San Francisco Frontiers - Antonelli edges Hamilton in sprint to extend title lead

The 19-year-old Italian achieved his first sprint win with a well-managed drive after starting second, following the 41-year-old seven-time champion for seven of the 17 laps before powering into the lead.

Hamilton, who enjoyed a dominant Friday when he topped all the practice and qualifying sessions, had no answer to the outright power of his young rival.

Antonelli finished 2.745 seconds clear of Hamilton at the front to extend his lead in the title race ahead of George Russell in the second Mercedes.

World champion Lando Norris of McLaren came third, 9.783sec behind the winner.

On a bright warm day, Russell finished fourth ahead of Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari, followed by four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull and Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren.

Liam Lawson was eighth for Racing Bulls ahead of a frustrated Isack Hadjar in the second Red Bull and Arvid Lindblad in the second Racing Bull.

- 'Flying past' -

Hamilton said there was little he could do.

"It was a tough race for me to keep that Mercedes behind and there was such a big head wind on the back straight," said the Briton. "He just came flying past. Well done to Kimi!"

Norris was happy with third.

"It was a good race. I didn't have the pace to keep up with these guys, but I am still pleasantly surprised," he said.

Hamilton made a strong start from pole, but he needed to squeeze Antonelli at Abbey, the first corner, to stay in front as Verstappen, who started sluggishly, dropped to sixth while Norris passed both McLarens on the opening lap.

The race quickly developed into a furious scrap for places behind Hamilton and Antonelli, who had pulled clear of the rest by the end of lap two. The leading pair were separated by less than a second with the young Italian refusing to allow his old hero any respite.

Norris was third by lap four, but under attack from Verstappen with Russell and Leclerc close behind as the so-called yo-yo racing, a characteristic of the new 'hybrid era' power management, continued.

Out in front on his favourite track, Hamilton was weaving on the straights to avoid giving any slipstream to the Mercedes man, but it was clear by lap eight that the 'silver arrow' had the speed to beat Hamilton, if Antonelli could find a way.

After one blocked attack, the Italian blasted past to seize the lead on Hangar Straight with a surge of superior power, Hamilton having used much of his battery in defence on the previous lap.

Power conservation and deployment was the invisible component in the frantic fighting for positions as was proved again when Leclerc passed Verstappen at Stowe for fifth behind Norris, in third, and Russell.

At the front, Antonelli was unable to escape Hamilton who was 1.7 behind and 5.4 ahead of Norris by lap 13. Ferrari, learning from Leclerc's move, advised Hamilton to switch strategy and seek a similar move.

After a breathless opening 12 laps, the race began to stretch out as tyre wear and pure car performance emerged as main factors in what had been a strategic race of power-management tactics.

It was dramatic stuff, but Antonelli had it under control to pull away and lead Hamilton home.

G.Miller--SFF