The streak is over! Lewis Hamilton made Method 1 historical past with a ninth Silverstone victory, profitable an all-time basic British Grand Prix.
With rain showers making for tyre and lead modifications galore, it was Hamilton who used each little bit of that Silverstone expertise to see off former title rival Max Verstappen and return to the highest step of the rostrum, his first win because the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton claims record-breaking ninth Silverstone win
The rain had come and gone at Silverstone earlier within the day, leaving a dry observe with the solar shining for lights out, however with polesitter George Russell saying additional rain was anticipated an hour into the race, the climate issue remained in play.
The highest 13 all selected medium tyres for the race begin, with Purple Bull’s Sergio Perez, ranging from the pit lane after taking new energy unit elements, the one driver to go for the laborious compound. Zhou Guanyu and Esteban Ocon went for softs.
Ocon’s Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly was known as into the pits on the finish of the formation lap because of “a difficulty with the automotive”, leading to a DNS. It turned out to be a gearbox failure.
No such points for Mercedes who maintained their one-two off the road, Hamilton slotting in behind Russell, as Verstappen demoted Norris a place to set off after the Mercedes duo. Nico Hulkenberg within the Haas, after a stellar qualifying efficiency, dropped three spots to P9, whereas Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc gained three and was as much as P8.
Hulkenberg’s afternoon risked worsening as he was famous for leaving the observe and gaining a bonus at Flip 3, whereas Williams’ Alex Albon was carrying harm after contact with Fernando Alonso at that nook, Alonso swerving to keep away from the returning Hulkenberg. Logan Sargeant additionally took a success from team-mate Albon in that trade.
The stewards finally determined that no additional motion was wanted.
Russell was controlling proceedings within the opening levels, simply over a second-and-a-half away from Hamilton, who had additionally moved out of DRS vary from Verstappen. Tyre administration was the order of the day, with the radar exhibiting rain was on its approach.
Zhou had sufficient of these gentle tyres by Lap 13, boxing for a set of latest mediums, that means Sauber didn’t need that wait to return. These mediums had been working effectively for Leclerc, who cleared Stroll for P7 with Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz subsequent up the street.
Norris was additionally seeking to make strikes as spits of rain began, latching onto the rear wing of Verstappen as a contemporary battle brewed. May they preserve it clear this time?
The reply was sure, Norris diving down the within of Verstappen into Stowe to enhance to the rostrum locations, as Ferrari predicted that “heavy rain” was imminent.
Piastri adopted Norris in clearing Verstappen at Stowe a lap later, the nook now way more tough because the rain intensified, whereas Russell was struggling, Hamilton now proper on his tail for the lead.
And with DRS open down the Hangar Straight, via got here Hamilton at Stowe to take the lead of the British GP on Lap 18, each Mercedes drivers then going off on the Loop as Norris swooped via into P2. DRS was swiftly disabled.
And on the next lap, Norris was via into the lead at Abbey, as Piastri this time picked off Russell after which Hamilton at Stowe, making a McLaren one-two. Leclerc, Perez, Ocon and Zhou boxed for intermediates, with Mercedes urging Hamilton that it was time to do the identical.
Perez complained that it was “too dry for inters”, however the radar steered that the heavier rain burst was poised to hit. Norris went for a visit over the run-off at Becketts to focus on how tough the situations had been, however Race Management determined it was protected to reenable DRS.
Ocon determined to surrender on the inters and boxed for mediums, because the leaders funnelled previous Leclerc to lap the Ferrari driver, Sainz included, who was looking down Verstappen.
Lap 28 and each Verstappen and Sainz, dropping again from the main quartet, determined it was time for inters because the rain restarted. Piastri was proper on Norris’ tail for the lead, however spray was now being kicked up because the depth elevated. In got here Norris and each Mercedes drivers, however Piastri stayed out.
Verstappen muscled his approach between the Mercedes automobiles forward of Russell, race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase gleefully declaring “we’re again within the race”. In got here Piastri from the lead a lap later, returning to the observe down in P6. Norris resumed the lead of the British Grand Prix.
Come Lap 30 Perez was again within the pits for an additional set of inters, with Verstappen additionally struggling to handle them. Hamilton mentioned his “entrance tyres are falling aside”.
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As Piastri harried Sainz, with out the help of DRS which had been switched off as soon as once more, catastrophe struck for Russell as Mercedes instructed him to retire the W15, the crew reporting a water system difficulty. All hopes had been now on Hamilton to attain this British GP win as he set about whittling down Norris’ lead because the rain eased up.
The solar quickly shone as soon as extra because the crossover level to return to slicks approached, Kevin Magnussen and Daniel Ricciardo deciding it was time on Lap 39, becoming softs. Hamilton adopted swimsuit, whereas Verstappen went for a brand new set of hards. Piastri was in for brand spanking new mediums.
Norris boxed a lap later, however skidding and going lengthy in his pit field, it was a four-and-a-half second cease for softs as Hamilton grew to become the brand new chief of the British Grand Prix. Hamilton, Norris and Verstappen was the highest three. Verstappen was gaining on them each, with Purple Bull seeing front-left tyre harm for Hamilton and Norris. 4.5 seconds coated the highest three.
If Verstappen was to problem Hamilton, then passing Norris – who was actually beginning to battle on the softs – could be important.
And Verstappen would get the go performed across the outdoors into Stowe, leaving him three-and-a-half laps to chase down Hamilton. The hole was three seconds.
Verstappen continued to shut, but it surely was not sufficient. The 56-race streak with out victory was over. Lewis Hamilton had received the British Grand Prix, his ninth Silverstone triumph, setting one other F1 file for essentially the most wins at a single circuit.
2024 British Grand Prix timings
1 Lewis HAMILTON Mercedes
2 Max VERSTAPPEN Purple Bull Racing +1.465
3 Lando NORRIS McLaren +7.547
4 Oscar PIASTRI McLaren +12.429
5 Carlos SAINZ Ferrari +47.318
6 Nico HULKENBERG Haas F1 Staff +55.722
7 Lance STROLL Aston Martin +56.569
8 Fernando ALONSO Aston Martin +63.577
9 Alexander ALBON Williams +68.387
10 Yuki TSUNODA RB +79.303
11 Logan SARGEANT Williams +88.960
12 Kevin MAGNUSSEN Haas F1 Staff +90.153
13 Daniel RICCIARDO RB +1L
14 Charles LECLERC Ferrari +1L
15 Valtteri BOTTAS Kick Sauber +1L
16 Esteban OCON Alpine +2L
17 Sergio PEREZ Purple Bull Racing +2L
18 Guanyu ZHOU Kick Sauber +2L
DNF George RUSSELL Mercedes
DNF Pierre GASLY Alpine
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