HAMILTON WINS HIS NINTH BRITISH GRAND PRIX IN RAIN SOAKED SILVERSTONE

Silverstone, the British Grand Prix, the first ever race in the Formula One Championship. A race that never fails to deliver and with the changeable conditions this weekend it was always going to be an exciting race and that it was. It ended in an emotional victory for Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes as the 7x World Champion crosses the line for his 104th win in F1 and his ninth at Silverstone now the record holder for most wins at a single circuit of any driver in this sport. Current title leader Verstappen took second ahead of Norris in third.

Off the line the quickest reaction was from pole sitter George Russell (Mercedes) who lead into turn one with Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) close in second with Lando Norris (McLaren) staying in third but not for long as Max Verstappen (Red Bull) gets past and into third. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) completes the top five.

The weekend from hell continued right to the last for Alpine's Pierre Gasly is out. He came into the pits after the formation lap and was sent out but returned to the pits and retired from the race.

A gearbox problem for Gasly was the cause of the retirement.

Fifteen laps in and Norris manages to pass Verstappen to reclaim third place - much cleaner than their fight in Austria last week... Then two laps later Piastri passes Verstappen - Max now down to fifth. The ever competitive Red Bull looking normal at Silverstone.

But the fight for the lead between the two Mercedes came to a climax when Hamilton passed his teammate for the lead of the British Grand Prix!

As we hit nineteen laps the rain continues to get heavier and the Mercedes both go OFF following in tandem as the track gets ever slippier and Norris swoops into take second from Russell and the DRS is disabled.

After leading for just two laps the small excursion the lap before Hamilton has lost time to Norris who passes the Mercedes heading into turn one and we have our third different race leader in Lando Norris. Piastri wasn't far behind his teammate as the Australian driver also passes Hamilton and its now a McLaren 1-2 the Mercedes down to third and fourth.

By lap twenty seven the rain was too heavy for slick tyres and it's Verstappen and Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) pit from fifth and sixth for intermediate tyres. Norris is pitted at the end of the lao but Piastri is forced to stay out as McLaren don't double stack unlike with the Mercedes who decide to double stack. Piastri now leads the race and the fourth different driver to lead the race, this decision would ultimately cost Piastri a possible podium. The very next lap Piastri now pits and drops down to sixth.

Just under thirty laps gone and Norris retakes the lead from his teammate who pits. Hamilton is second with Verstappen third.

On lap thirty four the only man who had a lack of water George Russell, the pole sitter is forced to retire the car with a suspected water system issue.

With just fifteen laps from the chequered flag Hamilton and Verstappen pit for the dry tyres. It’s the hard tyres for the Red Bull and softs for Hamilton. Piastri is also in for Medium tyres - mediums should the be fastest tyre and McLaren are the only team to have saved a set. Norris is in at the end of the lap soft tyres for Norris. McLaren putting Norris on softs and not mediums certainly lost Norris this race.

Hamilton is back into the lead of the race.

With five laps left Verstappen gets second passing the McLaren of Norris. The Red Bull now was chasing Hamilton for victory at the British Grand Prix... but it wasn't enough and

HAMILTON TAKES HIS 104TH VICTORY! AND THE FIRST DRIVER IN FORMULA ONE HISTORY TO WIN AT A SINGLE CIRCUIT NINE TIMES!

HE BECOMES THE SIXTH DIFFERENT WINNER IN 2024.

The next race is the Hungarian Grand Prix.

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