Kimi Antonelli claimed his first Formula 1 sprint race victory at the British Grand Prix, held at Silverstone on July 4, 2026. The Mercedes driver overtook Lewis Hamilton during the 17-lap event to secure the win. Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, finished second after starting from sprint pole position.
Lando Norris completed the top three for McLaren, with George Russell taking fourth place for Mercedes. Charles Leclerc finished fifth for Ferrari, ahead of Max Verstappen in sixth. Oscar Piastri secured seventh, while Liam Lawson rounded out the points-paying positions in eighth for Racing Bulls.
Antonelli’s victory adds his name to the exclusive list of F1 sprint winners. Max Verstappen currently leads this list with thirteen wins. Lando Norris holds four sprint victories, while Oscar Piastri and George Russell each have three.
The sprint format was introduced to Formula 1 in 2021 to increase competitive sessions across race weekends. Initially featuring three events per season, this number doubled to six in 2023. The 2026 season continues with six sprint weekends.
A sprint weekend alters the traditional Grand Prix schedule. Friday features a single one-hour practice session, followed by sprint qualifying. Saturday then hosts the 100km sprint race, before the regular Grand Prix qualifying session. Sunday remains dedicated to the main Grand Prix.
Sprint qualifying is a condensed session, with SQ1 lasting 12 minutes, SQ2 10 minutes, and SQ3 just eight minutes. This format provides less preparation time for teams compared to standard qualifying. Drivers typically have only one run per session.
The sprint race itself covers 100 kilometres, approximately one-third of a full Grand Prix distance. There are no mandatory pit stops, encouraging flat-out racing. Points are awarded to the top eight finishers, from eight points for first down to one point for eighth.
The 2026 F1 sprint calendar includes events in Shanghai, Miami, Montreal, Silverstone, Zandvoort, and Singapore. Silverstone returned to the sprint schedule for the first time since the format’s inaugural event in 2021. Montreal, Zandvoort, and Singapore are hosting their first-ever sprint weekends this season.
Earlier in the 2026 season, George Russell secured sprint victories at both the Chinese Grand Prix and the Canadian Grand Prix. Lando Norris won the sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix. The upcoming sprint events include the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort later this month and the Singapore Grand Prix in October.
The sprint format has consistently proven popular with fans, contributing to increased attendance and viewership figures. Discussions are ongoing regarding a potential further increase in the number of sprint rounds for the 2027 season and beyond.
