theglobalsun – Lando Norris secured his first British Grand Prix win in a dramatic and rain-affected race at Silverstone. The McLaren driver delivered a composed performance amid changing conditions, race incidents, and multiple safety car deployments.
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Norris inherited the lead from teammate Oscar Piastri, who received a 10-second penalty for erratic driving behind the safety car. Piastri led much of the race through heavy rain but lost the advantage when he served his penalty during a late pit stop. As Norris crossed the line, he appeared emotional and later described the win as “beautiful.” He called it the proudest moment of his career, aside from winning a championship. The victory cuts his deficit to Piastri in the drivers’ standings to just eight points.
The chaotic race saw shifting weather and constant position changes. Norris praised the fans, taking in the moment during the final laps and reflecting on how rare such an achievement can be. His victory brought huge cheers from a record Silverstone crowd of 168,000 on race day and half a million over the weekend.
The dramatic day also marked a historic moment for Nico Hulkenberg, who claimed his first-ever Formula 1 podium. After 238 starts without a top-three finish, the 37-year-old German drove from 19th on the grid to third. He fended off Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari in the closing stages and expressed disbelief at the result, saying, “It was pretty surreal.”
Penalties, Spins, and Strategy Define a Thrilling British GP
The race began on a wet track after heavy morning rain, with the sun briefly appearing before another downpour. Max Verstappen led at the start but soon came under pressure from Piastri, who overtook him on lap seven after a virtual safety car period. As rain intensified, Verstappen slid off at Becketts, gifting Norris a position. The worsening conditions brought several drivers into the pits for intermediate tyres. Among the beneficiaries was Lance Stroll, who had pitted early for slicks and briefly ran in fourth place. Hulkenberg gained ground by timing his switch to intermediates well.
The first safety car appeared on lap 14 due to a crash by Gabriel Bortoleto. A second was deployed just four laps later when Isack Hadjar collided with Kimi Antonelli. At the final restart on lap 22, Piastri attempted to build a gap, but Norris closed in steadily. Piastri eventually pitted to serve his penalty with nine laps remaining, handing the lead and eventual win to Norris. Verstappen, who spun during the restart phase, recovered to finish fifth. He now trails Piastri by 69 points in the championship, with his title hopes fading. Behind him, Pierre Gasly finished sixth, followed by Alex Albon, Fernando Alonso, and George Russell.
Alonso and Russell both misjudged their final stops for slick tyres as the track dried, costing them key positions. Still, Alonso recovered to ninth, while Russell claimed the final point in tenth. With strong performances from McLaren and an emotional home win for Norris, the British Grand Prix delivered high drama, intense strategy calls, and a reshaped title picture. All eyes now turn to the next race as momentum shifts in the 2025 Formula 1 season.
