The contrast of emotions couldn’t have been clearer at Mercedes after Lewis Hamilton claimed a sixth British Grand Prix win.
It was Valtteri Bottas who was clinging on to the lead at Silverstone after surviving the start and producing a brilliant move on his teammate at Copse, having been passed two corners earlier at Luffield.
But it would all be to no avail as Hamilton could capitalise on Antonio Giovinazzi’s spin into the gravel and the ensuing Safety Car, to pit and remain ahead, where he would stay until the end.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am to be here,” Lewis, who now stands alone with the most British GP wins, declared in parc ferme.
“You think you’d get used to something like that, but it feels like the first time.
“I couldn’t have done it without my team. Everyone back at the factory, their wives and their kids, they’re so supportive the whole time they’re away, how dedicated they are to their jobs,” he added.
“There are 2,000 people in the team that make it possible, I’m just a link in the chain. I value them massively and am super proud to be a part of this.”
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Adding to his perfect day, Hamilton took the point for fastest lap too, and Bottas’ disappointment was palpable.
“I don’t know what to say, congratulations to Lewis, massive support for him over here,” he said to 2009 world champion Jenson Button.
“I stopped first and I was controlling the pit stop gap so I was still effectively leading the race until the Safety Car.
“Lewis got a free stop there. I also went onto the mediums which meant I had to stop again at the end so that was pretty much it. Not really my day but at least the pace was good.
“There are some positives, we were the quickest on the track and the race pace was good today. We had a good fight and it’s not over yet.”
