The winners and losers from F1’s 2025 British Grand Prix

We hadn’t had a correct combined climate bonanza because the opening race in Australia, however had been lastly rewarded for our endurance with one other memorable British GP that had all of it because the British summer season proved why it by no means disappoints. McLaren took one other 1-2, however it wasn’t plain crusing this time, whereas Nico Hulkenberg lastly acquired the rostrum reward his profession deserves. 

Winner: Lando Norris 

Earlier than the occasion Lando Norris mentioned he would commerce all his earlier wins for victory on residence soil, and what a dream outcome it was for the Briton. Norris was, after all, lucky to learn from Oscar Piastri’s time penalty after having been behind in qualifying, after which having had a a lot harder time jetting previous a struggling Max Verstappen than his team-mate. However with a lot at stake in tough combined climate situations, this was no easy afternoon.  

And after having already been dismissed in varied corners, Norris’ second win on the trot – a fortuitous one whereas Austria was emphatic – now means he’s simply eight factors behind the championship chief as F1 heads to Spa in two weeks. It is very a lot recreation on. 

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

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Loser: Oscar Piastri 

Piastri does not all the time give a lot away in a public discussion board, however his humanity was on full show after a 10-second penalty left him completely seething in Silverstone. The Australian had this race properly below management after passing Verstappen early on and increase a wholesome buffer, which was worn out by the protection automotive.

Proper earlier than the next restart, issues went incorrect and he was deemed to have decelerated too abruptly behind the protection automotive, hitting the anchors proper as the protection automotive lights went out. Verstappen needed to bounce out of the way in which and overtook him momentarily, in a way more emphatic approach than he did with George Russell in Canada, and the stewards deemed Piastri’s actions had been erratic and worthy of a penalty. 

Harsh or not, we have by no means seen such an emotional response from Piastri earlier than, even inquiring with the workforce about swapping positions out of equity, and his sheer despondency within the post-race press convention was additionally uncharted territory. Silverstone’s outcome was clearly a blow, however his top-notch efficiency exhibits he hasn’t obtained a lot fear about. He’ll mud himself off and go to Spa because the championship chief, nonetheless. 

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

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Winner: Nico Hulkenberg 

Because the outdated saying goes: 239th time’s a allure. Stating Nico Hulkenberg’s maiden (!) podium at age 37 is lengthy overdue is form of apparent, however it was the glowing reception from his friends that spoke volumes about how properly Hulkenberg is considered a driver and an individual within the F1 paddock. 

Hulkenberg, naturally, did it the onerous approach by beginning in Nineteenth, and mentioned he was in denial till the ultimate pitstop that he was on for a podium finally. However he was good worth for it too, getting a wonderful begin and making an early cease for contemporary inters to make sure he was forward of many of the slick tyre gamblers. He proved too fast for Lance Stroll within the second stint, however it was his gritty defence in opposition to Lewis Hamilton that actually cemented his outcome. His defence type of pressured Hamilton to pit for slicks too early, with Hulkenberg stopping a lap later and simply making the overcut work regardless of a gradual pitstop. This was a race wherein expertise mattered – simply have a look at the place all of the rookies ended up, we’ll get to that – and Hulkenberg made his rely.  

In doing so, Hulkenberg is the primary Sauber podium finisher since Kamui Kobayashi on the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix, the primary German on the rostrum since Sebastian Vettel in Azerbaijan 2021, and the oldest first-time podium finisher since – checks notes – George Follmer on the 1973 Spanish Grand Prix. Well-merited. 

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing

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Loser: Crimson Bull 

Verstappen surprised the paddock as soon as once more with an impervious pole place on Saturday, however he will need to have cursed when he raised his curtains on Sunday morning and noticed the anticipated rain was hitting his lodge window a lot heavier than anticipated. Key to Verstappen’s pole was a greater stability supplied by a decrease downforce wing that dialled out his free apply understeer, however that each one backfired within the rain when drivers need as a lot downforce as they’ll get their palms on. 

Verstappen was visibly combating the automotive by the opening phases as he was powerless to carry off Piastri, earlier than spinning on the exit of Stowe forward of the lap 22 restart. That uncommon mistake from one among F1’s rain kings spoke volumes about how onerous the automotive was to drive. On high of that, Crimson Bull burned by the intermediates a lot faster than McLaren too. 

