Antonelli passes Hamilton to win Silverstone sprint
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At a glance
- Antonelli overtook Hamilton to win the Silverstone sprint race after a close battle in the opening laps.
- Norris secured third place after an early surge and a fight with Russell and Verstappen.
- Verstappen finished sixth, falling back after battling with Russell and Leclerc, while Lawson and Hadjar claimed the final points.
Andrea Antonelli claimed victory in the Silverstone sprint race, battling intensely with Lewis Hamilton in the initial laps before making a decisive overtake. "It was a very fun first 10 laps with Lewis," Antonelli stated. "We were both pushing very hard. When I got into overtake (mode), I knew my chance was coming."
It was a very fun first 10 laps with Lewis. We were both pushing very hard. When I got into overtake (mode), I knew my chance was coming.
Hamilton acknowledged the challenge of keeping his Mercedes ahead, particularly with strong winds affecting the cars. "Tough race to keep the Mercedes behind, as I said it might be. And with it being so windy today, big headwind down the back straight, he came flying past. We have work to do to try and close that gap as we can keep up," he commented.
When I got alongside in Brooklands he used the boost and I decided to wait and then I got close and used everything.
Lando Norris delivered a strong performance, climbing from sixth to fourth on the opening lap and then passing George Russell. After a dynamic period of position changes involving Norris, Russell, and Max Verstappen, Norris solidified third place. "It was a very good race," Norris said. "I'm very, very happy, good start, good first lap, not the pace to go with these guys but had a good battle with George. Pleasantly surprised."
Tough race to keep the Mercedes behind, as I said it might be. And with it being so windy today, big headwind down the back straight, he came flying past. We have work to do to try and close that gap as we can keep up.
Further down the field, Russell overtook Verstappen on lap nine. Verstappen subsequently fell behind Charles Leclerc and finished sixth, holding off Oscar Piastri. Liam Lawson secured seventh, with Isack Hadjar taking eighth after a late battle.
It was a very good race. I'm very, very happy, good start, good first lap, not the pace to go with these guys but had a good battle with George. Pleasantly surprised.
Originally published by BBC News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.