Formula 1

Charles Leclerc heads home Russell and Hamilton to win dramatic British GP

Fraser Masefield
3 months ago
6 min read

Charles Leclerc led in home favourites George Russell and Lewis Hamilton to win the 2026 British GP after a late Kimi Antonelli retirement tipped the race on its head.


It had looked for all the world like Antonelli, leading comfortably with ten laps to go, would net yet another victory.

But late drama saw the Italian pit with an issue that dropped him back down the field before Max Verstappen crashed out at Stowe with just four laps remaining.

It meant that Leclerc was able to lead home Russell and Ferrari teammate Hamilton, who also suffered a five second penalty for jumping the start.

“It feels incredible,” commented Leclerc afterwards.

“I mean, unfortunately, the end was maybe not the one I would have dreamt of, but I mean, to me, after the last few weekends that have been particularly difficult.

“All the work that we put into trying to get the feeling back in the car, I felt like I had found something yesterday between sprint race and qualifying, but I had to confirm that today.

“And today the feeling was back where it needs to be, so I’m incredibly happy.”

For Russell, it was a result that means his championship hopes are still very much alive albeit fortuitously.

“Firstly congrats to Charles,” added Russell. “He drove a great race.”

“Great to be here always in Silverstone, my first podium, so really pleased to be standing here, even though I don’t know, it was obviously very lucky race.

“Got the puncture, then got very lucky at the end with the safety car. I was glad to see it.

“It would have been great for the fans for it to have restarted from my east side.

“My tyres were stone cold. So I was kind of glad to just bring up tough weekend, but overall, going to be standing here.”

THE TALE OF THE RACE

When the lights went green it was the Ferraris of Leclerc and Hamilton who flew past pole sitter Antonelli.

For the championship leader and pole sitter, it was a worrying start, his Mercedes teammate all over the back of him and the fast-starting Hadjar in close pursuit.

Behind them, Verstappen and Norris also had designs on making moves, but it was a bad start for Oscar Piastri, who suffered contact and dropped to the back of the field.

It didn’t take too long for Verstappen to get past his Red Bull teammate but out in front, Leclerc and Hamilton continued to stretch away, against all the pre-race odds.

On a rare occasion in terms of Formula One strategy, every single driver on the grid started on the yellow banded medium compound Pirelli tyre.

It meant that with no teams hedging bets on different strategy from the start, the first series of pit stops would be very closely watched on a one stop race.

HAMILTON PENALTY THROWS SPANNER INTO THE MIX

Then a big moment into the destiny of the race and to the dismay of the home crowd, Hamilton slapped with a five second penalty for jumping the start.

It seemed harsh upon the replay, only a matter of inches that certainly didn’t affect the start.

But rules are rules in this strictest of disciplines, and it effectively ended his hopes of victory.

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Now, he was effectively acting as a rear gunner for his Ferrari teammate to keep Antonelli behind them.

And with Hamilton running out of energy, Antonelli made the move for second place stick on lap 12, sweeping past the first Ferrari before setting about leader Leclerc.


Despite his penalty, Ferrari still had good race pace, and Hamilton was able to maintain his gap to compatriot Russell.

The podium places would come down to those all-important pit stops.

Verstappen was the first of the big hitters to pit, coming in for a set of hards on lap 18 to take him to the end of the race.


It was a while before the next of the lead pack pitted, Hamilton triggering a flurry of stops with Russell following suit on lap 24.

And on lap 25 Leclerc made his move to bolt on a set of hard compound tyres.

A battle for the ages between Hamilton and Russell ensued as the battle for the podium places intensified. Pass after pass to the cheers of the home crowd.

LATE DRAMA TIPS RACE ON ITS HEAD

A slow puncture for the Mercedes man seemingly put him out of the fight for third in lap 35, Antonelli finally sweeping in a lap later to take him to the end of the race.

It set up the grandstand finish everyone was hoping for, Hamilton passing Verstappen for third position after another great scrap before a VSC gave the Dutchman a free stop with 12 laps remaining.

Then yet more drama, a problem with the car causing Antonelli to pit with just ten laps remaining before limping back to the pits for further repairs.

Charles Leclerc in action during the British GP| Photographer: Craig Evans| Spacesuit Media

A final twist saw Verstappen crashing out of the race whilst pressing hard into Stowe, the race finishing under the Safety Car.

“Firstly, I have a big congratulations to Charles,” said third placed Hamilton. “Winning this Grand Prix is such a special experience and this is a great result for our team.

“So congratulations to our team. Yeah, I just didn’t have it today. I jumped the start, already got a five second penalty.

“But Charles had the pace on me today. I struggled with the balance of the car, but I gave it everything. And I’m grateful to be up here.”

It all means that Russell trims Antonelli’s lead at the top of the drivers’ standings to just 25 points with Hamilton a further seven points behind.

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Fraser Masefield

Fraser is a sports and motorsports editor with over 25 years experience. The former head editor of WilliamsF1, BMW Motorsport, Jaguar Racing and Virgin Media, he has also worked for Autosport, ESPNF1 and Eurosport amongst others.

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