Leclerc wins British GP after Antonelli late failure

Charles Leclerc secured his first victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the British Grand Prix on Sunday, July 5, in a dramatic race at Silverstone that concluded behind the Safety Car. The Ferrari driver capitalized on a late technical failure for polesitter Kimi Antonelli and managed a tense final phase to take the win ahead of Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.

Leclerc’s triumph ended a prolonged period of frustration, marking his first win since the 2024 United States Grand Prix and his first podium since March. Starting from second on the grid, he seized the lead at the start when Antonelli suffered wheelspin. From there, Leclerc managed his race effectively, maintaining a gap through the pit stop cycles as Ferrari executed a straightforward strategy.

The race’s complexion changed dramatically in the closing stages. Antonelli, who had been leading after the first round of stops and was closing rapidly on fresher tires, reported a mechanical problem on lap 43. The issue, later identified as a broken left-front wheel shield, forced him to make an extra pit stop, dropping him from second place and a potential victory fight down to the lower points positions....