12:19
Russell is past Verstappen, but these positions keep switching places, with Leclerc a third interested party in this battle. Norris has scampered away from this battle in third place, with Piastri slipping back in P7.
Antonelli at Silverstone
© XPB Images
F1 Silverstone Saturday sprint race and qualifying as it happened
Live coverage of Saturday at the F1 British Grand Prix
KEY MOMENTS
- Drivers divided over Lego parade lap
- Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren bring upgrades; Mercedes does not
- Antonelli wins sprint race from Hamilton
The ninth round of the 2026 Formula 1 season takes place at the British Grand Prix.
Silverstone hosted the first official F1 Grand Prix in 1950 and continues to be a firm favourite of both drivers and fans in the modern era.
On Thursday, drivers were vocal in their concerns about how energy-starved the layout could be, with few heavy braking zones to recover energy into the batteries. However, when the action got underway on Friday, the issue was far less intrusive than had been feared.
A bizarre dispute is also taking place in regard to Sunday's parade lap, which will take place in Lego go-karts, with each driver having their own vehicle. Whilst some are all for it and are eager to get going, such as Lando Norris and Valtteri Bottas, there are others who are less excited about the prospect, with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen both voicing concern, and the former suggesting he does not intend to take part.
Fresh off the back of his victory at the Red Bull Ring, George Russell is keen to add to his points haul with a first win on home soil, but starts the Sprint Race from fifth place after a disappointing qualifying.
Hamilton started the sprint race from pole position but lost out to Antonelli, who made a mid-race pass into Stowe. In qualifying, the pair had been split by 0.011s, with the tight margins setting up qualifying nicely.
The weekend sees the return of the Sprint Race format, meaning that a single practice session will take place before Sprint Qualifying on Friday. Saturday will see the Sprint Race contested first, before normal programming is resumed, with Qualifying. The Grand Prix will start at 3pm BST on Sunday.
2026 British Grand Prix Saturday schedule
Sprint Race: 12:00pm BST - 1:00pm BST
Qualifying: 4:00pm BST - 5:00pm BST
04 Jul 2026
12:17
In other news, a 10s penalty for Perez for that earlier contact with Alonso. He's last as things stand, so that will have no effect.
12:17
Antonelli flies past Hamilton into Stowe. He used the boost that Hamilton had deployed in defence down the Wellington Straight, and left the Ferrari driver defenceless. The hunter becomes the hunted.
12:15
But back to the front, and Antonelli is all over Hamilton now. They go side by side into Brooklands, and Hamilton holds on...just!
12:15
That might explain Perez's brake trouble. Alonso spun earlier on and caused a brief yellow flag. As the stewards note an incident involving both, that could well be where the Cadillac driver picked up the damage that caused his brakes to overheat.
Despite wanting to retire, however, Perez continues to circulate, so the fire must have been somewhat exagerated.
12:13
Hamilton responds with a fastest lap of his own - a 1m31.908s - but Antonelli remains within range to keep overtake mode. Mercedes is now advising Antonelli to alter is electrical deployment to set up a move.
We are on lap 7 or 17.
12:11
The top two are in a different postcode to the chasing pack, with Norris in third 5.9s back.
It's beginning to calm down a little now. That was frantic!
12:10
Antonelli is now closing back on Hamilton after setting a new fastest lap of the race. The Mercedes driver will have overtake mode now.
12:09
Perez slows and will retire. He reports that his brakes are on fire - a frustratingly common problem for Cadillac.
12:09
This battle between Norris, Verstappen, and Russell is getting very tasty.
But Piastri and Leclerc are getting involved now, as the former takes Russell. But Russell takes back P5 at Stowe. That seems to be a prime position for passing today.
12:07
Russell tries it on Norris into Stowe again, but he now loses out to Verstappen at Turn 1, and is back down to P5.
12:07
Hamilton is pulling away at the front, as Norris and Russell are going at it once more over the final podium position. Leclerc has suffered a poor start, dropping to P7.
12:06
Norris passes Antonelli for P2, but the Mercedes driver sails past again into Stow, in front of the Lando Stand.
Russell is flying in the second Mercedes, passing Piastri around the outside of Stowe, and then Norris one corner later. Mercedes 2-3.
12:04
Antonelli and Hamilton get close to contact at the start. Verstappen has dropped back to P6, with Norris, Piastri, and Russell now P3, 4, and 5.
12:04
Sprint begins!
The lights go out, and we are racing!
12:03
Albon returns to the pits after completing the formation lap. Remember, he made setup changes so has a pit lane start.
12:03
The field approach the grid once more. Here we go!
12:01
The top 18 drivers are all on medium compound tyres, other than Lawson in P9. Bottas, Alonso, and Stroll - the bottom three in qualifying - are all using softs, as well.
There is a mix of used and new tyres.
Hold on, Lawson appears to be on mediums, so there is an error on the timing screen on that one.
11:58
Things to remember. The race will be contested across 17 laps, with no mandatory pit stops, and a completely free choice of tyres.
Other than that, it's a very straightforward race!
11:55
Here we go! The music has played, the grid is clearing, and we are set for the Sprint Race at the British Grand Prix.
11:51
Speaking to Sky in the grid, Aston Martin team principal Adrian Newey has targeted reaching Q2 and being 'in the conversation' for points with its upgrade that is slated to arrive for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Honda will bring an upgraded power unit one weekend later at Zandvoort.
It is safe to say that there is a lot riding on these improvements.
11:45
15 minutes until lights out at Silverstone. The atmosphere is building on the grid, with hopes and, perhaps, expectations that Hamilton can take victory.
11:39
Hamilton's fan request
Hamilton has always praised the fans for making the difference at Silverstone. Ahead of the Sprint Race, he had a message for the fans.
11:33
Hamilton takes to the track. 17 laps await separate him from victory in the Sprint Race.
11:31
Half an hour berfore the race gets underway, and the pit lane is open, with drivers now making their way to the grid.