Lando Norris fulfilled a lifelong dream on Sunday, winning the British Grand Prix for the first time in a drama-filled, rain-affected race at Silverstone. His McLaren teammate and current title leader, Oscar Piastri, had led until he was penalised 10 seconds for erratic braking under the Safety Car, a decision that handed Norris the emotional victory.
“I want to win here more than anywhere else in the world,” said a tearful Norris. “This is the race you dream about as a kid. To do it here, in front of my people, it’s everything.”
Behind the headlines, the race delivered one of Formula 1’s most touching underdog stories; Nico Hulkenberg finally earned a podium after 239 race starts, the longest wait in F1 history. The 37-year-old Sauber driver started 19th on the grid and rose through chaos, strategic brilliance, and sheer determination to finish third.
And just behind them, Lewis Hamilton battled fiercely but fell short, finishing fourth and ending his record 12-year streak of Silverstone podiums. Now driving for Ferrari, Hamilton came close, but struggled with tyre grip and pace in the final laps—despite briefly threatening Hulkenberg’s position.
Piastri’s penalty, Verstappen’s fall, and a midfield shake-up
The defining moment came on lap 21, as rain intensified and the Safety Car bunched the field. Piastri, leading at the time, slowed abruptly to build space before the restart, forcing Verstappen to swerve off-line. Stewards ruled it a breach of Article 55.8 on erratic braking and handed him a 10-second penalty.
“Apparently you can’t brake behind the Safety Car anymore. I did it for five laps,” Piastri snapped post-race. “I’m not going to say more, I’ll get myself in trouble.”
Verstappen, already struggling in the wet, spun moments later, dropping out of the top 10 before recovering to fifth. With McLaren’s consistent 1-2 finishes and Red Bull’s form wobbling, Verstappen now trails by 69 points in the Drivers’ Championship.
Elsewhere, Ferrari’s Hamilton had been running a measured race, dodging chaos with the poise of a veteran. But in the final stint on dry tyres, he couldn’t close a five-second gap to Hulkenberg. “Tough day. We were close, but they got it right,” Hamilton admitted. “This crowd gave me so much love—it fuels me to push harder.”
Midfield heroes shine in British rain
Hulkenberg’s podium wasn’t the only midfield miracle. Pierre Gasly brought home Alpine’s best finish of the season in sixth, overtaking Lance Stroll late in the race. Stroll, who had been as high as third, settled for seventh ahead of Alex Albon in the Williams.
Fernando Alonso, frustrated by early tyre strategy from Aston Martin, finished ninth, while George Russell completed the top ten despite a wild gravel excursion. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz struggled massively, with Leclerc limping home 14th and Sainz outside the points.
Sauber’s win marked their first podium finish since 2012. “We made the right calls at the right time,” said Hulkenberg. “I can’t believe it’s finally happened. I was in denial until the last pit stop.”
Norris chasing history, McLaren on the March
With this win, Norris becomes the first Briton other than Hamilton to win at Silverstone since David Coulthard in 2000. More importantly, it tightens the title race, cutting Piastri’s lead to just eight points halfway through the season.
As F1 enters its second half, McLaren looks unstoppable. “We’re not just fast, we’re smart, and we’re united,” Norris added. “This isn’t the end. It’s just the start.”
The British Grand Prix 2025 delivered more than just another race. It offered redemption for Hulkenberg, raw emotion for Norris, bitter frustration for Piastri, and for Hamilton, a reminder that the fire still burns.
Read more on 2025 Formula 1: Rivalries, rookies, and a multi-team title battle await fans
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