Charles Leclerc returns to the top step as Ferrari shines at Silverstone
Charles Leclerc finally returned to winning ways after almost two years, producing a flawless drive to win a dramatic British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The Ferrari driver controlled the race from the front with outstanding pace and composure, securing his first victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Lewis Hamilton completed a strong afternoon for Ferrari by finishing third, while George Russell split the two Ferrari drivers to claim second place. It was a heartbreaking race for championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who appeared to be mounting a serious challenge for victory before suffering a technical issue in the closing stages. The Italian heroically brought his damaged Mercedes to the finish but ended the race outside the points.
Max Verstappen’s afternoon also ended in disappointment after he spun into the gravel just a few laps before the chequered flag, triggering the Safety Car that ultimately remained on track until the end of the race.
Ferrari dominates the opening laps
The ninth round of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship concluded a memorable weekend that had already seen Andrea Kimi Antonelli make history by winning his first Sprint Race and securing pole position, becoming the first Italian driver to start from pole at Silverstone since 1953.
Even so, Ferrari arrived on race day as a genuine threat. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton lined up second and third on the grid after showing impressive pace throughout every session, with both Mercedes drivers acknowledging before the race that Ferrari looked extremely competitive.
As expected, every driver started the 52-lap race on the medium compound, with Pirelli’s preferred strategy pointing towards a one-stop race.
When the lights went out, Ferrari executed a perfect launch. Charles Leclerc immediately seized the lead after Andrea Kimi Antonelli made a poor getaway, while Lewis Hamilton also swept through to secure second place and complete an early Ferrari one-two.
George Russell held fourth but quickly lost touch with the leading trio and even came under pressure from Isack Hadjar. The Racing Bulls driver initially looked threatening before Max Verstappen overtook him to move into fifth place behind the two Ferraris and the two Mercedes.
Oscar Piastri’s race was compromised almost immediately after suffering front-wing damage that forced an early pit stop, dropping the McLaren driver to the back of the field. Further behind, Alexander Albon and Oliver Bearman made contact during the opening lap.
Hamilton’s penalty changes the race
Ferrari’s dream start suffered an early setback when Lewis Hamilton received a five-second penalty for a false start. The British driver had moved slightly before the lights went out, earning a sanction that would later have to be served during his first pit stop.
On lap 11, Antonelli used his superior race pace to overtake Hamilton and move into second place. Charles Leclerc, however, continued to drive faultlessly, extending his advantage to more than four seconds while managing the race perfectly from the front.
Behind them, Max Verstappen expressed his frustration over team radio, clearly unhappy with the balance and handling of his Red Bull RB22. Nevertheless, the Dutchman closed in on George Russell before overtaking the Mercedes driver for fourth place on lap 17.
Leclerc and Antonelli battle for victory
Verstappen’s move proved short-lived, as he became the first of the frontrunners to pit for hard tyres on lap 18. His pace improved noticeably after the stop, while the strategic battle at the front continued to unfold.
Lewis Hamilton made his pit stop on lap 24, serving his five-second penalty before changing tyres. George Russell stopped at the same time and managed to emerge just ahead of the Ferrari driver by only a few tenths of a second.
After negotiating traffic during the lapping phase, Charles Leclerc finally made his own stop, by which point Antonelli had reduced the gap by almost two seconds. As the race reached lap 30, two thrilling battles developed simultaneously: Leclerc and Antonelli fought for victory through lap times, while Hamilton and Russell engaged in an intense wheel-to-wheel duel for fourth place.
Antonelli extended his first stint significantly, hoping fresher tyres would give him the advantage during the closing laps.
Late drama transforms the outcome
Russell and Hamilton gradually closed the gap to Verstappen, creating an exciting three-way fight for the podium. However, Russell’s challenge was suddenly interrupted by a slow puncture, forcing him into an additional pit stop that temporarily dropped him out of podium contention.
Antonelli eventually pitted on lap 35, handing the lead back to Charles Leclerc before rejoining around seven seconds behind the Ferrari. At the same time, Lewis Hamilton produced another spectacular move to overtake Verstappen after a fierce battle for third place.
On lap 40, Nico Hulkenberg stopped on track with a reliability issue, prompting a Virtual Safety Car. Verstappen immediately took advantage of the neutralisation to make his second pit stop.
Just when the race appeared to be building towards a thrilling fight for victory, Antonelli’s hopes were destroyed by a technical problem. The Mercedes driver was forced back to the pits as his mechanics attempted to remove an aerodynamic component lodged in the left-front suspension.
Despite the damage, Antonelli bravely returned to the track in an effort to salvage points for the championship.
Safety Car secures Ferrari victory
The drama was not over. With only five laps remaining, Max Verstappen lost control under braking into Stowe Corner and became stranded in the gravel, bringing out the Safety Car.
Ferrari immediately reacted by bringing both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton into the pits for fresh soft tyres. Leclerc retained the lead, while Hamilton rejoined behind George Russell, who had remained on track on his medium tyres without making another stop.
In a finish that is likely to generate plenty of debate, the Safety Car remained on circuit until the chequered flag, preventing any final restart.
Charles Leclerc therefore crossed the finish line to secure his first Formula 1 victory in almost two years. George Russell recovered to finish second after a difficult weekend, while Lewis Hamilton completed the podium to score valuable championship points for Ferrari.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli ultimately crossed the line in ninth place but fell outside the points after receiving a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits. Lando Norris finished fourth, ahead of Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls teammates Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad, Gabriel Bortoleto in eighth for Audi, while both Alpine drivers also finished inside the top ten.
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