Antonelli Claims Pole for British Grand Prix; Leclerc and Hamilton Complete Top Three at Silverstone
Kimi Antonelli further extended his championship lead after a strong showing in Saturday's Sprint race, setting the stage for a critical main event at Silverstone.
The story
The Formula 1 paddock is abuzz at Silverstone Circuit as the British Grand Prix, the ninth round of the 2026 season, prepares for Sunday's race. Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli secured pole position in Saturday's qualifying session, posting a 1m28.111s lap.
He will start ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and home hero Lewis Hamilton, who qualified third for Ferrari. Antonelli also won the Sprint race earlier on Saturday, further increasing his lead in the drivers' championship.
George Russell, Antonelli's Mercedes teammate, will start fourth, looking to carry momentum from his recent victory in Austria. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have voiced concerns about new energy management regulations potentially impacting racing on Silverstone's high-speed corners. McLaren's Lando Norris, the defending champion at Silverstone, will also be looking to make an impact in front of his home crowd.
Championship
| Pos | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 179 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | 136 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 132 |
| 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 85 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 83 |
Next race
Following the British Grand Prix, Formula 1 heads to the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit for the Belgian Grand Prix. This tenth round of the season is scheduled for July 17-19, 2026, promising more high-speed action in the Ardennes forest.
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