Lewis Hamilton wins British Grand Prix for SEVENTH time after late drama as tyres give way

LEWIS HAMILTON survived an almighty late scare to win his seventh British Grand Prix in dramatic style.

The Brit’s tyres completely gave way on the final lap at Silverstone, and he just about nursed the car home in a heart-stopping finale.

Lewis Hamilton won the British Grand Prix despite a last-lap punctureCredit: AP:Associated Press

Lewis Hamilton just about nursed his Mercedes homeCredit: Reuters

Lewis Hamilton checks out his tyre after it gave way Credit: Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton holds his trophy aloft after a seventh Silverstone winCredit: Reuters

Max Verstappen finished second while Charles Leclerc came thirdCredit: Reuters

Bottas got off the line better than Hamilton and threatened to take the lead, but the Brit held off his attempt into turn one.

And that seemed to be as close as anyone came all day to denying Hamilton a remarkable seventh win at Silverstone – two more than Jim Clark and Alain Prost.

But then tyre drama struck both Mercedes drivers in the final few laps.

Bottas looked to be cruising to second place before a puncture just three laps from home ruined his afternoon.

Max Verstappen pounced to take second place while Charles Leclerc was third in his Ferrari.

Bottas dropped all the way to 12th place after his puncture just two laps from home in a nightmare finish.

And Hamilton’s tyres gave way, too, on the final lap, but he just had enough of an advantage to hold off Verstappen and win his third race in a row.

Valtteri Bottas (left) got away better off the line than Lewis Hamilton and threatened to take the leadCredit: Reuters

Lewis Hamilton held off his team-mate into turn oneCredit: AFP

Kevin Magnussen crashed out in his Haas early onCredit: Reuters

The safety car came out after Magnussen’s crash – which is virtually a British Grand Prix traditionCredit: AFP

Daniil Kvyat lost control of his AlphaTauri in a nasty crashCredit: AFP

The Russian driver walked away unscathed – but his car was in piecesCredit: AFP

Hamilton said: “Up until the last lap everything was smooth sailing. The tyres felt great – Valtteri was pushing very hard while I was trying some management of the tyre.

“When I heard that his went I kept looking at mine and everything seemed fine. Then just down the straight it deflated. It was a heart in mouth moment and I could see the tyre falling off the rim.

“I was trying to keep the speed up but just praying to try and get it round. I nearly didn’t get it round the last two corners but thank god I did.

“I’ve not experienced anything on the last lap like that – my heart nearly stopped.”

Lewis Hamilton had a lonely race up front with no challengers on track and no British fans this weekend – until the late dramaCredit: AP:Associated Press

Max Verstappen finished second with Charles Leclerc thirdCredit: AP:Associated Press

Valtteri Bottas suffered a puncture three laps from home that ruined his afternoonCredit: AP:Associated Press

Carlos Sainz also suffered a late blowoutCredit: AP:Associated Press

Bottas added: “Really disappointing and very unlucky. Where I got the puncture, I had to go round the whole lap which was not ideal.

“We knew it was going to be a long stint on the hard tyre and I was trying to put pressure on Lewis.

“I started to get more and more vibration and I reported that, but then at the end I had in my mind that there could be an issue so I started to manage a bit, but it happened so suddenly.”

Daniel Ricciardo came home fourth in his Renault ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Esteban Ocon in 6th.

There was heartbreak before the race for late replacement Nico Hulkenburg when his car failed to start.

The German was drafted in at the last minute by Racing Point after Sergio Perez tested positive for Covid-19.

But he failed to start the race and ended up becoming one of few spectators watching the action when there would normally be more than 100,000 fans in attendance.

There was a Spitfire flyover before the race in a tribute to Britain’s NHS heroesCredit: Getty Images

The message ‘Thank U NHS’ was on the underside of the SpitfireCredit: EPA

F1 drivers wore ‘end racism’ shirts while most of them took a knee before the raceCredit: Associated Press

Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk