Charles Leclerc won the British Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell and Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton after an enthralling race that under with a whimper.
With drivers’ world championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, on pole position, Leclerc and Hamilton shot off the line and overtook the Mercedes to take control of the race. Hamilton was caught having kept Antonelli at bay for a while helping Leclerc extend his time gap to the Mercedes.
There was drama towards the end of the race as a car issue for Antonelli hindered his chances and dropped him down the grid before a retirement for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen brought out a safety car with five laps to go.
Ferrari decided to pit and switch Hamilton’s tyres meaning Russell moved up to second. And the safety car took the drivers to the end of the race resulting in two podium berths for Ferrari.
Follow the British Grand Prix with The Independent.
Read MoreLa Decima for Lewis? Hamilton eyes 10th British GP victory in ‘unprecedented’ Silverstone weekend
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Kimi Antonelli shines in qualifying to start on pole for British Grand Prix
F1 BRITISH GP - LATEST UPDATES
- Charles Leclerc wins British Grand Prix under safety car with Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton in third
- Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli dropped out of points after mechanical fault
- Red Bull's Max Verstappen crashed out late to spark underwhelming ending to race
- Hamilton's gamble to pit during safety car saw him surrender second to George Russell
- Christian Horner addresses speculation over potential F1 return
Russell's reaction to P2 finish
17:13 , Mike Jones"Well done for sticking in there. That was a very frustrating weekend."
Antonelli finishes P16
17:00 , Mike JonesThe drivers’ championship leader was pleading with his Mercedes put wall to stay out on track to try and earn more points.
He managed to do so but had a penalty for infringing track limits.
A P9 finish instead becomes a P16 and he gains no points from this race.
F1 standings after Charles Leclerc wins British GP and Kimi Antonelli drops points in Great Britain
16:52 , Mike JonesCharles Leclerc won the British Grand Prix under a safety car to win at Silverstone for the very first time. The Ferrari driver flew off the line at the start to overtake Kimi Antonelli with Lewis Hamilton also shooting up to second.
F1 standings after Charles Leclerc wins British GP and Kimi Antonelli drops points
Charles Leclerc reacts to British GP win
16:51 , Mike JonesThe winning driver tells Ferrari on the radio: "Lets go! Lets go! Finally, this one feels particularly good.
“I wish for a bit more normal ending. Hard work paid off, hard times never last, only tough people last."
British Grand Prix results
16:45 , Mike Jones1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
2. George Russell (Mercedes)
3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
4. Lando Norris (McLaren)
5. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
6. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
7. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
9. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
Chequered flag!
16:31 , Mike JonesCharles Leclerc wins the British Grand Prix as boos ring out from the stands.
George Russell takes second place with Lewis Hamilton in third.
Kimi Antonelli crosses the line in ninth but he’s got a time penalty and will drop out of the points.
Lap 52 of 52
16:29 , Mike JonesThe safety car has been redeployed!
The chance to race is gone.
Ferrari’s decision to pit Hamilton has cost him second place to Russell.
The race will end under the safety car.
Lap 51 of 52
16:27 , Mike JonesThere may be one lap to race as the overlapped cars try to unlap themselves.
But maybe not.
Lap 50 of 52
16:24 , Mike JonesThe safety car is still running and if it goes to the end of the race, Russell will clinch second place.
Ferrari’s fierce strategy could backfire.
Kimi Antonelli is given a five second penalty for exceeding track limits. He’s rightly upset about that.
Lap 49 of 52
16:22 , Mike JonesCharles Leclerc has made a pit stop and so too has Lewis Hamilton.
The safety car is still out as Verstappen’s Red Bull is removed.
George Russell didn’t stop. He stayed out and moved up to second place above Hamilton.
Will that cost Hamilton second place?
Lap 48 of 52
16:20 , Mike JonesSaefty car is called for!
Max Verstappen is in the gravel and he’s going to be out of this race.
A full safety car could make for a dramatic end to this race.
Charles Leclerc is as far away from the pit lane as possible.
Lap 47 of 52
16:17 , Mike JonesAntonelli’s car is breaking in every lap and is told to box to retire the car.
Franco Colapinto is gaining on the Mercedes as well.
