Mahindra Racing managed to overcome a tough race with Edoardo Mortara finishing 16th and Nyck de Vries finishing 18th at Round 13 of the FIA Formula E World Championship in Shanghai, China.
Bengaluru’s Arjun Maini claimed his first podium with the Ford Mustang GT3 after finishing 3rd in a hard fought race at Norisring DTM series round in Germany. Arjun, driving for the HRT Ford Racing Team also qualified 3rd on Saturday.
Another 3rd place podium finish for Indian driver Kush Maini (ART GP) in the Silverstone F2 race in Great Britain,
Charles Leclerc wins a dramatic British Grand Prix at Silverstone as Antonelli (Mercedes) faced mechanical problems while leading the race and dropped down the order.The race ended under the safety car due to Max Verstappen’s crash during the closing stages of the race. Russell (Mercedes) sneaked to P2 by not pitting during the safety car, while Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) lost his place to Russell and finished 3rd as he pitted during the safety car period.
Kimi Antonelli claimed pole position for the British Grand Prix on Saturday, edging out Charles Leclerc by just 0.175 seconds to continue his remarkable campaign. Lewis Hamilton, who had dominated Friday’s Sprint Qualifying, could only manage third on home turf, with George Russell rounding out a mixed afternoon for Mercedes in fourth. A Dramatic Final Shootout The session capped a whirlwind 24 hours at Silverstone, coming just hours after Antonelli had beaten Hamilton to victory in the Sprint race earlier on Saturday. Having already got the better of the Ferrari driver once on track, the young Mercedes driver went one better in qualifying, setting a benchmark of 1m 28.111s in the closing stages of Q3 that none of his rivals could answer. Leclerc came closest, unable to find the pace for pole but doing enough to beat Russell to the front row. Hamilton then slotted into third pushing Russell to 4th. Russell’s session was complicated by a scare in Q1, when he ran wide and clipped the wall at Luffield, picking up minor front-wing damage. He recovered to progress through the session but ultimately had to settle for fourth, split from his teammate by the two Ferraris. How Qualifying Unfolded Isack Hadjar set the pace in the opening segment, continuing an encouraging weekend for Red Bull, though his pace didn’t fully carry through to the business end of the session. Leclerc looked strong throughout Q2, with Hamilton splitting the Ferrari and Antonelli’s efforts at various points as the session ebbed and flowed. By Q3, all the pieces were in place for a genuine fight at the front. Hamilton put in an early lap to go provisionally quickest, before Antonelli responded to snatch the top spot, briefly demoting Hamilton to third. On his final flying lap, Antonelli found more time still, leaving Leclerc to push Russell down to fourth as the chequered flag fell. Qualifying Results
India’s Kush Maini driving (BWT Alpine Academy /ART GP) qualifies 3rd fastest for F2 race in Silverstone. Excerpts of F2 Post Qualifying Press Conference with Kush MainiFIA Formula 2: Kush coming to you, extremely tight margins out there today just missing out on P2 how was that session for you? Kush Maini: Yeah I think obviously run one first lap I was happy with. I think we were P1 and Alex did a good lap on the second lap and I really didn’t have the grip so going into the second set I knew it was going to be tight between at least a couple of us and I think the lap was good until sector three. I think sector three I didn’t really put it together, the car was great today and a bit from my side there in sector three I don’t know if it would have been good enough for pole but definitely a lot closer but still you know top three in a Championship like F2 I mean sometimes it doesn’t matter if you’re first or third at the start you know. So it puts me in a decent position as well for tomorrow to get points in both races and I’m generally happy. FIA Formula 2: You’d mentioned sector three I actually was going to ask you about that do you know like exactly what happened in the lap? Maini: Yeah I just missed into Stowe, did the wet line basically. I was missing the rubber so for sure a bit lost there but I mean if you ask these two guys, I’m sure they can pick out places where they could have done better so. FIA Formula 2: If you had to put it all together, do you think pole was possible today? Maini: Probably but then he will say he can go another tenth or two quicker so it’s the same story, I think.
Nineteen-year-old Kimi Antonelli etched his name into the Formula 1 record books by winning the British Grand Prix Sprint at Silverstone, becoming the youngest Sprint race winner in F1 history. The Mercedes driver delivered a mature and composed drive to defeat home legend Lewis Hamilton, who led the opening laps before Antonelli fought his way ahead in the 17-lap contest. Hamilton finished second for Ferrari, while reigning World Champion Lando Norris secured third place for McLaren.
Lewis Hamilton delivered a stunning performance in Sprint Qualifying at the British Grand Prix, securing pole position in front of an electrified home crowd at Silverstone. The seven-time world champion produced a flawless lap when it mattered most, showcasing his experience and precision on one of Formula 1’s most iconic circuits. The atmosphere around Silverstone was electric as fans witnessed Hamilton rise to the occasion, putting himself in the best possible position for the Sprint race. His pace throughout the session was consistently strong, but it was his final effort that sealed the top spot on the grid. With Sprint pole secured, all eyes now turn to the Sprint race itself, where Hamilton will aim to convert his front-row start into victory and carry that momentum into the Grand Prix.
Alpine Academy driver Kush Maini (IND) secures his third Formula 2 victory in the Barcelona Sprint Race.
McLaren sealed the 2024 Constructors’ Championship after Lando Norris’ dominant victory over the Ferrari’s of Calos Sainz and Charles Leclerc at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, marking a monumental achievement for one of Formula 1’s most iconic teams and ending a 26 year drought. Founded in 1966 by Bruce McLaren of New Zealand, the team quickly established itself as a competitive force in Formula 1. McLaren claimed its first Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships in 1974, with Emerson Fittipaldi leading the charge. The team rose to unparalleled heights in the 1980s and 1990s under Ron Dennis, whose leadership turned McLaren into a dominant force. During this golden era, drivers like Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, and Ayrton Senna brought McLaren numerous titles. Lauda secured the 1984 Drivers’ Championship, while the Prost-Senna rivalry became one of the most celebrated and intense in the sport’s history. The late 1990s saw continued success with Mika Häkkinen, who delivered back-to-back Drivers’ Championships in 1998 and 1999 with McLaren winning the Constructors’ title in 1998 while losing to Ferrari in 1999.. However, Ferrari’s dominance under Michael Schumacher in the early 2000s shifted the competitive balance, leaving McLaren chasing the leaders. In 2007, McLaren faced a tumultuous season. Lewis Hamilton burst onto the scene, nearly winning the Drivers’ title in his rookie year but losing by a single point. However, the Spygate scandal resulted in McLaren’s disqualification from the Constructors’ Championship, nullifying its 218 points compared to Ferrari’s 204. The following year, Hamilton clinched the Drivers’ Championship by just one point over Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, but McLaren fell short of the Constructors’ title, finishing 21 points behind Ferrari. In 2024, McLaren’s revival was built on consistency and teamwork. While Max Verstappen dominated the Drivers’ Championship with 9 race wins, Red Bull’s lack of depth—highlighted by Sergio Pérez’s inconsistent performances—eliminated them from Constructors’ contention. This left the battle between McLaren and Ferrari, with Norris and Oscar Piastri delivering steady results, victories, and podium finishes to secure crucial points and edge out Ferrari for the championship at the final race of the season. Under the leadership of Zak Brown, McLaren’s resurgence has been nothing short of remarkable in the last few years. The consistent performances of both Norris and Piastri in 2024 highlight the team’s overall strength, from car development to race strategy. This championship not only symbolizes McLaren’s return to the forefront of Formula 1 challenging for the victories and title but also sets the stage for continued success in the seasons to come. Can they repeat the same in 2025 and also clinch the driver’s title?
