Untelevised footage reveals Leclerc's close call with former teammate Sainz at Silverstone

Charles Leclerc ended his win drought at the British Grand Prix, though his Silverstone triumph was not without drama. Untelevised onboard footage revealed a tense moment when the Monegasque was squeezed by former Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz while attempting to lap the Williams driver, forcing Leclerc into evasive action before the Spaniard finally yielded.

Why it matters:

This victory marks Leclerc's first since the 2024 United States Grand Prix, propelling him back to fourth in the drivers' standings and reigniting a championship campaign that had faltered through Monaco, Barcelona and Austria. The incident with Sainz also underscores how lapped traffic can threaten a race leader's rhythm, adding unnecessary risk at a crucial stage of the race.

The Details:

• While closing on Sainz down the straight, Leclerc was forced to take avoiding action when the Williams driver failed to notice the approaching Ferrari and only moved aside at the last second.
• Once alongside, Leclerc gestured in frustration before proceeding, underscoring the tension of the exchange.
• The win was aided by Kimi Antonelli's front-left wheel shield failure, which ended the Italian's charge and removed a significant threat to Leclerc's lead.
• Post-race, Leclerc admitted holding off Antonelli would have been difficult given the Mercedes junior's pace, and revealed that a late Safety Car left his tyres dangerously cold after prolonged slow running.

What's next:

Leclerc will hope to carry his Silverstone momentum into upcoming rounds as Ferrari seeks to close the gap to the championship leaders. With the Scuderia scoring its second win of the season, the focus shifts to whether Leclerc and the team can maintain this renewed form and convert it into a sustained title challenge in the races ahead.