How Carlos Sainz bested the British GP's frantic final laps to claim maiden F1 victory

Carlos Sainz won a wild and wacky British Grand Prix, which saw Zhou Guanyu survive a horror opening-lap crash and protesters invade the track at Silverstone.

Sainz fought his way past Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc in a brilliant 10-lap shootout to the chequered flag following a safety car period to claim his maiden Formula 1 win.

Sergio Perez finished second, with Lewis Hamilton third after forcing his way around Leclerc with four laps of the 52 laps remaining.

Sainz, Perez and Hamilton all took on fresh tyres ahead of the safety car restart, but Ferrari left Leclerc out on old rubber. The championship challenger was left in no man's land, dropping from first to fourth and dealing his title hopes a blow on a day where Max Verstappen limped home in seventh after he sustained a puncture and damage to his Red Bull bodywork.

A champion's welcome for Carlos ??#BritishGP @SilverstoneUK pic.twitter.com/Hp4jJdRZXY

An out of control slide

A record crowd of 142 000 fans in Northamptonshire were treated to the race of the season, which started in an extraordinary fashion.

Rookie Zhou was approaching the 260km/h opening Abbey corner when British driver George Russell tagged the Chinese driver's machine's right rear, sending him onto his roof and sliding out of control.

READ: WRAP | 2022 British Grand Prix - Sainz takes first F1 victory

Upside down, Zhou continued through the gravel at high speed with sparks flying before he slammed into the tyre barrier and was launched into the fencing. Fans and photographers ducked for cover with Zhou's Alfa Romeo lodged on its side, between the tyre wall and the fencing.

An extraction team rushed to Zhou, and the 23-year-old, in just his 10th race, was carefully removed and taken away in an ambulance