F1: Hamilton Survives Final Laps To Win British Grand Prix

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Brandon Dawe
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Lewis Hamilton held on to claim victory despite a tyre failure during Sunday's grand prix. Image sourced from XBP Images.

Hamilton Victorious In Dramatic British Grand Prix Finish at Silverstone.

Lady Luck

Hamilton had lady luck on his side as he claimed his seventh win at the historic Silverstone venue.

The Mercedes’ pair of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas were firmly in control for the majority of the race.

Until, with three laps to go when blistering on Bottas’ tyre caused a delamination/failure.

The Finn who pulled into pit on the penultimate lap, dropped out of the points as a result.

His championship rival Hamilton also faced the same issue on the final lap.

However the Brit was able to clinch on to victory with the aid of a late pitstop from Red Bull one lap prior.

Hamilton: “Down the straight the tyre deflated and that was a heart in the mouth moment.

“I was just praying to get it round. I was really chilled at the end. Bono was giving me the info (about Max). I’ve definitely never experienced something like that on the last lap.”

20/20 Vision

Verstappen who came just seconds away from a dramatic win came home second for the Milton Keynes based team.

Verstappen & Red Bull rue what could have been in a chaotic finish at Silverstone. Image sourced from @RedBullRacing via Twitter.

Verstappen: “The tyres didn’t look great with ten laps to go. I pitted to go for the fastest lap but then Lewis got his puncture. But P2 is a good result for us and I’m happy with that.”

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was another benifitarty of Mercedes’ misfortune.

With the Monegaqsque securing the Scuderia’s second podium finish of the season, as he crossed the line in third.

Charles Leclerc celebrating his second podium of the year at the British Grand Prix. Image sourced from @ScuderiaFerrari via Twitter.

Leclerc: “It was a very tricky race, we got the best result that we possibly could have today.”

“The car is not running to its potential but we are happy with this podium.”

“Desafortunado” 

McLaren’s Carlos Sainz Jr. worked his way into fifth place after starting from seventh.

Unfortunately for the Spaniard, like the Mercedes he too suffered a tyre delamination on the final lap.

A commanding fourth place finish turned into thirteenth on the final lap for a frustrated & unlucky Carlos Sainz Jr. Image sourced from @McLarenF1 via Twitter.

Allowing Daniel Ricciardo in the Renault to inherit fourth after he passed Sainz’s team-mate Lando Norris a lap earlier.

Norris came home fifth in the other McLaren, ahead of Renault’s Esteban Ocon in sixth and AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly in seventh.

Trial By Fire

Alexander Albon recovered to eighth place in his Red Bull. Despite being handed a five-second penalty for an incident on the opening lap with Haas’ Kevin Magnussen.

A collision which saw K-Mag hit the barriers at the final corner, leading to the first safety of the grand prix.

High Speed Crash

Just a few laps later, Daniil Kvyat’s AlphaTauri was sent careering into the barrier at Maggotts due to a suspected suspension/tyre failure.

Kvyat: “We were on for a good result today when all of a sudden at Turn 10 I lost the rear of the car. I thought it was my fault, as at first I always tend to blame myself, but after reviewing the video we saw that something happened out of my control, so we will need to check all the data to understand what exactly caused the failure.”

“It’s disappointing as we could have scored some good points here today, but I will try again next week.”

After Kvyat’s crash, much of the field pitted for the hard compound.

When everyone exept Magnussen’s team-mate Grosjean came in to fit the Hard compound to the end. With Grosjean briefly running in the Top 5 as a result.

Although the the Frenchman’s late pit stop dropped him down to last where he finished.

Nico Fails To Start

Racing Point’s Nico Hulkenberg failed to take the start as a power unit problem halted him from taking to the grid.

Hulkenberg was due to race in place of Sergio Perez, who tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday.

It is believed that Hulkenberg will again be replacing Checo at next weekend’s grand prix too.

Nico Hulkenberg on the pit wall after a power unit issue prevented him from competing. Image sourced from @HulkHulkenberg via Twitter.

Hulkenberg: “It’s been an emotional rollercoaster since Thursday. This is a big low for the team and myself, the worst possible scenario.”

“Next weekend is not confirmed. It’s a matter of waiting a couple of days. ”

Stroll in the second Racing Point was only ninth after starting in sixth position.

Sebastian Vettel had yet another difficult race as crossed the line in tenth place.

The German scarcely holding off Valtteri Bottas Mercedes’ who was recovering from his tyre failure.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel had another grand prix to forget as rumours continue to swirl around the paddock regarding his future in the sport. Image sourced from Ferrari.com

Vettel: “My confidence level is quite low at the moment, because I’m struggling to get a feel for the car and every time I try and push, I lose the car.”

Race Highlights

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