Lewis Hamilton denied by Kimi Antonelli in British GP sprint race

Antonelli wasted little time in breaking the one-second gap to Hamilton – in which drivers can deploy “overtake mode” and was able to surge to victory by nearly three seconds, setting the fastest lap on the final lap.

“Kimi, well done. Did the fastest lap make you happier at the end?” Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff asked him.

“Yeah it made me happier,” came the response.

McLaren’s Lando Norris was a distant, albeit encouraging third, ahead of George Russell, who will be increasingly concerned at his inability to match his Mercedes team-mate so far this weekend.

The fans at Silverstone will also be a bit deflated at what this result might mean for Sunday’s feature race.

“It’s tough race to keep the Mercedes behind,” Hamilton admitted. “I did say that would potentially be the case, and also [there was] a big big headwind down the back straight and he came flying past. 

“Once he got the overtake mode I couldn’t hold him back. As soon as that was lost, I knew he was coming.”

Qualifying for the main race takes place at 4pm UK time.

British Grand Prix, sprint classification

1. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes 8pts
2. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari 7pts
3. Lando Norris, McLaren 6pts
4. George Russell, Mercedes 5pts
5. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari 4pts
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 3pts
7. Oscar Piastri, McLaren 2pts
8. Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls 1pt