Sainz claims first career Formula 1 win in British Grand Prix
Zhou survives huge scare after scary collision
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz emerged as the winner of a Formula 1 race for the first time in his career after his victory at this year’s keenly-contested British Grand Prix.
After Championship leader Max Verstappen won the Montreal Grand Prix, the Dutchman was looking to continue on that trajectory in Britain. He finished behind Sainz in the qualifying race and earned a front row start to the race.
Zhou Guanyu collided with George Russell in the first lap, causing Zhou’s car to somersault. He was stretchered from the scene but eventually ascertained to be free from any injuries. Alex Albon was also involved in the crash and airlifted to a hospital in Coventry, where he was certified as okay.
Verstappen and Sainz were neck-and-neck at the start of the race and the reigning champion moved into the lead in the 10th lap after Sainz misjudged an opening. He maintained the lead for only two laps before he suffered a punctured tyre and was forced to pit before returning to action in his damaged car.
Charles Leclerc took the lead for the first time in the 20th lap before exchanging his lead with Lewis Hamilton in the 26th lap, meaning that Hamilton reached first place in a race for the first time this season. He held onto the lead until the 34th lap where he made a slow pit stop which allowed both Leclerc and Sainz to overtake him.
Sainz regained his lead ahead of Leclerc in the 43rd lap and held on till the end of the race, with Sergio Perez finishing in second place and Hamilton in third. The Spaniard claimed his first-ever win in Formula 1.
Leclerc finished in fourth place with Fernando Alonso coming fifth and Lando Norris in sixth. Verstappen battled hard to finish in seventh place and Mick Schumacher, son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher, finished in eighth place. Sebastian Vettel and Kevin Magnussen rounded off the top ten in the British Grand Prix.
Hamilton’s podium finish was his 10th consecutive one in the British Grand Prix and 13th overall, the most by any driver in a particular Grand Prix. The drivers will turn their attention to Austria, where the next Formula 1 event will take place.
