The British Grand Prix delivered high drama once again on Sunday, as changeable conditions and multiple safety cars delivered Lando Norris’ first-ever home win and Nico Hulkenberg’s Formula One podium debut at the 239th time of asking.
Oscar Piastri led from his McLaren teammate at the halfway stage but was handed a ten-second time penalty for brake-checking Max Verstappen at a safety car restart.
“The main thing [I was thinking] is don’t f*** it up,” said Norris after the fact.
And he made good on that mantra, taking full advantage as the Australian served his time. He moved into the lead with nine laps remaining and kept a cool head to take the top step. Piastri made do with second, but was not pleased about it.
After rain had complicated early proceedings at Silverstone, parc ferme was instead wet by tears of joy as the checkered flag waved. Both Norris and Hulkenberg were choked up as they celebrated landmark results.
“It is beautiful, everything I dreamed of,” Norris grinned. “This is as good as it gets.”
The win is Norris’ fourth of the season and pulls him within eight points of his teammate, who remains atop the drivers’ standings.
Hulkenberg, 37, was made to wait until his 239th race start to taste podium champagne and was similarly emotional.
“Been a long time coming, hasn’t it?” he smirked. “It is pretty surreal to be honest, I’m not sure how it happened.”
The weather drama began even before the lights had gone out. All 20 cars opted to start on intermediate tyres after a rainy morning, but as the sun came out and the track dried ahead of the start, George Russell and Charles Leclerc both pitted for slick rubber.
The leaders held their order off the mark, but there was drama further down the field. The race was soon neutralised by the virtual safety car as Liam Lawson was punted out of contention by Esteban Ocon, and Franco Colapinto joined him in retiring after stalling in the pit lane.
Gabriel Bortoleto also gambled on dry tyres, but soon fell foul of the damp conditions and found himself in the gravel, again calling for the introduction of the VSC.
Piastri, sitting second, pounced on the leader Verstappen as green flags waved and pulled a commanding lead, but his prospects were promptly clouded as heavy rain and Isack Hadjar’s smash demanded two full safety car spells.
Piastri was penalised for his handling of the second restart, slamming on the brakes as Bernd Maylander returned to the pit lane. He clearly unsettled Verstappen, who immediately spun and fell out of the points.
The Australian was far from impressed with his resultant ten-second penalty, invoking Jose Mourinho as he reviewed the race: “I am not going to say much, I'll get myself in trouble. Well done to Nico, that is the highlight of the day.”
Piastri held the lead for some time after receiving his sentence, but ultimately opted to serve the time penalty in the late stages, leaving Norris to sail through to victory.
Verstappen struggled for grip after optimising his car for straight-line speed in qualifying, compromising his race pace, but recovered to fifth after spinning behind Piastri.
Lance Stroll was back in the points for the first time since the Australian Grand Prix in March, crossing the line seventh.
The Canadian flirted with the podium places early, but slipped from third to fifth in the space of just a few corners as he was usurped by both Hulkenberg and Lewis Hamilton.
No driver has won more races at Silverstone than Hamilton, but his intimate knowledge of the Northamptonshire circuit’s 18 corners was not enough to make up for Ferrari’s performance deficit. He crossed the line fourth after challenging Hulkenberg for third, but saw his pace fall off late on and narrowly missed out on the podium.
