Charles Leclerc’s victory at the British Grand Prix has been widely praised for Ferrari’s pace and execution, but according to the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera, one crucial element cannot be ignored: fortune. In today’s edition, journalist Daniele Sparisci argues that luck ultimately proved decisive, as Mercedes’ reliability issues denied Andrea Kimi Antonelli what looked like another likely victory.
Ferrari undoubtedly had the speed, Charles Leclerc made an excellent start and delivered a superb opening stint, but by the closing stages Antonelli appeared to have the stronger race pace. Only a technical problem prevented the Mercedes driver from mounting what could have been a successful charge for victory.
Leclerc’s long-awaited return to the top
“They rush to celebrate their liberation, chanting at the top of their lungs: ‘Charles! Charles! Charles!’ The soundtrack echoes through this Woodstock of motorsport, while Brian May—wearing a red shirt—waves his arms as his white curls dance in the wind. Magnum bottles of champagne explode like water pistols to celebrate the end of the long wait. Six hundred and twenty-three days after the 2024 Austin Grand Prix, the Little Prince has become king again, claiming the ninth victory of his career.”
“Leclerc defeated both his doubts and his critics, recovering from mistakes and setbacks, and he did so after stopping trying to imitate Lewis Hamilton.”
After the race, Charles Leclerc reflected on the difficult period that preceded his return to victory.
“It’s the result of all the hard work over these past few weeks. I’m also happy for everyone who suffered alongside me. This victory means so much because it’s been a really tough period,” he said.
Fortune smiles on Ferrari, turns against Antonelli
Leclerc himself admitted that luck had finally been on his side.
“Sometimes you need a little bit of luck…” he said.
For Andrea Kimi Antonelli, however, fortune told a very different story. The Mercedes driver recorded his second retirement in the last three Grands Prix because of another reliability issue, just as he was closing the gap on Charles Leclerc with tyres that were ten laps fresher and likely to offer him a genuine opportunity to fight for victory.
The situation became even more frustrating with George Russell’s second-place finish. Despite a relatively anonymous race, the British driver collected valuable championship points, reducing the gap from 43 points after qualifying to just 25 in the standings, leaving those hoping for a larger recovery by Antonelli disappointed.
Ferrari capitalised on its opportunity
According to Corriere della Sera, Ferrari deserves significant credit for making the most of the opportunity presented to it. The Scuderia demonstrated both speed and ruthlessness, confirming that its recent technical developments are moving in the right direction while taking full advantage of Mercedes’ reliability weaknesses.
Lewis Hamilton also finished on the podium, securing his first top-three finish of the season. Despite receiving a five-second penalty for a false start, the seven-time world champion showed he remains firmly in contention for the Formula 1 title.
The celebrations extended beyond the drivers and engineers. Ferrari chairman John Elkann uncorked a bottle of champagne and sprayed the victorious team, brushing droplets from his blue jacket with a smile.
The result also carried enormous historical significance. Ferrari’s triumph at Silverstone marked the 250th Formula 1 victory in the Scuderia’s history, achieved at the same circuit that had already provided one of the team’s most memorable successes in recent years.
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