Sports (Commonwealth Union) _ Lando Norris showed off spectacular finesse, sweeping up his first GP win on home soil at the Silverstone Grand Prix on Sunday, sending the crowds into a frenzy. The McLaren driver made significant progress in his contention for the Formula One Championship. The race marks Norris’s second consecutive win this season, following his win in the Austrian Grand Prix, setting him just 8 points short of the currently leading Oscar Piastri as the championship hits its halfway point.
The Silverstone GP is regarded as one of the season’s most dramatic races so far, featuring a downpour of rain, multiple safety cars, and various penalties that were enforced. Norris inherited the lead as his McLaren partner was given a 10-second penalty for breaking erratically behind a safety car, an incident that changed the course of the race significantly.
Norris emotionally conveyed his joy on the team radio, stating that it was “a dream” to win in front of his fellow Briton fans. The 24-year-old McLaren racer became only the third British winner in the Silverstone GP since 2000, following Lewis Hamilton and David Coulthard. Celebrating the victory, Norris stated, “Thanks for the memory. I’ll remember this more than anything.” As the No. 2 contender proceeds forward, it is clear that this victory will remain as one of the most significant achievements in his F1 career.
However, the game-changing incident of the race occurred as the leading racer, Piastri, slowed down significantly during the 21st lap. The action was done to maintain the required distance behind the safety car. However, this resulted in a close call involving Max Verstappen, where the Red Bull racer was forced to swerve to avoid a collision. Verstappen was able to briefly overtake the McLaren before Piastri retook the lead. However, the stewards investigated the incident and handed Piastri a 10-second time penalty, dampening his chances of claiming the Silverstone victory.
Despite having shortened the gap between Norris after waiting out his penalty at a pit stop, the delay earned him a 7-second gap behind his McLaren teammate, putting him in second place.
Nico Hulkenberg also achieved his first podium finish by making strategic calls amid the turbulent weather. After he completed his 239th attempt, Hulkenberg conveyed the surrealistic nature of the experience, stating, “Fifteen years of trying and finally, it comes together. I never thought it would happen here, starting where I did.”
On the other hand, a podium win for Lewis Hamilton with Ferrari is yet to be achieved, even though he is currently in 6th place in the F1 standings, just below George Russell and Charles Leclerc, who stand at 4th and 5th, respectively.
As the Formula One championship enters its second half, the tight battle between the McLaren racers intensifies as the gap grows closer, even more so with Max Verstappen’s steady approach. The Red Bull racer has been the Formula One champion for four consecutive years. As the Hungarian Grand Prix draws near, all eyes are focused on the top three contenders, with the McLaren duo and Max Verstappen vying for the championship title.
