George Russell Confused by Ferrari's Dominance at British GP George Russell expressed bewilderment at Ferrari's strong performance during Saturday's sprint qualifying session at the British Grand Prix, as he finished fifth behind Lewis Hamilton and the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Kimi Antonelli. The Mercedes driver, who had recently boosted his championship hopes with a victory in Austria, struggled to match the pace of his rivals, finishing 0.357 seconds behind Hamilton. Antonelli secured the front row alongside Hamilton, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Leclerc also positioned ahead of Russell. Russell, aiming for his first win at Silverstone, admitted he was "very surprised" by Ferrari's form. Despite previous struggles with their power unit and energy management, the Italian team appeared dominant during qualifying. "Some things aren't quite making sense," Russell said. "If I were to have predicted, I would have said Ferrari fast last weekend and us to be quick this week. But Ferrari have had the upper hand all day. Relative lap time just not really there. We need to understand for tomorrow, the more important day." Antonelli, the title leader, narrowly missed out on pole position by 0.011 seconds after a strong final lap. The 19-year-old Italian praised Ferrari's progress and welcomed the challenge posed by Hamilton. "It was so, so close. And it was a shame. A little bit left on the table, but it was a decent lap and we focus on tomorrow now," Antonelli said. "The car felt good. Ferrari have done an incredible step forward. Lewis is in great form, but that's good—we like the challenge." Hamilton, who secured sprint pole, called the result an "amazing surprise," highlighting Ferrari's unexpected strength.#charles_leclerc #ferrari #george_russell #kimi_antonelli #silverstone
Kimi Antonelli Claims Victory in Thrilling 2026 British GP Sprint Kimi Antonelli secured his first-ever Sprint victory at the 2026 British Grand Prix, triumphing over Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris in an action-packed 100km race at Silverstone. The Mercedes driver, who started from pole position, faced relentless pressure throughout the event, ultimately crossing the finish line 2.745 seconds ahead of Hamilton. Norris claimed third place for McLaren, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fifth, completing a strong top-five result. The race featured multiple overtakes, including a dramatic move by George Russell, who passed both McLaren cars in two corners to finish fourth. Antonelli’s win came after a tense battle with Hamilton, who initially led the race but was consistently challenged by the Ferrari driver. The decisive moment arrived on Lap 8, when Antonelli used his car’s Boost system to surge past Hamilton on the Hangar Straight. The Italian maintained his lead for the remainder of the race, with Hamilton unable to close the gap despite a strong final lap. Norris, meanwhile, kept Mercedes’ Russell at bay, securing third place after a late battle with the Briton. The race also saw several incidents and penalties. Sergio Perez was handed a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision with Fernando Alonso, while Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson faced investigation for moving under braking during a late duel with Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar. Lawson finished eighth, just ahead of Hadjar, but his actions prompted stewards to review the incident. Additionally, Nico Hulkenberg was investigated for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, while Williams’ Alex Albon started from the pit lane after his team altered his car’s suspension setup without approval.#charles_leclerc #lewis_hamilton #lando_norris #kimia_antonelli #silverstone
Doriane Pin Makes Mercedes History with First Formula 1 Test at Silverstone Doriane Pin has achieved a historic milestone in her motorsport career by completing her first Formula 1 test with Mercedes at Silverstone, marking a significant step forward for both the driver and the team’s development program. At 22, she became the first woman to drive a Mercedes F1 car and the first Frenchwoman to test modern Formula 1 machinery. The 2025 F1 Academy champion completed 76 laps of the 2.639-kilometer National Circuit, covering 200 kilometers in the Mercedes W12, the car that secured the 2021 Formula 1 constructors’ championship for the team with Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. Pin’s test followed extensive simulator preparation, during which she was fully integrated into Mercedes’ engineering process before taking to the track. The French driver described the experience as “unreal,” expressing gratitude for the opportunity and the support of the team. She emphasized the challenges of adapting to the W12, noting its differences from the cars she had previously driven. “Everything is different, bigger and more powerful,” she said. “I am glad I was able to build confidence lap after lap and show what I was capable of.” Mercedes Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin highlighted Pin’s impact on the team, stating that her performance marked “another major step on what is proving to be a very exciting and promising career.” He praised her preparation and professionalism, noting that she “looked at home from the very first laps” and was able to drive the car “on the limit.” The test is part of a structured pathway within Mercedes, where Pin continues to gain experience through simulator work, engineering collaboration, and trackside support.#mercedes #doriane_pin #silverstone #f1_academy #andrew_shovlin
