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Kimi Antonelli beats Lewis Hamilton in British Grand Prix sprint race
🇲🇽 Mexico /Sports

Kimi Antonelli beats Lewis Hamilton in British Grand Prix sprint race

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Kimi Antonelli secured a victory in the British Grand Prix sprint race, overtaking Lewis Hamilton.
  • The race highlighted the strategic use of electric power in Formula 1 cars for 2026.
  • Antonelli extended his championship lead over teammate George Russell, who finished fourth.

Kimi Antonelli claimed a triumphant return to the winner's circle on Saturday, denying Lewis Hamilton a home victory in the sprint race preceding the British Grand Prix. Hamilton, starting from pole position, held the lead until lap eight of 17, when Antonelli executed a pass, aided by the electric power boost of his car.

"Let's go! Let's go!" Antonelli exclaimed over the radio after securing the win. He later commented on the intense battle, stating, "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."

Let's go! Let's go!

— Kimi AntonelliKimi Antonelli's radio communication immediately after taking the lead in the sprint race.

The race served as a preview of Formula 1 in 2026, showcasing the strategic deployment of electric power as a key element in on-track battles. This technology allowed drivers like Lando Norris to frequently swap positions, but it also required drivers to manage energy levels, lifting off in fast corners at Silverstone to recharge.

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.

— Kimi AntonelliAntonelli reflected on his intense battle with Lewis Hamilton during the sprint race.

Hamilton, seeking his first win since his move to Ferrari last year, had shown a resurgence with a surprise victory in the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix the previous month. "I was pushing as hard as I could, I gave it absolutely everything. We have a bit of work to do to try and close that gap," Hamilton said after the sprint race.

Lando Norris finished third for McLaren, which sported a retro white and green livery. He engaged in a thrilling back-and-forth battle for the position with George Russell and Max Verstappen. Antonelli's victory, his first since the Monaco Grand Prix last month, widened his lead in the Formula 1 standings to 43 points over teammate Russell. Russell finished fourth after experiencing what he described as a "strange" lack of pace in qualifying the previous day, a setback following his win in Austria the week prior.

I was pushing as hard as I could, I gave it absolutely everything. We have a bit of work to do to try and close that gap.

— Lewis HamiltonLewis Hamilton commented on his performance and the need for further development after the sprint race.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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