Antonelli wins sprint race and takes pole at British Grand Prix

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli dominated the British Grand Prix weekend, clinching both pole position and victory in the sprint race. Antonelli's impressive performance saw him overtake teammate Lewis Hamilton in the sprint race before setting the fastest lap to secure pole for Sunday's main event.

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Let’s go! Let’s go!

The Italian driver's success marks a return to winning form, extending his Formula 1 standings lead. Antonelli expressed his excitement over the team radio, celebrating the momentum he and the team are building. The sprint race itself was a dynamic display of F1's 2026 regulations, with drivers strategically utilizing electrical power for bursts of speed, leading to constant position changes.

Meanwhile, title rival George Russell endured a challenging day. He finished fourth in the sprint race and qualified in the same position after an early incident involving contact with the wall. This setback follows a strong showing in the previous week's Austrian Grand Prix, which had boosted his championship hopes. Russell had previously reported a "strange" lack of pace during qualifying, indicating underlying issues.

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It was a very fun first 10 laps with Lewis, we were both pushing very hard. Obviously the momentum is there, and we are doing a great job together with the team.

Lewis Hamilton, after a recent victory in Barcelona, fought for the win in the sprint but ultimately finished third in qualifying, behind Antonelli and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. Lando Norris secured third place in the sprint race after a close battle with Russell and Max Verstappen. The strategic use of power units and the close competition highlighted the evolving nature of Formula 1 racing.

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I was pushing as hard as I could; I gave it absolutely everything. We’ve got a bit of work to do to try and close that gap.