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Hamilton reigns at Silverstone to cut Vettel lead

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Silverstone, United Kingdom: Lewis Hamilton swept to his fourth consecutive victory at the British Grand Prix on Sunday to move within a single point of world championship leader Sebastian Vettel.


In a dramatic race packed with incident, Vettel suffered a late puncture and finished seventh for Ferrari after his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen also pitted with a similar problem in the closing stages.


Hamilton’s victory, a record-equalling fifth in his home event and the 57th of his career, rebooted his title challenge as he came home ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who started ninth, in a dominant Mercedes one-two finish.


“It’s a feeling I just can’t describe really,” said a delighted Hamilton. “Look at this crowd. Thank you to everyone who turned up. God bless you! It was incredible — I was inspired by all the kids who came.”


Raikkonen was third for Ferrari, after the Italian team had made a strategic gamble with their tyres, ahead of Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, who had started 19th on the grid.


Nico Hulkenberg finished sixth for Renault ahead of Vettel, Esteban Ocon and his Force India team-mate Sergio Perez and Felipe Massa, who came home 10th for Williams.


Bottas said: “I am really happy for this today. It was not easy, with so many cars to get through, but the team did a perfect strategy. I just kept my head down and we managed it.”


Raikkonen was disappointed with his misfortune, but Vettel said he did not blame the team. “It’s just one of those things,” said the German. Hamilton made a perfect getaway under heavy grey skies while Vettel had flames leaping from his Ferrari’s brake drum, a distraction that did nothing to stop Verstappen passing him for third on the opening lap.

The two Toro Rosso cars clashed at Chapel where Carlos Sainz spun off into retirement, having collided with Daniil Kvyat’s car. The Spaniard also made contact with Kevin Magnussen’s Haas. After an investigation, the stewards gave Kvyat a drive-through penalty. — AFP


British GP results


1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1hr 21min 27.430sec, 2. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) at 14.063sec, 3. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) 36.570, 4. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 52.125, 5. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 1:05.955, 6. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Renault) 1:08.109, 7. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1:33.989, 8. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1 lap, 9. Sergio Perez (MEX/Force India) 1 lap, 10. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1 lap, 11. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) 1 lap, 12. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas) 1 lap, 13. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1 lap, 14. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) 1 lap, 15. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) 1 lap, 16. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) 1 lap, 17. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber) 1 lap


World championship standings


Drivers: 1. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 177 pts, 2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 176, 3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 154, 4. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 117, 5. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) 98, 6. Max Verstappen (NED) 57, 7. Sergio Perez (MEX) 52, 8. Esteban Ocon (FRA) 43, 9. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) 29, 10. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) 26, 11. Felipe Massa (BRA) 23, 12. Lance Stroll (CAN) 18, 13. Romain Grosjean (FRA) 18, 14. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 11, 15. Pascal Wehrlein (GER) 5, 16. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) 4, 17. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 2


Constructors: 1. Mercedes 330 pts, 2. Ferrari 275, 3. Red Bull 174, 4. Force India 95, 5. Williams 41, 6. Toro Rosso 33, 7. Haas 29, 8. Renault 26, 9. Sauber 5, 10. McLaren 2


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