Lewis Hamilton secured a record-breaking ninth British Grand Prix victory, ending a 56-race winless streak. In a thrilling, rain-interrupted race at Silverstone, Hamilton held off Max Verstappen and Lando Norris to claim his 104th career win.
Hamilton’s Triumph
Hamilton’s victory at his home race saw him fend off a late charge from world championship leader Verstappen, who had overtaken McLaren’s Norris in the chaotic contest. This win marks Hamilton’s first since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, ensuring his final season with Mercedes before joining Ferrari next year is marked by a triumph. Hamilton now holds the record for the most wins at a single race, surpassing Michael Schumacher, and extends his record for podiums at the same race to 12.
Hamilton’s Reaction
“Since 2021, every day I’ve been fighting to train and work as hard as I can with this amazing team,” Hamilton said. “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 and appreciate them so much. I’m forever grateful to everyone at Mercedes and all our incredible fans. There’s no greater feeling than finishing at the front here.”
Race Highlights
Starting from second behind George Russell, Hamilton took the lead on lap 18 as rain began to fall. However, both Hamilton and Russell struggled with the conditions, allowing Norris and Oscar Piastri to move into the top two places briefly. Hamilton regained second place when the field switched from slick to intermediate tyres midway through the race. Verstappen, who had dropped to fifth, climbed to third thanks to a well-timed Red Bull pit stop. Russell retired from fourth due to a technical issue.
As the rain eased, the leaders switched back to slick tyres, with Hamilton undercutting Norris for the lead by pitting a lap earlier. Both opted for soft tyres, while Verstappen chose hard tyres for greater durability in the final stages. Verstappen passed Norris with four laps remaining, but Hamilton managed his tyres expertly to maintain a 1.5-second margin at the finish.
Emotional Victory
Hamilton celebrated with British fans at Silverstone, exchanging emotional messages over team radio with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and race engineer Peter Bonnington. Waving a Union Flag from his cockpit, Hamilton was greeted by his mother and father after exiting the car.
Credit: Sky Sports
