Antonelli beats Hamilton to victory in British GP Sprint

Kimi Antonelli passed pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton to extend his world championship lead with victory in the British Grand Prix Sprint.

Ferrari's Hamilton held off Antonelli at the start but succumbed to near constant pressure from the Mercedes driver on the eighth circuit of the 17-lap contest, before the Italian teenager pulled clear to claim the first Sprint win of his Formula 1 career.

Antonelli's championship lead over his Mercedes team-mate George Russell grows to 43 points, with the latter unable to get past McLaren's Lando Norris for third in the closing stages.

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Antonelli said: "The momentum is there. We are doing a great job together with the team but we cannot let our guard lower.

"Lewis and Ferrari are doing an incredible job. Red Bull and McLaren are coming and George is super quick. We just need to keep raising that bar and keep delivering performances."

Antonelli eventually finished 2.7 seconds clear of Hamilton, and the pair were in a league of their own, with a further seven-second gap back to Norris in third.

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Norris came out on top of a thrilling five-car battle for third, with Russell finishing ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, Red Bull's Max Verstappen and the other McLaren of Oscar Piastri, amid regular changes of position during the first half of the race.

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Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson held off Red Bull's Isack Hadjar to take the final point in eighth, but faces a post-race investigation after a questionable defensive move in the closing stages.

British GP Sprint Result: Top 8

1) Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2) Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

3) Lando Norris, McLaren

4) George Russell, Mercedes

5) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

6) Max Verstappen, Red Bull

7) Oscar Piastri, McLaren

8) Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Antonelli reasserts himself in title battle

While the limited points available in the Sprint mean Antonelli's win only increases his championship lead by three points, the 19-year-old's performance was something of a statement.

His lead has shrunk at the last two rounds after a technical failure in Barcelona was followed by a third place in Austria, despite the fact he appeared to have the best race pace of any driver on the grid at each event.

Antonelli may have been concerned of a repeat of his shaky start in Austria last weekend when a charging Norris momentarily took second from him on the opening lap, but he calmly reclaimed the position immediately before setting about chasing down Hamilton.

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The seven-time world champion used all of his experience to keep Antonelli at bay for a while, but came unstuck as he used up a big chunk of his electronic energy to defend early on lap eight, leaving him vulnerable down the Hanger Straight moments later.

"It was a very fun first 10 laps with Lewis, we were both pushing very hard," Antonelli said.

"When I got into Overtake [Mode], I knew my chance was coming. Out of Turn Four I was very close, so I went alongside into Brooklands but he used the boost, so I decided to wait. Going into Stowe I used everything I had, then I was able to overtake.

"From that point on I tried to get into my rhythm and try to break the Overtake Mode [which you get when you are within one second of the driver in front] then bring it home."

Hamilton was unable to apply any serious pressure after that, with Antonelli gradually pulling clear on his way to the chequered flag.

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Antonelli ultimately cruising to victory while Russell battled in a secondary race behind leaves the Brit needing to respond in qualifying later on Saturday to avoid losing the momentum he built by winning in Austria.

Hamilton, who moves within four points of Russell in the drivers' standings, appears to be Mercedes' most likely challenger, with the nine-time British Grand Prix winner continuing to appear in complete control of his Ferrari.

Hamilton said: "(It was a) tough race to keep the Mercedes behind. I did say that was potentially the case yesterday and obviously with it being so windy today, a big, big headwind down the back straight, he came flying past.

"I was pushing as hard as I could, I gave it absolutely everything. But well done to Kimi and we've got work to do to try and close that gap so we can keep up."

British GP Sprint Result

Driver

Team

Time

1) Kimi Antonelli

Mercedes

26:12.129

2) Lewis Hamilton

Ferrari

+2.745

3) Lando Norris

McLaren

+9.783

4) George Russell

Mercedes

+10.639

5) Charles Leclerc

Ferrari

+12.620

6) Max Verstappen

Red Bull

+16.550

7) Oscar Piastri

McLaren

+17.551

8) Liam Lawson

Racing Bulls

+30.233

9) Isack Hadjar

Red Bull

+30.953

10) Arvid Lindblad

Racing Bulls

+35.110

11) Pierre Gasly

Alpine

+40.273

12) Franco Colapinto

Alpine

+41.026

13) Nico Hulkenberg

Audi

+41.680

14) Gabriel Bortoleto

Audi

+42.499

15) Oliver Bearman

Haas

+45.784

16) Esteban Ocon

Haas

+49.810

17) Carlos Sainz

Williams

+50.379

18) Alex Albon

Williams

+50.757

19) Valtteri Bottas

Cadillac

+75.117

20) Fernando Alonso

Aston Martin

+91.872

21) Lance Stroll

Aston Martin

+1 lap

22) Sergio Perez

Cadillac

+1 lap

Sky Sports F1's British GP schedule

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Saturday July 4

1.40pm: F2 Sprint*

2.50pm: British GP Qualifying build-up*

4pm: BRITISH GP QUALIFYING*

6pm: F1 Academy Race 1

6.45pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook

Sunday July 5

8.20am: F3 Feature Race*

9.55am: F1 Academy Race 2*

11.10am: F2 Feature Race*

12.55pm: Grand Prix Sunday: British GP build-up*

3pm: THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX*

5pm: Chequered Flag: British GP reaction

6pm: Ted's Notebook

*also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1 is in Silverstone for a Sprint weekend at the British Grand Prix - live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky One - with Sunday's race at 3pm. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime