Formula 1 in Silverstone: horror, show and Ferrari dispute

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Disappointed, Charles Leclerc gets out of his Ferrari

Photo:

IMAGO/F1 Great Britain Grand Prix / IMAGO/ANP

The most beautiful racing – with a bitter end for the World Championship pursuer:

the final laps of the British Grand Prix once again delighted motorsport fans.

In view of a serious accident at the beginning, this was not initially foreseeable.

But after the meanwhile third restart, Sergio Pérez in the Red Bull, Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes and Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari fought an exciting three-way battle with numerous lead changes - and the worst outcome for World Championship pursuer Leclerc.

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz should have shielded his teammate Leclerc from behind, but instead he passed himself.

The result:

Sainz didn't let his first win in the 150th race be taken away, Pérez and Hamilton completed the podium, Leclerc was only fourth.

Read the race report here.

Shock at the start:

A pile-up initially caused a shock.

Five cars were significantly involved, the Chinese Zhou Guanyu was hardest hit, whose Alfa Romeo overturned and flew over the tire stack into the safety fence.

The race was stopped.

The world automobile association Fia gave the all-clear almost 20 minutes later

(Read more here).

Also affected were Hamilton's Mercedes teammate George Russell, Esteban Ocon (Alpine) and Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri).

All three were fine.

Ocon and Tsunoda were able to continue their journey.

Then the track was stormed:

But the drivers had to wait a little longer for that.

Shortly after the mass collision, several demonstrators got onto the track.

The people were "immediately removed", said the world association Fia on Sunday.

The police had previously reported indications of planned protests and warned against actions on the slopes.

Pictures on the Internet showed how marshals apparently took some people on the asphalt into custody.

The people had apparently climbed over the fences.

Climate activists from "Just Stop Oil" claimed responsibility for the campaign via Twitter.

The restart:

Before the race was interrupted, Verstappen had won the start and pushed past Sainz.

Hamilton also quickly improved from fifth to third.

The starting line-up was restored at the restart, this time Sainz was able to defend his lead over Verstappen.

Behind him was Pérez, who passed Leclerc after a few corners, both drivers damaging their cars.

A little later, Pérez turned into the pits, Hamilton pushed ahead of Norris in fourth place (lap six).

Verstappen said goodbye to the front row:

A little later, Verstappen took the lead from Sainz and immediately pulled away by more than a second (11).

But the joy didn't last long, just one lap later the world champion drove into the pits with technical problems.

Red Bull confirmed damage to the car.

Verstappen was able to continue, but not for the race win.

»Free to fight«:

Deprived of their fiercest competitor, the now leading Ferrari drivers clashed at the top.

"What should I do?

That's how my race breaks up," radioed Leclerc, who felt stopped by his teammate.

Behind it, Hamilton caught up.

Ferrari initially solved the problem by bringing in Sainz to change tires (20).

After Leclerc came out of the pits, he fell in behind Hamilton and his teammate and the game started again.

The Scuderia initially gave its pilots the freedom to carry out the matter on the track.

When Sainz did not set the required times, the place exchange came via radio command (31).

After Hamilton's slow stop (34/4.3 seconds), both Ferraris were back in front.

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Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher (from left) are in good spirits, both finished in the points

Photo: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Leclerc is passed:

A safety car phase shortly before the end then provided additional tension.

Hamilton and Sainz got new soft tires, Leclerc stayed with his old hard tires at Ferrari's behest.

"It's going to be tough," he suspected over the radio - and, to his chagrin, was to be proved right.

In the World Championship standings, Verstappen's lead over Pérez was reduced to 34 points.

Leclerc is now 43 points behind, Sainz 54. With regard to the World Cup decision, it would have been better from Ferrari's point of view if Leclerc had won.

Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto later admitted a mistake.

Schumacher gets

his first points: With eighth place, Mick Schumacher, counted by Haas, experienced a liberation and celebrated his first World Championship points in Formula 1. "It took long enough," he said afterwards.

He almost overtook Verstappen shortly before the end.

Zhou reports:

Good news also came from Zhou at the end of the race.

'I'm fine, I'm fine.

Halo saved me today," tweeted the Alfa Romeo driver, referring to the cockpit protection.