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Motorsport

Lydia Mee

Martin Brundle declares Kimi Antonelli the driver to beat after Silverstone sprint win

Kimi Antonelli Martin Brundle Andrea Kimi Antonelli Silverstone F1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Sky Sports

Sky Sports Formula 1 analyst Martin Brundle has argued that Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli is now the clear benchmark in the 2026 championship after an impressive sprint race victory at Silverstone.

Antonelli, now in his second season in the series, has emerged as the man to beat. The 19-year-old became the youngest driver to lead the standings after back-to-back wins at the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix. He went on to secure three further consecutive wins in Miami, Canada and Monaco.

After retiring from the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix and a third-place finish in Austria, Antonelli has come back strongly at Silverstone. He qualified second for the sprint race and claimed the victory after taking the lead of the race from seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton.

"Kimi used his head in the sprint. That's a maturity now that's way beyond his years," Brundle explained during the Sky Sports F1 British Grand Prix weekend broadcast.

"He's a little bit wild from time to time - we saw that in Austria on the first lap - but he's surviving those. Then, he settles down with incredible pace, especially in the second half of a tyre stint.

"He's unquestionably the driver to beat in this championship."

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes (Photo by: Erik Junius)

Former W Series driver Naomi Schiff, who joined Brundle on the Sky Sports broadcast, added: "When he came into Formula 1, we thought Toto [Wolff] brought Kimi in prematurely.

"He doesn't lack any raw speed, it's how you rein him in and how to make sure he doesn't make too many mistakes. He's only 19, but what a wonderful story it is for F1."

Antonelli now leads the drivers' championship with 179 points. His Mercedes team-mate George Russell follows in second with 136 points and Hamilton is third with 132 points.

As a result, the Brackley outfit leads the constructors' championship with 315 points. Ferrari is second with 215 points and McLaren is third with 167 points.

Photos from F1 British GP - Saturday

56 Formula 1

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Alexander Albon, Williams

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Kika Cerqueira Gomes

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

British Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Fans in the Landostand grandstand

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

British Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Laura Mueller, Race Engineer of Haas F1

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Carlos Sainz Sr., Williams, Zak Brown, McLaren

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

British Grand Prix - Saturday

A young fan shows support for Scuderia Ferrari

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Fans show their support for McLaren

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

British Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

British Grand Prix - Saturday

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