Hamilton wins British Grand Prix to end three-year drought
7th July 2024
Hamilton had not won since the 2021 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.
- The win saw Hamilton breaking Michael Schumacher's record for the most wins at a single circuit (9).
- The Briton becomes the first driver to ever win in F1 after competing in 300 races.
- Hamilton, who had not won since the 2021 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, delivered a masterclass in tyre and race management to secure his 150th podium finish for Mercedes.
Lewis Hamilton claimed an emotional and long-awaited record
104th career victory on Sunday when he resisted Max Verstappen to triumph in
vintage fashion at the British Grand Prix for a record ninth time.
The seven-time champion, who will turn 40 in January,
cracked with emotion and was in tears as he spoke on Mercedes team radio on his
victory lap, having finished 1.465 seconds ahead of Red Bull's series leader
and three-time champion.
In a roller-coaster race of changing weather and track
conditions, Lando Norris came home third ahead of his McLaren team-mate Oscar
Piastri, Carlos Sainz of Ferrari and Haas' Nico Hulkenberg with Lance Stroll
finishing seventh for Aston Martin.
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Hamilton, who had not won since the 2021 Saudi Arabia Grand
Prix, delivered a masterclass in tyre and race management to secure his 150th
podium finish for Mercedes.
"I've been waiting for this," shouted Briton
Hamilton after crossing the line in his Mercedes to claim a ninth victory at
Silverstone, breaking a tie with Michael Schumacher for most wins at one track.
"I can't stop crying," said Hamilton. "I
think, since 2021, every day getting up, trying to fight, and to train, and to
put my mind to the task and work as hard as I can with this amazing team."
Hamilton is leaving Mercedes for Ferrari after this season.
"This is my last British GP with this team. I wanted to
win so much for them. I love them so much. All the hard work they've been
putting in."
Verstappen overtook Norris in the closing laps.
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"We just didn't have the pace today," said
Verstappen. "I was slowly dropping back when it mattered at the beginning.
It really wasn't looking great at one point, but we made the right calls."
Norris had lost the lead after a misjudged pit stop.
"First of all, congrats to Lewis," Norris said.
"That crucial decision at the end, he just did a better job, so hats off
to him and Mercedes, they deserve it. It was tough. It was fun battling these
guys and these tricky conditions, risking a lot, on a knife-edge."
Two-time champion Fernando Alonso was eighth in the second
Aston Martin, ahead of Williams' Alex Albon and Yuki Tsunoda of RB.
On a day of clouds and intermittent sunshine in central
England a crowd of more than 120,000 witnessed three Britons starting their
home race at the front of the grid for the first time since 1962.
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George Russell started on pole and made a clean start with
Hamilton moving in tight behind him to provide protection from Verstappen who
had quickly passed Norris.
Russell settled and by lap six led by 1.6 seconds with
Hamilton 1.4 seconds ahead of Verstappen and the two McLarens.
By lap 14, rain began to sweep across the old wartime
airfield as Norris passed Verstappen to regain third. As the rain intensified,
the McLarens came alive and Piastri passed Verstappen on lap 17.
Hamilton then overtook Russell for the lead as both Mercedes
slithered in the rain. Norris, revelling in the conditions, passed Russell for
second on lap 19 and then powered past Hamilton while Piastri made it a McLaren
1-2, on lap 21.
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As the first shower relented, Verstappen was five seconds
adrift in fifth.
By lap 28, Norris led Hamilton who was trying to preserve
his tyres while hanging on to the rapid McLaren.
Russell's race ended on lap 34 when he was called in to pit
and retire the car with a hydraulic problem.
With 15 to go, Hamilton reported that "the sun's coming
out" before on lap 39 he, Verstappen and Piastri pitted together. Norris
pitted a lap later losing the lead to Hamilton who measured his final stint to
perfection, ending 56 winless races to a tumultuous home reception.
Hamilton wept as he fell into the arms of his father as the home crowd roared.
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