Lewis Hamilton made the most of a spot-on Mercedes strategy in wet conditions to claim an emotional first Formula One victory since December 2021 and a record-breaking ninth at one race at his British home grand prix on Sunday.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton won in front of jubilant Silverstone fans from season leader Max Verstappen of Red Bull who passed McLaren's Lando Norris for second with four laps left.
Two rounds of rain led to plenty of excitement and several changes at the top before Hamilton secured a record-extending 104th career victory and first after 57 races since the Saudi Arabia GP in December 2021.
Hamilton became the first man to win one race nine times, moving one ahead of Michael Schumacher, who won the French GP eight times. Hamilton also has eight wins in Hungary.
But there was not complete joy for Mercedes because last week's Austria winner and Silverstone pole sitter George Russell had to retire the car midway through the race.
McLaren meanwhile paid the price for a not perfect pit strategy when first Oscar Piastri and then Norris were kept out a lap too long, with Piastri eventually takig fourth place.
Hamilton emotional after ending long drought
"Since 2021, every day I'm getting up and fighting to train to put my mind to the task and work as hard as I can with this amazing team," Hamilton said draped in a Britisg flag.
"This is my last race here at the British Grand Prix with this team. I wanted to win this so much for them because I love them and appreciate them so much," he added in reference to a 2025 move to Ferrari.
"And to all our incredible fans. I could see you lap by lap. There's no greater feeling to finish at the front here."
Norris said: "First of all, congrats to Lewis. That crucial decision at the end, he did a better job on. Hats off to him and Mercedes.
"As a team I don't think we did the job we could have done. At the same time, I blame myself. I hate ending in this position. I'm still happy. I will still enjoy it."
Triple champion Verstappen, who leads Norris by 84 points at the halfway mark of the 24-race season, said that "we just didn't have the pace today" but that a good strategy helped them to the podium as "it could have been a lot worse."
Mercedes dominate early
Russell kept Hamilton at bay at the start but a small mistake from Norris allowed Verstappen to sneak into third, only to lose it again to Norris and then also being passed by Piastri.
Up front Hamilton got past Russell for his first race lead of the season but rain set in at the same time and both Mercedes slipped off the track in slippery conditions in some parts of the track.
McLaren go top in rain
The order was turned upside down within two laps as the McLarens of Norris and Piastri stormed into first and second as drivers struggled on dry weather slick tyres.
A heavier rain shower soon arrived, and Verstappen and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz were the first from the top six to pit for intermediate tyres as well from fifth and sixth.
Norris and both Mercedes followed while Piastri stayed out for another lap, which was too late as he dropped to sixth.
Norris retained top spot ahead of Hamilton, with Verstappen back in contention in third thanks to the early stop, ahead of Russell and Sainz.
Misery for Russell but Hamilton top as McLaren get it wrong again
Russell's misery was complete when the pole sitter had to retire the car in lap 34 with a water leak issue.
The rain soon subsided as everyone scrambled for slicks in now sunny conditions, with Mercedes' strategy putting Hamilton top again ahead of Norris and Verstappen.
The Dutchman managed to haul in Norris who like Piastri in the earlier stint should have pitted a lap earlier but Hamilton was too far ahead and coasted home to wild cheers from the crowd.
"I kind of felt it would come like a fairytale here in Silverstone. The British GP, the last one with Mercedes and Lewis. Fantastic," Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff told Sky TV.
Most Popular
Comments / 0