British Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates with champagne on the podium after winning the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone Motor Race Circuit in Silverstone, central England, on July 7, 2024. (Photo: AFP)
July 7, 2024
SILVERSTONE, England (AFP) – Lewis Hamilton held off Max Verstappen to claim his first victory since Saudi Arabia in 2021 in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday.
“I’ve been waiting for this,” exclaimed Briton Hamilton as he crossed the finish line at Silverstone in his Mercedes to claim his ninth victory, breaking Michael Schumacher’s record for most wins at a single track.
McLaren’s Lando Norris came in third.
After his record-extending 104th F1 victory, the 39-year-old Hamilton collapsed into his father’s arms and broke down in tears as the home crowd roared.
“Since 2021, I’ve been fighting every day, training, keeping my mind focused on my job and working as hard as I can,” Hamilton, who will move to Ferrari at the end of this season, said at the finish line.
“This is my last race here with the team. I love the team very much and I am forever grateful to everyone at Mercedes and to the amazing fans.”
Hamilton’s team-mate George Russell, who won in Austria a week earlier, was forced to retire with a water leak after starting from pole position.
Red Bull’s Verstappen extended his lead over Norris at the top of the drivers’ standings despite failing to win back-to-back races for the first time since Silverstone and Austria in 2022.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished fourth, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz sixth and Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg seventh.
{“jamaica-observer”:”Jamaica Observer”}
