Shubman Gill playing cricket with Antonelli in the Mercedes garage at the British GP. Video

Just days after he set tongues wagging in America when he crossed paths with rapper Travis Scott, India’s elite batsman Shubman Gill has created another viral sensation, this time organizing a takeover of classic cricket in the ultra-exclusive Formula 1 paddock.

Ahead of leading the national team in the highly-anticipated three-match One-Day International series against England later this month, Shubman Gill used his short lay-off to soak up the high-octane atmosphere. the iconic Silverstone British Grand Prix.

However, it was not just a routine celebrity appearance for the Indian captain. Impeccably dressed in a green linen shirt and pristine white trousers, Gill was caught on behind-the-scenes video making a surprise visit to the Mercedes AMG Petronas garage. The encounter quickly turned into an epic sports crossover as Gill teamed up with Mercedes’ phenomenal 19-year-old championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

The teenage racing prodigy swapped his usual steering wheel for a cricket bat and engaged in a lively, impromptu bout of “corridor cricket” in a Mercedes garage. Organized through a high-profile global promotional campaign supported by strong brands Nike and Beats by Dre, the informal hit highlighted the brilliant fusion of two completely different sporting worlds.

For Antonelli, light-hearted banter with Gill provided a welcome, spirited distraction during a weekend that ultimately tested his immense mental resolve on the tarmac. The Italian sensation has enjoyed an absolutely historic rise during the 2026 campaign, leading the World Drivers’ Championship standings with five Grand Prix victories in his debut season.

The teenager initially showed his blinding speed on Saturday, absolutely dominating the field to chase down seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to a sensational victory in the sprint race, before storming to a stunning pole position in Sunday’s main event.

Unfortunately for the young championship leader, his dazzling momentum dissipated during Sunday’s dramatic grand prix. Having relinquished the lead from the grid to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Antonelli battled valiantly on the fresher rubber and looked set to enter the late race for the top step of the podium. However, disaster struck cruelly on lap 41 when his downforce was severely limited by a left front wheel shield failure. Forced into two further pit stops and penalized for track limits, Antonelli was relegated to a heartbreaking 15th after Max Verstappen’s late crash saw the race end under the safety car.

Leclerc was happy to capitalize on the mechanical misfortune to record a clinical victory, holding off the late charging Mercedes pair of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton to complete the podium. Although Antonelli’s championship lead has shrunk to 25 points over teammate Russell, his status as the world’s next motorsport megastar remains undisputed.

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Issued by:

Akshay Ramesh

Published on:

07 Jul 2026 15:57 IST