This is going to be a tough one for the 19-year-old. He really wants to stay out there and is carrying on for now.
But he’s under investigation for exceeding track limits.
Lap 45 of 52
16:14 , Mike JonesAntonelli’s front left wheel shield has broken. He pleads with Mercedes to fix it and get him back on track.
They do and he has eight laps to gain as many points as he can.
He’s in 10th at the minute.
That opens the way for Charles Leclerc to win this race!
Lap 44 of 52
16:12 , Mike Jones“Something is broken.”
“There car is not turning.”
Kimi Antonelli has an issue. He boxes immediately and the tyres and front wing are swapped out.
He heads back onto track but comes out behind Russell.
“We’ll retire the car.”
Is the call from the pit wall.
Lap 40 of 52
16:07 , Mike JonesAntonelli is flying on the new tyres and is catching Leclerc.
Ferrari were thinking about boxing Leclerc under the safety car but decided against it.
Verstappen is out there on medium tyres and looks to catch Hamilton.
Lap 39 of 52
16:05 , Mike JonesHamilton is up to third!
He finally gets Verstappen on the Wellington straight as the Virtual Safety Car is called for with Nico Hulkenberg off track.
Verstappen comes into the pits for a quick stop and is on a brand new set of tyres.
Game on.
Lap 38 of 52
16:03 , Mike JonesGeorge Russell is flying on the medium tyres and has reined in Isack Hadjar.
Can he catch Lando Norris as well?
Hamilton tries to nip on the inside of Verstappen but the Red Bull closes the door.
He tries again on the Sir Lewis Hamilton straight but again he’s got no joy.
Lap 36 of 52
16:00 , Mike JonesKimi Antonelli is called into the pits to get his new set of tyres.
Leclerc retakes the lead and has a 7.7 gap over Antonelli but his tyres are 10 laps worse off.
Hamilton is within a second of Verstappen in the battle for third.
Lap 35 of 52
15:59 , Mike JonesRussell’s bad luck continues as he pulls into the pits.
Russell attempts to overtake the Red Bull before he pulls in and forces Verstappen to defend.
Russell comes back out in seventh on a set of medium tyres.
It’s now a battle between Verstappen and Hamilton for third.
Lap 34 of 52
15:57 , Mike JonesRussell has closed on Verstappen and wants to complete the overtake on the Red Bull.
If he can get past he’ll have a gap to Hamilton which will be to his benefit.
Oh no!
Russell has a slow puncture. He tries to make the overtake on Verstappen but can’t get it done.
Mercedes were ready to box Russell but he stays out there for another lap.
“Box this lap!” Russell is told.
Lap 32 of 52
15:54 , Mike JonesHamilton sticks on the back of Russell and completes the overtake at Brooklands!
But, once more the Ferrari has used too much energy meaning Russell can retake him at Copse.
It’s as you were.
"I have no grip on these. It's horrendous," says Max Verstappen ahead of them.
Lap 30 of 52
15:51 , Mike JonesHamilton overtakes Russell!
He takes it on the outside of the Mercedes at Copse but Russell responds at Hanger straight to recover the place.
Verstappen edges ahead slightly due to this battle.
Wow.
Lap 30 of 52
15:50 , Mike JonesLando Norris needs to pit and switch out the tyres. That means he drops from first down to sixth beneath Hamilton.
Hamilton, Russell and Verstappen are all in a tussle.
There’s just a few cars lengths between the three of them.
Lap 29 of 52
15:48 , Mike Jones“We are P6 and fighting for the podium P3.”
That’s the call from Ferrari to Lewis Hamilton. He’s set the fastest lap of the race on the new hard compounds.
“Don’t let anyone undercut me.”
That’s Antonelli calling to Mercedes. He leads the race from Leclerc but needs to stop.
Lap 27 of 52
15:45 , Mike JonesVerstappen’s tyres are six laps further worn than Hamilton and Russell’s.
Will that have an impact on the race for the podium?
Charles Leclerc was starting to lose time to Antonelli so has been called in the pit lane.
He loses position to Antonelli but has switched onto the hard compounds.
Lap 24 of 52
15:42 , Mike JonesHamilton and Russell go into the pits. Hamilton sits to serve his penalty and goes out behind the Mercedes!
