Silverstone Chaos
Charles Leclerc Ends Ferrari's Win Drought in Dramatic British GP Amid Late Verstappen Crash
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Key Points
1
Charles Leclerc ended Ferrari's 624-day wait for a win with the British Grand Prix victory.
2
Max Verstappen crashed at Stowe late in the race (four laps from the end), triggering the Safety Car and denying a late one-lap shootout.
3
Kimi Antonelli suffered a left-front wheel shield failure on Lap 41, which contributed to him dropping from contention and finishing 16th after a five-second track-limits penalty.
4
Lando Norris finished fourth, with Isack Hadjar fifth and Gabriel Bortoleto scoring Audi's first points in P8, followed by Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly in the top 10.
Charles Leclerc won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday, ending Ferrari's 624-day wait for a victory. The race finished under a safety car after Max Verstappen crashed at Stowe with four laps to go, robbing fans of a nail-biting finale. The Guardian reported that championship leader Kimi Antonelli fell from first to 16th, handing Leclerc a dramatic win.
George Russell crossed the line second for Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton third. The result shakes up the title fight, cutting Antonelli's championship lead to just 25 points. Formula 1 called it one of the most dramatic Silverstone races in recent memory.
Antonelli's Race Unravels With Wheel Shield Failure
Antonelli looked set to dominate. The Mercedes rookie led early and was pulling away from the pack. Then, on lap 41, his left-front wheel shield failed. The damage slowed his car and knocked him out of contention. He was also hit with a five-second penalty for a track-limits breach, pushing him all the way down to 16th. Formula 1 confirmed the wheel shield failure was the key moment that derailed his race.
The swing in points was huge. Antonelli had come to Silverstone with a comfortable lead. He left with his advantage trimmed to 25 points. The Guardian noted the result opens the championship up significantly with several rounds still to go.
Verstappen's Stowe Crash Seals the Race Early
With four laps left, Max Verstappen lost control and crashed at the fast Stowe corner. The stewards threw out the safety car immediately. The field bunched up, and hopes of a one-lap sprint to the flag were gone. Leclerc held his nerve at the front and never looked back. BBC reported the crash effectively ended any real chance of a last-lap battle.
The safety car stayed out all the way to the chequered flag. That locked in the top three. Leclerc took the win, Russell was second, and Hamilton third. It was a bittersweet finish for fans who had expected a grandstand finale.
Russell Stays Out, Hamilton Faces Yellow-Flag Probe
Russell's second place came from a smart call. While rivals pitted for fresh tyres during the safety car, Russell stayed out on the track. That kept him in second place as the field bunched behind the safety car. BBC said the Mercedes strategy call was the key move that secured the result.
Hamilton's third place was not without drama. Stewards launched a separate investigation into a possible yellow-flag infringement by the seven-time champion. The Globe and Mail noted Hamilton's podium could yet face scrutiny, though the result stood at the time of the race finish.
Leclerc's Win and the Rest of the Points Finishers
Leclerc's win was Ferrari's second in three races, according to BBC. Lando Norris finished fourth, keeping his own championship hopes alive. Isack Hadjar was fifth. Further back, Gabriel Bortoleto scored Audi's first-ever Formula 1 points with a P8 finish. Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly rounded out the top 10.
The Silverstone result reshapes the title picture. Antonelli still leads but his cushion is now slim. Ferrari and Mercedes both showed they can fight at the front. With the championship tight, every point from here will matter.
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