SPORTS
Lewis Hamilton wins British Grand Prix
Baku, July 17, AZERTAC
Lewis Hamilton took a record-equalling fifth British Grand Prix victory in dominant fashion on home turf at Silverstone, slashing Sebastian Vettel's championship lead to a single point, according to motorsport.com.
From pole position, Hamilton took an early lead after a stoppage for Jolyon Palmer's Renault on the warm-up lap, the result of brake-by-wire and hydraulic problems, caused an aborted start and an extra formation lap.
The Mercedes driver quickly built up an advantage over the Ferrari of second-placed Kimi Raikkonen, as Max Verstappen held up Vettel after passing the points leader around the outside of The Loop on the opening tour.
That was how the order at the front remained until the pitstops, where Vettel was able to undercut Verstappen and move up to third, helped by a slower stop for the Dutchman.
By the time Hamilton made his one and only stop on lap 25, he was 12 seconds clear of Raikkonen, and was never threatened thereafter as he raced to a fourth win of the season and his fifth victory at Silverstone, equalling Jim Clark and Alain Prost for British GP wins.
Raikkonen held second, but Vettel came under pressure from Valtteri Bottas in the latter stages of the race, the Finn having recovered from ninth on the grid following his five-place grid drop.