Of all the Formula One firsts achieved by Lewis Hamilton on Sunday, and there was quite a list, the sobbing over the radio and tears in the arms of his father Anthony will live long in the memory.
The most successful driver of all time has had plenty of standout moments since his sensational debut in 2007, but the long wait for a record-extending 104th career victory was something else.
The Mercedes driver’s first win since the controversial 2021 season, a drought lasting 945 days and 56 races, was a record ninth in Hamilton’s home British Grand Prix and broke a dam of pent-up emotions.
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“I can’t stop crying,” the 39-year-old told former teammate and 2009 champion Jenson Button in a pre-podium interview when his compatriot said he had never before seen him so emotional after a race.
“There’s definitely been days between 2021 and here where I didn’t feel like I was good enough or whether I was going to get back to where I am today,” Hamilton said.
“I have never cried coming from a win, it just came out of me and it is a really, really great feeling. I’m very, very grateful for it, he said, speaking to reporters later.
The seven-time champion finished 1.465 seconds ahead of series leader and three-time champion Max Verstappen.
In a roller-coaster race of changing weather and track conditions, Lando Norris came home third ahead of his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, Carlos Sainz of Ferrari and Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg, with Lance Stroll finishing seventh for Aston Martin.
Hamilton selivered a masterclass in tire and race management to secure his 150th podium finish for Mercedes.
“I’ve been waiting for this,” shouted Briton Hamilton after crossing the line in his Mercedes to claim a ninth victory at Silverstone, breaking a tie with Michael Schumacher for most wins at one track.
Hamilton is leaving Mercedes for Ferrari after this season.
“This is my last British GP with this team. I wanted to win so much for them. I love them so much. All the hard work they’ve been putting in,” he said.
Verstappen overtook Norris in the closing laps.
“We just didn’t have the pace today,” Verstappen said. “I was slowly dropping back when it mattered at the beginning. It really wasn’t looking great at one point, but we made the right calls.”
Norris lost the lead after a misjudged pit stop.
“First of all, congrats to Lewis,” Norris said. “That crucial decision at the end, he just did a better job, so hats off to him and Mercedes, they deserve it. It was tough. It was fun battling these guys and these tricky conditions, risking a lot, on a knife-edge.”
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