What that means is Hamilton is in sixth behind Russell and Verstappen.
That penalty has cost Hamilton track position.
Lap 24 of 52
15:41 , Mike Jones“Oh jeez mate, I’ve got so much understeer it’s crazy.”
Those are the thoughts of Lewis Hamilton in his Ferrari.
He’s still got a five second penalty to take and the gap between himself and Russell in fourth is now five seconds.
Lap 23 of 52
15:39 , Mike JonesAntonelli is gaining on Leclerc.
The battle at the front is beginning to kick into life with Antonelli chipping away at Leclerc’s lead.
It’s down to 3.5 seconds from 4.4 seconds.
The pit stop and tyre change could be key for the Ferrari.
Lap 21 of 52
15:35 , Mike JonesThere are a few rumblings of tyre degradation meaning this could turn into a two-stop race.
That could hand an advantage to Max Verstappen.
He’s out on hard tyres and is flying through his laps. He sets a new fastest race of the race!
Verstappen has his sights on Lando Norris.
Lap 19 of 52
15:33 , Mike JonesVerstappen immediately went into the pits after overtaking Russell.
He switches onto hard tyres and comes out ahead of Liam Lawson (8th) in seventh place.
Verstappen is the first of the top drivers to make the switch. Will it boost his chances of a podium?
Lap 17 of 52
15:31 , Mike JonesBattling!
Russell and Verstappen are at it again. Verstappen swings past Russell at the same corner Antonelli took on Hamilton.
Russell attempts to recover the place on Hanger straight but Verstappen slams the door!
Lap 17 of 52
15:30 , Mike JonesLewis Hamilton’s race is now to work out how to finish on the podium.
He’s got a five second penalty to serve and needs to open that much of a gap on George Russell behind him.
He might be helped out by Max Verstappen attempting to take on the Mercedes...
Lap 15 of 52
15:27 , Mike JonesRussell is getting caught by Verstappen in a battle for fourth.
The Mercedes, already losing points to his teammate, cannot afford to be caught.
Oscar Piastri radios to the McLaren pit wall saying: “front doesn’t look great, it’s graining.”
He’s having a bad grand prix in truth.
Lap 13 of 52
15:23 , Mike JonesFerrari have seemingly abandoned Lewis Hamilton’s prospects of winning the race given his mistake at the start.
But Hamilton has done a strong job of providing a buffer for Leclerc at the front.
The gap between him and Antonelli is 4.4 seconds.
Lap 11 of 52
15:22 , Mike JonesAntonelli overtakes Hamilton!
He’s back up to second and can chase down Charles Leclerc.
It was a great move on the inside of Hamilton who did try to squeeze the Mercedes but couldn’t cover it completely.
Lap 11 of 52
15:21 , Mike JonesMax Verstappen is gaining on George Russell in fourth place as well.
Down towards Brooklands, Hamilton holds off Antonelli but he’s really under pressure...
Lap 10 of 52
15:19 , Mike JonesHamilton is under serious pressure from Kimi Antonelli now.
Hamilton has also complained of jumping at the front of his car.
Charles Leclerc is opening up a lead at the top and Hamilton will need to do his best to hold off Antonelli as long as possible.
Lap 8 of 52
15:15 , Mike JonesPerhaps a cause of concern for Hamilton. He’s under investigation for a false start due to moving before the lights went out.
That could be a 10-second penalty for the seven-time world champion.
It would also affect Ferrari’s race strategy.
Oh, confirmation has come in... Hamilton is docked five seconds as a penalty.
Lap 7 of 52
15:14 , Mike JonesCharles Leclerc has set the fastest lap of the race but the quickest car on track feels like Kimi Antonelli’s in third.
“We are on for plan B for bravo.”
That’s a radio call from Leclerc to the Ferrari pit wall.
Can the two Ferraris work together to hold off Mercedes?
They’ve done the first job which was to get ahead early on but how do they play it from here?
Alex Albon has been given a 10 second penalty for the collision with Bearman.
Lap 5 of 52
15:11 , Mike JonesAt the start there was an incident between Ollie Bearman and Alex Albon which is being investigated.
Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri had damage to his car and had to pit.
He’s back out on track but must fight from 21st on the grid.
Lap 3 of 52
15:08 , Mike JonesBehind the leading four cars there’s a little battle happening between the two Red Bulls.
Max Verstappen weaves past Isack Hadjar to move up to fifth as he lines up the Mercedes.
Hadjar, with a bit of a power boost, can’t retake his spot.
Their tussle means that George Russell is able to extend the gap to Verstappen.
Lap 1 of 52
15:07 , Mike JonesCharles Leclerc leads from Lewis Hamilton with Kimi Antonelli in third behind them.
What a start for the Ferraris.
Both Mercedes are battling each.
Elsewhere, Oscar Piastri has a problem and has dropped down to 20th while Fernando Alonso began the race from the pit lane after an issue on the formation lap.
Lights out!
15:04 , Mike JonesKimi Antonelli gets off the line pretty well but so do the two Ferraris.
There’s 650m to the first corner.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton take advantage!
They both fly past Antonelli’s car and George Russell is pressuring him as well.
Almost time for lights out
15:00 , Mike JonesThe cars have completed their formation lap. Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc are on the front row.
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell sit behind them with Isack Hadjar and Lando Norris in fifth and sixth.
What can Max Verstappen do today as well? Let’s find out...
How will this race play out?
14:53 , Mike JonesIt feels very much like a two-horse race between Mercedes and Ferrari.
But if Ferrari can’t get past Kimi Antonelli early on it could become a procession for the championship leader.
Can George Russell battle past Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to take on his teammate and rival as well?
Who knows? But we’ll find out soon enough.
Lights out is happening shortly...
Wolff shoots down comparisons between Antonelli and F1 greats
14:48 , Mike Jones"He hasn't won the world championship yet,” Wolff said of his young driver.
“He's being compared to the great ones, he has all the traits but he needs to show the results.
"He had a really bad run last year, nine races in a row without any points. He was probably victim to the pressure and new environment. He was just 18.
“In that way, it's remarkable how he came out this year. He comes out like an experienced driver but he's just 19."
Toto Wolff on Antonelli
14:42 , Mike Jones"It's impressive how he's calm and kills with a smile. It's a pleasure to watch,” said the Mercedes Team Principal.
“There's no mistakes, he's really performing, considering it's his second year, at such a high level.
"We were not happy with the car's performance in the corners [on Friday], we changed it a bit overnight and I think that made the difference."
Grid penalty for Pierre Gasly
14:37 , Mike JonesPierre Gasly qualified P12 but will be dropping three places on Sunday after receiving a grid penalty for impeding the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll.
The stewards said Gasly had "unnecessarily impeded" Stroll after the Canadian had to avoid the slow-moving Alpine driver when he was on a flying lap.
Gasly will now start P15 on the grid, moving Nico Hulkenberg to P12, Ollie Bearman to P13 and Carlos Sainz to P14.
Hamilton fears Antonelli will claim dominant win at Silverstone
14:36 , Mike JonesLewis Hamilton fears Kimi Antonelli could spoil the British Grand Prix party by running away with victory in front at Silverstone.
“We couldn’t (beat Antonelli) this morning so I don’t think that really changes,” said Hamilton when asked about his prospects yesterday.
“He has just gone way quicker than I did yesterday (in qualifying) and nothing will change between today and tomorrow.
“We will do our best to hold on to him but if he gets a clean run, he is off.”
Kimi Antonelli shines in qualifying to start on pole for British Grand Prix
14:30 , Mike JonesKimi Antonelli had a perfect Saturday at the British Grand Prix to put himself on pole position for Sunday’s race and create the opportunity to increase his lead at the top of the drivers’ championship.
Antonelli was fastest in qualifying on Saturday afternoon with a rapid time of 1:28.111 which was two tenths of a second quicker than Lewis Hamilton’s sprint qualifying time from Friday.
Kimi Antonelli shines in qualifying to start on pole for British Grand Prix
Leclerc pleased to be on front row
14:24 , Mike Jones"I'm pleased. It's been a few tough races,” Charles Leclerc admitted after qualifying.
“The feeling has been not quite right, struggled to put everything together, sometimes we couldn't score points.
