The British Grand Prix, the tenth race of the season, turned into a celebration for local fans with two British drivers delivering strong performances. Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton stood on the podium, while Max Verstappen secured his eighth win of the season, continuing his dominant run. McLaren emerged as a major beneficiary at Silverstone, with Oscar Piastri climbing to fourth and Norris securing a second place finish, underscoring the team’s pace around the home circuit.
Sunday proved tougher for Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz. The Asturian driver pushed hard to move up to seventh in a home race for Aston Martin, but the result felt less celebratory than hoped. Ferrari again seemed to miss a decisive chance to challenge Red Bull, as Leclerc and Sainz found their options limited after the late caution period, with Sainz finishing tenth just ahead of his teammate.
Verstappen had a troubling start on the day after a Saturday incident where a contact near the pit wall damaged a wing, yet he still faced a difficult pole-to-chequer start. The Dutch driver began slowly and had to regain ground, with Norris losing position early as the Silverstone stands roared with around 480,000 fans in attendance.
Piastri aimed to overtake Verstappen in the early stages, waiting for the DRS zones to unlock a chance to attack the championship leader. After five laps, Verstappen was able to pass Norris with a decisive move and then set off on a solo drive that has become a familiar pattern this season.
Alonso started strong, gaining two places to finish seventh. Hamilton, renowned for aggressive pace, found himself behind after a first-corner incident and dropped to ninth, but he recovered quickly. In a burst of speed, he passed Alonso within six laps and then overtook Sainz, who started on soft tires, while Russell began in a strong position but finished behind his rivals in fifth after a challenging start.
McLaren’s pressure on the leader
Leclerc opened the pit stops with a quick move to shield himself from Russell’s attack. The Monégasque then returned to the track on hard tires in twelfth, while Norris continued on track with Piastri, maintaining pressure without overextending his strategy. The two McLarens stayed aggressive, narrowing Verstappen’s escape and threatening his championship lead.
Russell maintained a rapid pace on softs, complicating Leclerc’s plans amid traffic as the Ferrari paused again. The Briton stretched tire life to 29 laps, but Mercedes’ slower pit stop briefly cost him position, allowing Leclerc to slip ahead in a moment of misfortune for the Italian team.
Last chance with the safety car
A safety car on lap 34, caused by a Haas fire, reshaped the battlefield and benefited those who had not yet stopped, including Verstappen, Norris, Hamilton, and Alonso. The seven-time world champion, equipped with softer compounds, emerged as a major beneficiary, gaining ground on Norris and presenting himself as a credible challenger for the podium with a switch to harder tires.
Alonso capitalized on his grid position, climbing to sixth behind Piastri and Russell. Ferrari struggled as Leclerc and Sainz fell further behind, with both units facing a tough climb in the closing stages. With fourteen laps remaining, Leclerc sat tenth, and Sainz trailed closely behind.
Verstappen pressed forward, maintaining pressure on Norris and Hamilton as the Englishman faced a stern test from the leader. Norris, in turn, defended bravely against Hamilton’s relentless push, creating a tense duel that thrilled the Silverstone crowd.
A collision with Stroll sidelined Gasly, ending Alpine’s race in disappointment after Ocon retired earlier due to mechanical issues. With Q3 struggles continuing for Pérez, the Mexican driver finished ninth in a comeback drive, fighting to climb into the top five as the field stretched out toward the final laps.
Verstappen crossed the line for his eighth victory in ten races, extending his championship advantage while Norris delivered a standout performance to finish ahead of Hamilton in a dramatic contest. Alonso settled for seventh and Sainz ended the weekend in tenth, as Ferrari left Silverstone with a quiet sense of frustration.
Overall, the race highlighted Verstappen’s consistency, Norris’ home-soaked pace, and McLaren’s growing threat to Red Bull, with the British fans left savoring a competitive and memorable weekend at Silverstone. Source notes: Official race results and team press releases.
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