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Kimi Antonelli has revealed he “used everything” to complete the move that defined his Silverstone Sprint victory, after an intense early fight with Lewis Hamilton in the 17-lap race ahead of Sunday’s British Grand Prix.
The championship leader started second and spent the opening phase locked onto Hamilton, gradually reducing the gap by tenths of a second lap after lap. Once close enough to attack, Antonelli judged his moment and moved past the Ferrari driver before pulling clear to win and extend his advantage in the drivers’ standings to 43 points over George Russell.
For a full report on the result, read our recap of how Antonelli beat Hamilton to claim a frantic British GP Sprint win.
The battle itself did not last long once Antonelli reached attacking range, but the build-up was sharp and sustained. The 19-year-old had to work his way into position behind Hamilton, then manage the timing of his deployment and the response from the Ferrari ahead.
Antonelli described the opening stint as one of the most enjoyable parts of the race, particularly given the identity of the driver he was chasing — the man he replaced at Mercedes.
“It was a very fun first 10 laps with Lewis,” said Antonelli. “We were both pushing very hard. When I got into Overtake [Mode], I knew my chance was coming.”
His first look came after Turn Four, where he was close enough to draw alongside into Brooklands. Hamilton, however, defended with boost, forcing Antonelli to delay the decisive strike rather than commit too early.
“Out of Turn Four I was very close, so I went alongside into Brooklyns but he used the boost, so I decided to wait,” Antonelli explained.
The race-winning pass came into Stowe, where Antonelli committed fully.
“Going into Stowe I used everything I had, then I was able to overtake,” he said.
From there, the task changed. With Hamilton behind, Antonelli focused on rebuilding his rhythm, breaking the Overtake Mode threat and controlling the race to the flag.
“From that point on I tried to get into my rhythm and try to break the Overtake Mode [which you get when you are within one second of the driver in front] then bring it home,” he added.
It was a compact but significant performance: pressure absorbed, attack executed, and championship damage inflicted in a Sprint where every lap mattered.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.