In a thrilling race at Silverstone, Lewis Hamilton secured his first Formula 1 victory since December 2021, holding off Max Verstappen to claim a record-extending 9th win at the British Grand Prix.
Starting second on the grid behind his Mercedes teammate George Russell, Hamilton made a decisive move on lap 18 to take the lead. Though Lando Norris of McLaren briefly passed him, a poorly executed pit stop by McLaren allowed Hamilton to regain the lead with 12 laps remaining.
Hamilton crossed the finish line 1.465 seconds ahead of Verstappen, who settled for second place after overtaking Norris in the closing stages. Norris completed the podium in third.
The victory was emotional for the 39-year-old Hamilton, who broke Michael Schumacher’s record for most wins at a single circuit. After the race, a visibly emotional Hamilton fell into his father’s arms as the home crowd at Silverstone erupted in celebration.
“I’ve been waiting for this,” Hamilton exclaimed on the team radio, reflecting on his long wait for a victory since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix—a span of 56 races. The British driver acknowledged the hard work and dedication that went into this triumph, saying, “Since 2021, every day [I’ve been] fighting, training and putting my mind to the task, working as hard as I can.”
With this victory, Hamilton closed the gap to championship leader Verstappen, who saw his lead in the drivers’ standings increase by just 3 points to 84 points. The result also marked a disappointing day for Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Russell, who retired due to a hydraulic issue.
Overall, it was a triumphant day for home hero Hamilton, who once again demonstrated his mastery of the Silverstone circuit to claim a historic 9th British Grand Prix victory.
BACK ON TOP!!! 🤩
LEWIS HAMILTON WINS THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX!#F1 #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/gcnGJWVg8I
Advertisement— Formula 1 (@F1) July 7, 2024