“To be back, it's a good feeling. There's been so much work behind the scenes. Today is the first time I had it back. It's a good thing but I've struggled to be consistent. It's only the beginning."
Did Mercedes make an changes between the sprint and qualifying?
14:18 , Mike JonesAntonelli relieved that Mercedes didn’t make any changes between the sprint and qualifying.
He said: "No, we did not change the car at all. It was just about differential, brake migration, driving.
“We worked around it and we managed to find a good setting that helped me to progress though qualifying."
Antonelli on pole position
14:12 , Mike Jones"I was a bit stressed because I never really like going first for the last run but the last lap was very tidy, I have to be honest. It all came together,” said Kimi Antonelli after yesterday’s qualifying.
“It was very tricky with the wind because it was very gusty, unpredictable. We built our way through qualifying and to bring the pole home is very satisfying."
Have other teams gained on Mercedes?
14:06 , Mike JonesGeorge Russell is unsure.
He said after Saturday’s sprint race: "It was a bit of a surprise [the peformance of other teams]. But I think in the race, if I could've held on to P3 after lap one, I think I would've comfortably finished P3.
"For sure, some of the opponents have moved forward a little bit. But I think in the race pace, we still have a little bit extra."
La Decima for Lewis? Hamilton eyes 10th British GP victory in ‘unprecedented’ Silverstone weekend
14:00 , Kieran JacksonCan Lewis Hamilton make history and extend his record success at Silverstone this afternoon?
The Independent’s Kieran Jackson breaks down Hamilton’s pursuit at a 10th British GP win and the threat he can pose to Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli.
La Decima for Lewis? Hamilton eyes 10th Silverstone win on ‘unprecedented’ weekend
Vasseur responds to Wolff's upgrade comments
13:55 , Mike JonesMercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff remarked that Ferrari must ‘be running out of cost cap soon’ during the Austrian Grand Prix following upgrades to the cars of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Those upgrades include an update to the power unit.
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur responded to Wolff’s comments saying: "You are referring to the comments of Toto?
"I found it quite ironic from Toto, coming from Toto and Mercedes. When Red Bull is developing or when Mercedes is developing, they are genius, when we are developing we are cheating.
“I think you have to calm down with this, that we didn't bring more parts than Red Bull or another team. I don't know if it was a joke."
George Russell has belief after Austria win
13:49 , Mike JonesMercedes’ George Russell has grown in belief following his last two results in Barcelona and Austria.
Speaking after his victory in the latter Grand Prix, Russell said: “It’s incredible to be back on the top step.
“It has been a little while, so I am going to enjoy it this evening. Max was incredibly quick so kudos to them. It was toasty out there so I am looking forward to a drink now.
“The tough races test you psychologically, and the last two weekends have been important to remind myself I can do it.”
What is Oscar Piastri expecting from British GP?
13:43 , Mike Jones“Difficult to know,” admitted the McLaren driver. “I think everyone is a little up and down at the moment apart from Mercedes, they are the constant challenge at the very front.
“Austria was hard to read for us. Qualifying [we] thought we would be stronger, in the race maybe we thought we'd be a bit worse.
“Ferrari we thought would be a lot stronger on Sunday than they were. Max was a lot quicker than we thought. It's changing a lot at the moment from track to track with upgrades.
“I think we should be somewhere near the front, where exactly I don't know but we're still missing that final step to really challenge for wins [and] as long as we put our best foot forward, I think we're in the running for hopefully podiums.”
Red Bull still trailing Mercedes admits Verstappen
13:37 , Mike JonesThe four-time F1 champion also admitted that Red Bull were still behind Mercedes in terms of development despite closing the gap.
"You need a strong engine but you also need good battery power. At the end of the day it's two different things," said Verstappen.
"I think our car is not really one area where we are lacking, it's just sometimes you lack in the low speed, the high speed.
"Probably sometimes a bit of a balance thing as well with setup, but again here everything will feel so different because of a lack of energy that you can use."
Red Bull aiming to optimise their car
13:31 , Mike Jones"We have made good progress but it's like that the whole season so far,” Max Verstappen said of Red Bull’s resurgence in Austria.
