Sunday Debrief: Hamilton brings it home at Silverstone

Hamilton brought it home in front of home fans at Silverstone. Hamilton taking his first victory in 945 days, while also breaking Schumacher’s record of 8 wins at a single circuit. Hamilton making it 8 wins at the iconic Silverstone tack.

 

It was a Mercedes front row lock out for the British Grand Prix led by George Russell on pole. Behind the two Mercedes drivers was the McLaren of Lando Norris to make it 3 Brits to start the home race in the top 3. To complete the second row was Max Verstappen who qualifies fourth with some damage.

 

Meanwhile, for Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez, it was an exit in Q1 after the Mexican driver got stuck in the grave, the driver started from the pit lane for Sunday’s race. At the back of the grid, in P19 started Pierre Gasly after he took a new power unit this weekend.

 

Going around the formation lap, Pierre Gasly returned to the pits with engine issues and retired out of the race.

 

Going into turn 1 in the midfield, there was contact with Albon and Alonso as Alonso avoided contact with Hulkenberg as the Haas driver went wide. Albon with bodywork damage made contact with his teammate, the other Williams avoiding damage. A few corners later at the front of the grid, Norris lost a place to Verstappen, dropping down into P4. Norris chasing, before catching Verstappen on lap 15 to take back the final podium place.

 

As the rain began to fall on lap 18, Hamilton took advantage of the wet weather and hot ahead of his teammate and into the lead of the race. Shortly after, both Mercs went wide, allowing Norris to get on the back of Russell before overtaking Russell to move up into P2 on lap 19.

 

As conditions worsened, DRS was disables on lap 19 with Mercedes struggling as both drivers conceded a place to both the McLaren drivers. DRS was disables up until lap 24, with no improvement it was disables again on lap 26.

 

Verstappen made an early call amongst the front runners to pit for Inters on lap 26. Norris under threat from his teammate pitted at the end of lap 27, followed by both Mercedes who performed a slow double stack, Norris coming out in P2 with Hamilton in P3 and Russell in P5. Piastri gave the lead back to his teammate and entered the pits on lap 28.

 

What was looking to be a weekend with dreams of a full British podium, quickly faded away on lap 34 when Russell was called to retire his car. Russell retiring with suspected issues with the water systems of his Mercedes. A disappointing race for Russell in front of his home fans as he goes from pole to retirement in 34 laps, while Hamilton in the other Mercedes remained in the race closing the gap between himself and the race leader.

15 laps left of the race the rain cleared and the sun began to make its comeback, Hamilton finding hope as he edges his way closer to Norris in P1. Mercedes left only with Hard and Soft compound tyres, came into the pits on lap 39 for Soft compound tyres, rejoining in P3. McLaren responding with Piastri, who returned P5, Norris lapping a lap later, forfeiting the lead to Hamilton as he rejoins in P2 on Softs.

 

10 laps left on the race and the gap between Hamilton and Norris stood at 2.5 seconds. Hamilton chasing his first win in 945 days, his last win coming at Jeddah in 2021. Verstappen and Norris fighting 2 seconds back from Hamilton for P2, Norris losing place as his Soft tyres begin to struggle, Verstappen going round the outside on lap 48 to get past Norris with 3.3 seconds between himself and Hamilton.

 

As the came to cross the chequered flag, Hamilton took victory and the fans driver of the day, the crowds roaring across the grandstands. Hamilton picking up his first victory since Jeddah 2021, Verstappen followed in P2. Norris concluded the podium, the Brit disappointed in the result feeling as though he had a chance of securing a second career win in front of home fans. It was Carlos Sainz to pick up the extra point as he set the fastest lap of the race.