Formula 1 returns to Silverstone, where Hamilton is king (although not always in good law)

Formula 1 returns to Silverstone, a circuit where Lewis Hamilton is happy, despite the fact that what has been observed in the seven-time English world champion for some time has not been smiles. Sixth in the current championship and far from the fight for the title – which started with Ferrari in front and then sold to Red Bull -, the Mercedes driver won the British Grand Prix on 3 wheels and at more than 200 km / h, being the holder of 8 wins there, the last three in a row -with the exception of the 2020 70th Anniversary Grand Prix-. In any case, the gift of him and the team that won the constructors’ title eight times in a row it’s quite different than that.

Among Hamilton’s eight victories at Silverstone, one of the flagship circuits of Formula 1, one was as a McLaren driver, in his second year in the category, in 2008. While with Mercedes, where he arrived in 2013, it took only a year to get the win after fourth place for his first time. From there he won 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017which he repeated at the GP of Great Britain a 2019, 2020 and 2021.

What happened when Hamilton hasn’t won since he was a grid driver? In 16 races there was a victory for Nico Rosberg with Mercedes in 2013, four from Red Bull and three from Ferrariprecisely the teams that at the beginning of the current season seemed to be stronger than Mercedes and which until now are fighting for the drivers ‘title – where champion Max Verstappen dominates – and the constructors’ title, with the Austrians 76 ahead of the Italians.

The most recent of these was the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix which took place at Silverstone in a 2020 marked by repeating circuits due to the pandemic, which Verstappen won, while in 2018 Sebastian Vettel did, when he was the badge of prancing Horsewho also won as a Red Bull driver in 2009. In 2010 the winner of the team sponsored by the energy drink was Mark Webber, as in 2012, while in 2007 and 2011 Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso gave victory to the fans.

In the rest, the celebration was local with Hamilton. Even on three wheels and turning at more than 220 km / h, in the most remembered of his eight home victories. The Englishman’s task took place in the first of two races held on the traditional British circuit in just one week in 2020, as sanitary conditions at the start of the coronavirus pandemic forced the International Automobile Federation (FIA) to repeat scenarios for being able to complete a program altered by health conflict.

So much so that that double round in Great Britain took place on Sundays 2 and 9 August, dates 4 and 5 of a championship that started on July 5. It was the start of a campaign that would lead to a new coronation of Lewis Hamilton, who in 2020 he became Formula 1 champion for the seventh time, with 11 victories in the 17 races that the season had.

That British Grand Prix at Silverstone would go down in history as another race for Hamilton, who with three laps to go won comfortably ahead of his Mercedes teammate, Finn Valtteri Bottas, and Max Verstappen’s Red Bull.

Unsurprisingly, the Brit was on track for his seventh home win, setting a new record in the category. However, the intense British heat caused more tire degradation than expected then Bottas punctures a wheel three turns from closingsituation that brought him to the pits and took him away from the scoring positions, finishing 11th.

At the same time, in theory without the possibility of raising or lowering the positions, Red Bull sent Verstappen to the pits to try and get the fastest lapwith the intention of adding a further point, as specified by current legislation.

The unexpected turning point came when the two Mercedes suffered the same problem, as Hamilton punctured the right front tire on the last lap and he reached the finish line as best he could, almost on three wheels. Despite Verstappen’s latest effort, overtaking by the Englishman was not enough, as he took the victory with less than six seconds, even with a damaged tire.

“On the straight the tire deflated and at that moment my heart entered my mouth … I was just praying it would transform. In the end it was really frozen. I’ve never experienced anything like it on the last lap, “Hamilton admitted as soon as he got out of the car.

From the way the Mercedes driver had lost performance, it was likely that if the finish was 500 meters ahead, the victory would go to the Dutchman. The podium was completed by the Monegasque Charles Leclerc with his Ferrari. “I had my heart in my mouth. I was trying to keep my speed and praying that I could go through the corners slowly, and I almost didn’t make it in the last few corners, but thank God we made it. “

The last victory was also for Hamilton but with controversy

As Hamilton celebrated a historic eighth win at Silverstone on the podium, and his 99th in F1, Verstappen went to the hospital for a clash with his main contender for the title in the front row.

Yes, the green light had just been given on the British circuit. The two contenders for the crown went head to head at every turn after a frenzied exit. But both cars collided in an attempt to overtake Hamilton, who managed to continue the race with his own a penalty of ten secondswhich did not stop him from overtaking Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) on lap 50 of 52 to the delight of the 140,000 spectators present.

“It’s a dream for me today,” tasted the winner, who turned to “the best, the best in the crowd,” before receiving congratulations from actor Tom Cruise himself. This was not what Verstappen had expected, who had been “transferred to a local hospital for further precautionary tests” after an initial check “by the doctors at the Silverstone circuit”, as Red Bull had announced.

The cameras also showed the Dutch driver visibly stunned despite having managed to get out of his car quickly after the violent accident on the first lap. “That Hamilton celebrates with me in the hospital is neither respectful nor sporty”later criticized the pilot.

His counterpart, on the other hand, was not very impressed by the media. “I didn’t know Max was in the hospital. To be honest, the win doesn’t tarnish. This is what racing is like. Of course, I would have liked to have raced against him and would have fought more “, commented Hamilton in a fight that only ended at the last round, with controversy and the title in Verstappen’s hands for the first time.

Now all that remains is to wait for the days. Mercedes has improved its performance in recent races – Hamilton has also been on the podium (3rd) in Canada – and from 1 to 3 July it will try to continue on that road at Silverstone, where it has the king as a driver.