“One team bringing quite a big upgrade, they jump ahead, then another team comes they go forward again.
"Just need to be aware that can happen again with other teams. We just keep focusing on our own package, try to optimise that further and see if we can have more results like that [Austria]."
F1 standings after British GP sprint as Kimi Antonelli increases championship lead
13:25 , Mike JonesKimi Antonelli fought back to claim victory in the British Grand Prix sprint race to extend his lead over George Russell and Lewis Hamilton on the drivers’ championship.
Hamilton started the race on pole position and held the Mercedes of Antonelli at bay through the opening lap with the other cars scrapping for position behind them.
F1 standings after British GP sprint as Kimi Antonelli increases championship lead
Hamilton reflects on Austria GP
13:19 , Mike JonesLewis Hamilton followed up his win in Barcelona with a fifth place finish in Austria.
Speaking of the last GP he reflected: “Obviously we had some great performances before, but the fact is, as you can see in the race, we lose quite a lot of time – I think it's like four tenths of a lap we lose in a straight line, so it's hard to recover that through corners,
“I think we've got a great car, fundamentally. We've just got to continue to work until we maximise what we can and get the best results we can, and score as many points as we can until we can close that deficit.”
Drivers on track!
13:18 , Mike JonesThe Formula 1 drivers are out on track but with a twist.
They’re racing LEGO go karts ahead of the start of the grand prix later today.
British Grand Prix live
13:13 , Mike JonesThe drivers have been met with a superb reception at Silverstone ahead of the British Grand Prix.
Lights out is just under two hours away.
Record crowds expected at Silverstone
13:07 , Mike JonesThe British GP this weekend is expected to experience a record crowd across the three days of racing action.
Silverstone chief executive Stuart Pringle told the Press Association: “What does it mean to be hosting the largest Grand Prix ever? It feels entirely appropriate for the place which ran the first round in Formula One in 1950.
“The British fanbase and the history of strong attendance makes it fitting that it is us (that breaks the record), and it reinforces how important the British market is to Formula One. This is a very big race in the calendar.
“We are absolutely ready. The whole thing has got an air of polish to it. We have been building up year-on-year, but this feels like a big step forward for me.”
Kimi Antonelli on Austria GP result
13:01 , Mike JonesMercedes’ Kimi Antonelli also reflected on his third place finish in Austria.
“In Austria I think I lost the race in the first stint with the first laps going off.
“I struggled with the brakes and lost a lot of time, so I feel like obviously without that it would have given me a better chance to fight for the victory, or at least for P2.
“For sure it's been, let's not say a difficult couple of races because still we were up there, but definitely looking forward to this weekend to put things more together and maximise better the result.”
Christian Horner addresses speculation over potential F1 return
12:55 , Mike JonesChristian Horner made his first appearance in the F1 paddock since leaving Red Bull Racing last year and addressed his potential future in the sport during an interview with Sky Sports’ Craig Slater.
Horner was relieved of his duties as Red Bull team principal 48 hours after last year’s event at Silverstone and the 52-year-old has not been in an F1 paddock since.
Christian Horner addresses speculation over potential F1 return
Antonelli has 'fire inside' after poor two weeks
12:49 , Mike JonesF1 drivers’ championship leader Kimi Antonelli says he has a ‘fire inside’ of him following a lean two weeks which have seen his rivals reduce the deficit in the standings.
“I have a big fire inside me because I think the last two races obviously didn't go well, considering the pace we had,” Antonelli said at Thursday’s media day ahead of the British GP.
“I think in Barcelona, the race was going well but obviously we had the issue which was unfortunate.
“In Austria I felt very good in the car, but in Qualifying I relaxed a little bit too much during the session and just didn't extract the best out of the car, the tyres. And then obviously there was the thing with the yellow flag, which George managed well – he did what he had to do.”
Verstappen voices disapproval over unprofessional lego cars
12:43 , Mike Jones"I prefer to play with Lego at home, you know, with the kids. Not on a go-kart here, to be honest," the Dutchman stated ahead of the British GP.
"I prefer to stand on a truck, just with everyone together. I think that’s more fun and I think it also looks more professional."
