Lewis Hamilton took a prevailing triumph at Silverstone to tie the record-breaking record of five career wins in the British Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver equalled the count of Scot Jim Clark and Frenchman Alain Prost with his fourth home win in succession to add to his initially win for McLaren in 2008.
Hamilton’s triumph sliced his shortage to Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel to only one point in the title as the German endured a front-left tire disappointment when running third with two laps to go, dropping to seventh.
A similar issue had hit Vettel’s team-mate Kimi Raikkonen the lap some time recently, costing the Finn a practically certain second place, advancing Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas to a Mercedes one-two. Raikkonen recuperated to complete third. “The support has been incredible this weekend,” he said. “I am so proud I could do this for you all. Now the plan is to win the championship.”
Following the platform festivities, Hamilton went down to see the group, surfing on their outstretched hands and high-fiving as he kept running past the worshiping throng.
Hamilton edged clear, assembling a 3.1-second lead following 12 laps and five seconds after 18, preceding he started to cut free as the pit stops drew closer.
All of a sudden Hamilton was lapping a moment speedier than Raikkonen, hauling out five seconds behind Raikkonen made his pit stop on lap 24, Mercedes calling Hamilton in for his stop on the following lap.
Hamilton came back to the track with a 10-second lead over Raikkonen and traveled to the banner as consideration now swung to the fight for the rest of the platform positions.
