passes Bortoleto for ninth.

Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m33.562s.

Hamilton in third is matching the pace of Leclerc.

On lap 22 the Virtual Safety car is out, Marshals clearing an umbrella. The Virtual Safety car is quickly finished. Colapinto pits.

Hamilton is complaining of major understeer.

On lap 24 Hamilton and Russell both pit. Hamilton serves his 5-second penalty.

Russell rejoins fifth, Hamilton rejoins sixth.

On lap 26 Leclerc pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins second. Antonelli leads.

Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m32.309s.

Hamilton closes to under a second behind Russell.

On lap 28 Lindblad pits from ninth.

On lap 29 Norris pits from third for hard tyres and rejoins seventh. Lawson pits from eighth.

On lap 30 Hamilton passes Russell, but Russell is able to come back and repass.

At lap 30 Antonelli leads Leclerc by 14.4 seconds, followed by Verstappen (27.6s), Russell (28.5s), Hamilton (28.6s).

On lap 31 Hamilton passes Russell for fourth - Russell then passes back on the same lap.

On lap 34 Mercedes reports to Russell that he has a slow puncture.

Russell is all over Verstappen. The team call him in to change tyres.

On lap 35 Russell pits for medium tyres and rejoins seventh.

Hamilton is challenging Verstappen for third.

On lap 35 Antonelli pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins second 7.4 seconds behind Leclerc.

On lap 38 Hamilton passes Verstappen for third.

On lap 39 Hulkenberg is stopped on circuit and the Virtual Safety car is out.

Verstappen and Hadjar pit.

At lap 40 Leclerc leads Antonelli by 4.8 seconds, followed by Hamilton (19.8s), Verstappen (29.9s), Russell (34.6s), Norris (41.9s), Hadjar (54.1s), Lawson (59.2s), Lindblad (1m01.2s), and Bortoleto in tenth.

On lap 41 Antonelli slows, and comes into the pits. The team is confused what the issue is. He takes on medium tyres comes back on track, but Antonelli thinks something is wrong in the car’s suspension. The teams says there is a problem with a wheel shield, he runs in seventh place.

Antonelli pits again.

On lap 44 Leclerc leads Hamilton, Verstappen, Russell, Norris, Hadjar, Lawson, Lindblad, and Bortoleto.

Mercedes clears the wheel shield and sends Antonelli back on track.

Antonelli running tenth, says there is still a problem.

On lap 46 of 52 Leclerc leads Hamilton by 20.9 seconds, followed by Verstappen (27.6s), Russell (32.6s), Norris (41.3s), Hadjar (52.3s), Lawson (1m04.1s), Lindblad (1m08.6s), Bortoleto (1m15.4s), and Antonelli (1m31.6s) in tenth.

On lap 48 Verstappen spins off at the fast Stowe corner. The safety car is out.

Leclerc and Hamilton both pit. Norris pits as well.

At lap 50 of 52, behind the Safety car Leclerc leads Russell, Hamilton Norris, Hadjar, Lawson, Lindblad, Bortoleto, Antonelli and Colapinto in tenth.

The stewards give Antonelli a 5-second penalty for going off track.

On lap 50 the track is clear, and the lapped cars pass the safety car. The Safety car lights are out. All cars are of soft tyres, except Russell in second place with old mediums.

At the end of lap 51 the Safety Car doesn’t doesn’t come in as expected.

On lap 52 the cars follow the Safety Car to the flag and Leclerc wins ahead of Russell and Hamilton.