Max Verstappen says Lego car parade at British Grand Prix makes F1 drivers look like ‘kids and clowns’
12:37 , Mike JonesMax Verstappen has voiced strong disapproval over Formula One’s decision to have drivers participate in a parade lap using Lego cars at Sunday’s British Grand Prix, warning it risks making them appear like "kids and clowns".
The four-time world champion told broadcaster Viaplay that he would prefer the traditional format, where drivers are transported around the circuit on a flatbed truck, engaging with fans and conducting television interviews.
Max Verstappen hits out at Lego car parade before British Grand Prix
Christian Horner returns to F1 paddock
12:37 , Mike JonesFormer Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner is back in the paddock for the first time since leaving Red Bull.
He’s at Silverstone as a fan today but that hasn’t stopped speculation about his future in the sport.
Where next on the calendar?
12:31 , Mike JonesFollowing the British GP, there are two more races to go in July and Formula 1 heads to Belgium after a week off.
Here’s the next two race weekends on the schedule:
ROUND 10 - BELGIUM
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps - 17-19 July
ROUND 11 - HUNGARY
Hungaroring, Budapest - 24-26 July
Constructor standings ahead of British GP
12:25 , Mike Jones1. Mercedes - 315 points
2. Ferrari - 215 points
3. McLaren - 167 points
4. Red Bull - 118 points
5. Alpine - 57 points
6. Racing Bulls - 45 points
7. Haas - 21 points
8. Williams - 11 points
9. Audi - 2 points
10. Aston Martin - 1 point
11. Cadillac - 0 points
Driver standings ahead of British GP
12:19 , Mike Jones1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 179 points
2. George Russell (Mercedes) - 136 points
3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 132 points
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 85 points
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 83 points
6. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 82 points
7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 76 points
8. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) - 42 points
9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 41 points
10. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - 31 points
11. Ollie Bearman (Haas) - 18 points
12. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) - 16 points
13. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) -14 points
14. Carlos Sainz (Williams) - 6 points
15. Alex Albon (Williams) - 5 poins
16. Esteban Ocon (Haas) - 3 points
17. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) - 2 points
18. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) - 1 point
19. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) - 0 points
20. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) - 0 points
21. Sergio Perez (Cadillac) - 0 points
22. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) - 0 points
How can I watch it online and on TV?
12:13 , Mike JonesThe British Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom. Sky’s coverage of Sunday’s race starts at 12:55 pm (BST).
Sky Sports subscribers can watch all the action from Silverstone on the Sky Go app. If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
In the United States, every practice, qualifying and race session will be streamed on Apple TV this year. You can stream Apple TV for FREE, with Apple TV’s seven-day free trial.
If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch, then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help.
When is the British Grand Prix?
12:07 , Mike JonesThe British Grand Prix takes place this afternoon at Silverstone Circuit.
Lights out is set for 3pm with Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes sitting on pole position ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
State of play
12:01 , Mike JonesFormula 1 heads to Silverstone in Great Britain for round nine of the 2026 F1 season in a sprint weekend that could play a key role in the drivers’ championship title race.
Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli still leads the way but since claiming a fifth consecutive victory with a victory in Monaco the impressive 19-year-old has seen his lead cut to 43 points.
A DNF in Barcelona helped Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton close the gap, as the seven-time champion claimed a first grand prix win for the Italian team, before Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate George Russell earned victory at the Austrain Grand Prix last time out.
But, Antonelli responded in fine fashion on Saturday at Silverstone to first win the sprint race before claiming pole position ahead of the Ferrari pairing of Charles Leclerc and Hamilton. The 19-year-old is now the favourite to claim victory on Sunday.
Good morning!
11:36 , Mike JonesWelcome to The Independent’s coverage of today’s British Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc look to challenge Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli for the crown.
Hamilton had impressed on Friday by being the quickest on track in each session before taking pole for the sprint race on Saturday.
Yet, Antonelli excelled yesterday. First he overtook Hamilton to win the sprint and extend his lead in the drivers’ championship before he went on the claim pole position for today’s grand prix.
Leclerc, in contrast to Hamilton, seemed to struggle across the weekend but a fine lap in qualifying secured him a front row start and the potential to challenge at the top of the grid.
How will today’s race play out and is there any way to stop Mercedes and Antonelli?
