SILVERSTONE: Charles Leclerc claimed his first British Grand Prix victory on Sunday with a consummate drive for Ferrari to win a dramatic and at times controversial race that ended behind a safety car after series leader Kimi Antonelli was hit by mechanical problems.
The 28-year-old Monegasque finished 0.427 seconds ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell after he stayed out when both Ferraris pitted with five laps remaining after four-time champion Max Verstappen crashed out.
The decision proved costly for seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the other Ferrari who slipped from second to third during the pit-stops as the race stewards chose not to resume the race, as expected, in the final laps.
He had earlier been hit with a five-second penalty for a near-invisible false start.
“I just didn’t have it today. I jumped the start and I got a five-second penalty... but Charles had the pace on,” said a disappointed Hamilton.
