Italian Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli turned a strong start into a maiden Sprint victory at Silverstone, then followed it up with a pole lap that was just under two tenths quicker than Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Antonelli said the car felt good all day and that once he got past Lewis Hamilton he could build a comfortable gap to the finish.
George Russell, Antonelli’s teammate, finished fourth in both the Sprint and qualifying after a battle with McLaren’s Lando Norris, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Leclerc. Russell admitted the weekend was “not straightforward” and that traffic on his final qualifying lap cost him a better grid slot. Ferrari’s Leclerc recovered to start second, while Hamilton took the Sprint podium in second and qualified third. McLaren’s Norris earned a third‑place Sprint finish but slipped to sixth in qualifying, and Oscar Piastri struggled with rear‑grip, ending seventh and eighth respectively.
Team principals highlighted the fierce competition with Ferrari and the need to optimise straight‑line speed for the race. With Antonelli on pole and the Ferraris lining up on the front row, Mercedes will need a clean start and strategic edge to keep the championship battle alive at the British Grand Prix.