Ending fifth in spite of everything that was a little bit of a miracle in itself, and got here courtesy each of Verstappen’s tenacity and his opponents faltering. However it was a Sunday to overlook for Crimson Bull as Yuki Tsunoda was additionally the final automotive on the street, and the one one to get lapped. He too suffered from horrific tyre degradation, however a 10-second penalty for inflicting contact did not assist issues. 

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

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Winner: Pierre Gasly/Alpine 

It’s no secret that Alpine is within the harm locker proper now with a automotive that hasn’t seen as a lot in-season improvement as its direct rivals, is hamstrung on power-hungry circuits because of its energy unit, and has a second driver that also is not clicking together with his automotive. 

It was subsequently a welcome tonic for Pierre Gasly to make it by to Q3 once more with an excellent Q2 lap, which moved him as much as eighth after penalties for different drivers. In a dry race, he would have doubtless been dropped like a brick, however within the rain he and the workforce obtained all their calls proper to remain the place they had been. Gasly was a part of the Hulkenberg-Stroll-Hamilton struggle, and managed to cross Stroll’s Aston proper on the finish to maneuver as much as sixth place – Alpine’s finest results of a bruising 2025 marketing campaign. 

A hapless Franco Colapinto wasn’t capable of make the beginning because of a driveline challenge, after his crash in qualifying and the selection to take a fifth energy unit set him up for a pitlane begin. On the time of writing, it’s not but clear whether or not or not the Argentinian will probably be afforded the final two races earlier than the summer season break, as workforce chief Flavio Briatore seems to be rising impatient. 

However whereas Gasly’s sixth place will not change the cruel 2025 actuality the workforce is in, a minimum of it is a cause to return to Enstone with one thing to smile about. 

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Workforce

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Losers: F1’s rookie class  

As talked about, Sunday’s race was one for cool heads and veteran palms. That was clear early on when Haas’ Ollie Bearman was the very best rookie runner… in 14th. Bearman was the one one to complete, too, regardless of a conflict with team-mate Esteban Ocon as they had been combating aspect by aspect for a slender dry line on slicks. 

There are after all many explanation why the race transpired that approach – Colapinto by no means even obtained to begin, and Liam Lawson was unfortunate to be on the surface of a three-wide transfer and obtained punted off by an harmless Ocon. However it was in all probability no coincidence that the highest 10 was occupied by the quickest groups in addition to drivers with luggage of expertise. Andrea Kimi Antonelli was a great instance, being within the wars after an ill-fated technique name that he didn’t have the expertise but to overrule. He was then hit by an unfortunate Isack Hadjar in heavy spray. In the meantime, Gabriel Bortoleto crashed out early after a untimely name for slicks that he initiated. 

F1’s 2025 rookie class has been extremely praised and rightly so, however for a few of them Silverstone was an awesome studying alternative. 

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

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Winner: Lance Stroll 

Stroll has acquired a justifiable share of – typically justified – criticism, so it is solely proper he will get his flowers as properly when he steps up. Solely Hulkenberg’s excellent Nineteenth-to-Third drive overshadows Stroll’s wonderful comeback race, once more dwelling as much as his moist climate repute. 

After a daring early gamble for slicks that labored out, in no small half because of choosing softs that obtained as much as temperature a lot faster, Stroll briefly appeared like he was going to derail Hulkenberg’s fairytale story, however because the monitor dried up the Canadian could not sustain appearances any longer with poor tyre degradation. 

Nonetheless, Silverstone supplied a chance that he snatched emphatically. And it was fairly amusing for Fernando Alonso to be aggravated at lacking out on an identical tyre gamble on the first pitstop, solely to then go the opposite approach and are available for slicks too early on the finish. 

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

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Loser: Charles Leclerc 

Oh boy, what a horror present Silverstone was for Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque drew consideration on Saturday with an excessive case of self-flagellation after a mistake in qualifying left him out of entrance row competition, with a workforce radio tirade that he later put down as “warmth of the second” frustration. 
On Sunday he was everywhere too, admitting blame for a untimely first cease for slicks that did not work out in his case, however then additionally having a number of offs within the race that he candidly owned as much as, in addition to muscling the 2 Williams automobiles out of the way in which with late lunges. 

However Leclerc was additionally on the again foot because of an absence of race tempo, extra so than team-mate Hamilton. It is a weekend to course of after which overlook for what has in any other case been Ferrari’s lead driver.