Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli claimed pole position for the British Grand Prix on July 4, 2026, after a dominant performance at the Silverstone circuit.
The Italian won the sprint race by 2.7 seconds over Lewis Hamilton before topping qualifying, beating Charles Leclerc and Hamilton with a comfortable margin.
In contrast, reigning world champion Max Verstappen endured a difficult day, finishing sixth in the 17-lap sprint and seventh in qualifying due to balance and engine problems with his Red Bull car.
Verstappen dropped from third to sixth at the sprint start due to wheel spin, briefly recovered to fourth, but fell behind George Russell and Charles Leclerc as his tires degraded under 23 degrees Celsius conditions.
After the sprint, Verstappen explained his poor start and the car's limitations. "I released the clutch and had wheel spin.
Then you have to wait for grip, so that wasn't ideal.
Ultimately, you drive to a normal position, but you see we are too slow, both in slow and fast corners.
We had more tire degradation than the cars around us, and I couldn't follow them," he said.
When asked if he gathered useful insights before qualifying, the Dutch driver joked: "At least how not to do it."
Verstappen also expressed frustration with overtaking and energy management. "That's how it is.
You can overtake on one straight, then you have no battery for the next straight. I'm not saying anything more about it," he said.
Following qualifying, officials adjusted the grid due to penalties: Pierre Gasly dropped three places to 15th for impeding Lance Stroll, while Stroll was demoted to 22nd for exceeding engine components.
Verstappen revealed the team is still struggling to diagnose the powertrain complications. "Can't find it," he said, adding, "I'm not enjoying it."
The final starting grid features George Russell in fourth and Isack Hadjar in fifth, ahead of Lando Norris, Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri.
Sprint Race Results
- 2. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +2.745s
- 3. Lando Norris (McLaren) +9.783s
- 4. George Russell (Mercedes) +10.639s
- 5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +12.620s
- 6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +16.550s
- 7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +17.551s
- 8. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) +30.233s
- 9. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) +30.953s
- 10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) +35.110s
Starting Grid
- 1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- 2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- 3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- 4. George Russell (Mercedes)
- 5. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
- 6. Lando Norris (McLaren)
- 7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- 8. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- 9. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
- 10. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
