Antonelli Wins British Grand Prix Sprint Race
Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes claimed his first Formula 1 sprint victory on Saturday at the British Grand Prix, beating Lewis Hamilton and becoming the youngest ever championship leader.
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Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli won the sprint race of the British Grand Prix, the ninth round of the Formula 1 season, on Saturday. Starting from second on the grid, the 19-year-old Italian overtook sprint qualifier winner Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) on lap eight and held the lead to the finish, securing his first sprint win in his career.
Hamilton finished second, less than three seconds behind, while Lando Norris (McLaren) completed the podium in third. The remaining points scorers were George Russell (Mercedes) in fourth, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) in fifth, Max Verstappen (Red Bull) in sixth, Oscar Piastri (McLaren) in seventh, and Liam Lawson (RB) in eighth.
With this result, Antonelli now leads the drivers' championship with 179 points, becoming the youngest standings leader in F1 history at age 19. He is followed by Russell with 136 points and Hamilton with 132. Norris has 85, Leclerc 83, Piastri 82, and Verstappen 76. In the constructors' standings, Mercedes leads with 315 points, ahead of Ferrari (215), McLaren (167), and Red Bull (118).
The season initially had 24 races, but events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were canceled due to conflict in the Middle East. The championship will conclude in early December in Abu Dhabi. Qualifying for the main race is scheduled for Saturday, with the British Grand Prix itself taking place on Sunday.
