Dakar Rally News: Hamilton Prevails at Silverstone, Russell Unlucky in Home Grand Prix
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JULY 07, 2024 (Dakar Rally News)
In a sensational turn of events at Silverstone, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton secured his first victory since Saudi Arabia 2021, ending a 56-race winless streak. The seven-time world champion delivered a masterclass in front of his home crowd, securing a record ninth victory at the British Grand Prix.
Hamilton’s triumph came through a combination of clever strategy calls by the Mercedes pit wall and his own exceptional driving on a circuit he knows so well. However, the day was not without its disappointments, as pole-sitter George Russell’s race was cruelly undone by a suspected water leak that forced him into retirement on Lap 35.
“Today means so much. It is the most incredible honour to be standing on the top step of the podium here at Silverstone,” an emotional Hamilton expressed. “It has been a really challenging few years for everyone in the team, and I am forever grateful to everyone for their hard work in helping us get back to winning ways.”
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen had to settle for second place, but the Dutchman was able to extend his lead in the Drivers’ Championship, thanks to a well-executed strategy that saw him bounce back from a difficult opening stint.
“We made all of the right calls, especially with pitstops, and that put us back into contention,” Verstappen said. “It was a great drive, and we managed to extend our championship leads, which is a very strong result for us.”
McLaren also had a bittersweet day, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri showing impressive pace at times, but ultimately missing out on a potential victory due to some mistimed strategic calls.
“We had some missed opportunities, so it’s hard not to leave a bit frustrated,” Piastri admitted. “But it’s encouraging to see we have the pace to be at the front.”
Aston Martin enjoyed a solid home race, with Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso finishing seventh and eighth respectively, while Haas continued their strong form, with Nico Hulkenberg securing another sixth-place finish.
The Dakar Rally community now looks ahead to the next event, the Hungarian Grand Prix, where teams will be hoping to build on the lessons learned from this thrilling race at Silverstone.
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