The Italy of motors is the protagonist in the English temple of Formula 1, at Silverstone. In the days of the World Cup without the Azzurri for the third time in a row, Kimi Antonelli and the Ferraris put on a show by raising the bar for the sporting tricolor in the torrid summer. First the Italian Mercedes driver wins the sprint race and then takes pole position for the English Grand Prix (70 years after Ascari’s last time), while the Reds are going very well with Lewis Hamilton second in the mini race and third in qualifying behind teammate Charles Leclerc, who will start from second place on the starting grid on Sunday. Also on the podium of the 100 km sprint race was Lando Norris’ McLaren, third, ahead of George Russell’s Mercedes (also fourth at the start of the GP) and the other Red car of Charles Leclerc. All in a race full of overtaking and counter-overtaking, from start to finish throughout the top ten, which at the finish line strengthens Antonelli in the lead of the World Championship at 179 points with 43 points ahead of his teammate and 47 over Hamilton. For the Italian Mercedes driver, who also set the fastest lap of the short race, it was also the first victory in a Sprint Race, obtained with an overtaking characterized by the recovery of energy at a point on the track at the start of a straight where such clear overtaking had rarely been witnessed in the past. Behind the two dominators of the race, Norris secured third position under the checkered flag from the first laps, defending it tooth and nail at the end from the return of Russell who stopped at the foot of the podium and lost ground to his teammate in the general classification. The other Ferrari driver Leclerc, held back by a horror start, closes the top five ahead of Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. Liam Lawson with the best of the Racing Bulls, a disappointing Isack Hadjar and the rookie Arvid Lindblad with the other V-CarB close the top ten.
Antonelli achieves a victory which means a relaunch after the setbacks of Barcelona and Spielberg. «It was a good battle with Lewis, then when I went into overtake mode I had my opportunity and I took advantage of it. Today everything went well for me from sprint to pole. Before the final time attack I complained a bit to my parents because I don’t like going out first. I built my rhythm well and I’m very satisfied. We changed a few things: a little something on the differential and the brakes, we tried to get around the problems a bit, finding a good set-up. In the Grand Prix it won’t be easy because there are two Ferraris behind me and they could play as a team. But we have a great pace, I hope to have a good race.” At the end of the sprint race Hamilton appears smiling for a second place which gives hope to the Red team in view of the long race: «It was a tough race, very tough – the words of the Englishman – It’s difficult to keep the Mercedes behind. There was so much headwind on the straight, it was impossible to keep Kimi behind. He was very fast in turn six, I had to use a lot of energy there, I had little power out of Stowe. When Kimi used overtake mode I couldn’t argue. I would say we still have a lot of work to do to keep up with them. We have to close the power gap against Mercedes: only then will we be able to really fight with them.”