Lando Norris Wins Action-Packed 2025 British GP as McLaren Scores Another 1-2 Finish
Lando Norris delivered an emotional and commanding victory at the 2025 British GP, conquering mixed conditions at Silverstone to lead a McLaren 1-2 ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri. The race featured a full spectrum of drama—from early crashes and Safety Cars to strategic gambles and wheel-to-wheel fights—with Nico Hulkenberg completing the podium after a sensational drive from 19th to claim his first-ever F1 podium.
The home crowd roared as Norris crossed the line, sealing his eighth career win and cutting Piastri’s lead in the championship to just eight points.
From Rain to Glory: How the 2025 British GP Unfolded
Verstappen Leads Early, But Weather Shakes Things Up
The race began behind the Safety Car as intermittent rain forced all 20 drivers to start on intermediate tyres. Max Verstappen led from pole, but Oscar Piastri soon passed him as conditions worsened. A series of early Virtual Safety Cars and pit stop shuffles followed, triggered by incidents involving Liam Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Franco Colapinto, all of whom retired within the first laps.
When heavier rain arrived, most teams pitted for fresh intermediates, and McLaren double-stacked their drivers. This allowed Verstappen to briefly reclaim P2 from Norris before a dramatic spin after a Safety Car restart dropped him outside the top 10.
Piastri Penalized, Norris Seizes the Lead
While Piastri looked in control, he was slapped with a 10-second time penalty for slowing excessively behind the Safety Car. Norris capitalized on the chaos, inherited the lead, and maintained it through the critical mid-race phases.
The big twist came as the track began drying in the final 15 laps. A string of drivers—including Alonso, Russell, and Hamilton—switched to slicks, but not all benefitted. Russell spun, while Hamilton made gains after a solid stop for soft tyres.
Hulkenberg’s Redemption Story
As the leaders navigated traffic and tyre changes, Nico Hulkenberg—who had quietly made his way up the field—pounced. First, he overtook Lance Stroll, then held off Hamilton’s Ferrari to secure third place, earning his maiden F1 podium in his 239th Grand Prix start.
“This is a dream. It’s taken long enough, but we finally did it,” said a visibly emotional Hulkenberg post-race.
Notable Incidents and Retirements
Isack Hadjar and Kimi Antonelli collided heavily in the rain; both retired and face post-race stewards’ investigations. Charles Leclerc gambled on slicks from the formation lap but struggled all afternoon, finishing a distant 14th. Franco Colapinto, Lawson and Bortoleto also retired. Bearman made a contact with teammate Esteban Ocon, sending the former spinning. Tsunoda received a 10-second penalty for spinning Bearman at the Safety Car restart.
F1 2025 British GP Race Results (Silverstone):
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:37:15.735
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) : +6.812s
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) : +34.742s
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) : +39.812s
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) : +56.781s
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) : +59.857s
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) : +60.603s
- Alexander Albon (Williams) : +64.135s
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) : +65.858s
- George Russell (Mercedes) : +70.674s
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) : +72.095s
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) : +76.592s
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) : +77.301s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) : +84.477s
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) : +1 laps
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – DNF
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – DNF
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – DNF
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – DNF
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – DNF
Championship Outlook
With the result, Piastri leads Norris by just 8 points, while Verstappen slips further back in third after a second consecutive race without a podium. McLaren has now firmly asserted itself as the team to beat in both championships.
What’s Next?
F1 takes a short summer break before returning to action at Spa-Francorchamps for the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix (July 25–27). With tensions building between the McLaren duo and Hulkenberg’s resurgence inspiring fans everywhere, the championship battle is far from settled.
