The 12th round of the 2024 Formula 1 season belongs to Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton has won the British GP ahead of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.
This is Hamilton’s record-setting 104th win in his career.
Hamilton’s newest victory can be attributed to well-kept soft tires in the final stint of the race and Norris, Verstappen battle that compromised Norris’ tires.
Notably, this was another racing weekend where the rainy Grand Prix had been diminished but that was soon proven wrong as rain hit Silverstone track during the half-race distance and proceeded throughout the race before the track ultimately dried up in
There was no major drama at the start of the race, Max Verstappen jumped up by one position ahead of Lando Norris in the Loop corner taking 3rd place.
Meanwhile, Gasly was informed on the formation lap to retire from the British GP amid a terminal, yet unknown issue.
Early rain risk and its arrival at British GP
The early part of the race seems to be more focused on the information regarding rain arrival than on-track battles.
Despite dry track conditions, drivers started to get informed about the potential rain risk throughout the race. Various team radios of Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, and Charles Leclerc have appeared to notify about the weather situation.
Rain expected in 25 minutes
Mercedes’ pitwall notifying Lewis Hamilton on the radar
Mercedes’ drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton have created a sizeable gap to a 3rd placed Max Verstappen amid increasing danger of heavier rainfall and as the first round of the pit-stops is closely approaching.
Rain is coming in 7 laps and it will last for about 10 minutes.
Ferrari’s pitwall to Charles Leclerc on lap 9
A quarter into the race both McLaren drivers pass Max Verstappen at the entry into the Stove corner in just 2 laps difference.
At the top of the standings, Lewis Hamilton uses DRS to overtake his teammate for the lead at the entry of the Stove corner.
Both Mercedes drivers go out of track at turn 2 and Russell concedes position to Norris. Rain has arrived and DRS gets disabled.
Lando Norris flies past ahead of Hamilton at Hamilton straight while another McLaren driver Oscar Piastri dispatches both Mercedes drivers a couple of corners after to bring 1-2 to McLaren at the British GP.
It seems that the Woking-based car works better than the other cars in the changeable conditions.
During all the actions between McLaren and Mercedes, Leclerc, Perez, Ocon and Zhou are the only drivers on the intermediate tires.
Incoming second batch of rain
5th placed Max Verstappen gets called into the pitlane as rain seems to increase once again while McLaren drivers fight for the 1st place.
McLaren drivers are driving ‘on ice’ and are hurrying to come into the pitlane to deny Verstappen any chance of jumping them.
Norris and Mercedes drivers follow into the pitlane to take on green-based intermediates while Piastri stays outside.
Verstappen jumps Russell and is just 3 seconds behind Hamilton in 4th, however, Verstappen is not able to heat tires to its temperatures and is getting caught by Russell.
Piastri’s ‘strategic blunder’ drops him down to 6th place.
Mercedes informed George Russell to retire the car due to water pump issues on lap 34. This promoted Sainz and Piastri to 4th and 5th.
Sun arrives as the British GP draws to an end
Magnussen and Ricciardo ‘pull the trigger’ and pit on for red-branded soft tires. Hamilton and Verstappen join in.
Verstappen takes hard tires while Hamilton and Norris (lap after) pits for soft tires.
Hamilton undercuts Norris and has a 2.4-second gap with 13 laps to go.
The gap between two Britons circulates between 2.2 and 2.5 seconds. Verstappen is still in the game as well as he is only 2.5 seconds behind Lando Norris.
Norris’ overpushing of the tires has put Briton into Max Verstappen’s clutches and the Dutchman passes Norris in the final laps of the race to get the 2nd place.