LEW’S BEST OF BRITISH

Hero Hammy is poles apart

SILVERSTONE will be rocking with Ham-mania this afternoon as the fans hope Lewis Hamilton can deliver the goods on home soil.

The record-breaking Mercedes driver gave us all a taste of what is to come as he snatched pole position in stunning style, posting the quickest time ever recorded around the super-fast circuit where he has reigned supreme for the last three years.

Hamilton’s exploits equalled the record for most poles at a British Grand Prix with five – alongside the legendary Jim Clark.

And today, with a flag-waving 140,000-strong crowd bellowing Great Brit Hammy’s name, the three-time champion will be bidding to plot the downfall of high-flyer Sebastian Vettel, the title pacemaker who currently holds a 20-point lead in the overall Formula One standings.

Hammy’s breathtaking final lap in his Merc saw him eclipse Ferrari duo Kimi Raikkonen and Vettel. His time around the risky 3.6-mile circuit was an amazing 1min 26secs – compared with Finn Raikkonen’s 1min 27.147secs and Vettel’s 1min 27.356secs.

It was the 67th pole of his career and leaves Hamilton, 32, just one short of German legend and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher’s record tally of 68.

He could not hide his glee as he waved and gave the thumbs-up to the jam-packed crowd on his cool-down lap.

Now a fifth British Grand Prix victory looks odds-on which would take Hamilton’s overall collection of race wins to 57.

His F1 feud with Vettel is already at fever pitch after the German, who boasts 45 wins from 187 races – including one at Silverstone, smashed into Hammy in last month’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Their duel will be the centrepiece of the action at the season’s halfway mark – with 10 races to go. It promises to be an all-action battle with the drivers facing a 52-lap, 190mile challenge as Hamilton bids to reignite his championship credentials on what is his favourite track.

After lighting up a murky afternoon, star man Hammy said: “It was tricky out there because of the rain.

“But conditions like that are what I grew up with, so I felt at home.

“My final lap was absolutely fantastic. The car came alive. I felt very much at home.

“The car was a dream to drive. I am feeling very proud and confident about the race. And I feel amazing with the support – it gave me a tremendous boost.

“I have to say a massive thank you to the fans. Every stretch and bend of the circuit, I could see the support from the corner of my eye. And it makes me feel so inspired to do well for everybody.

“I want to to give them a thank you show – and the result we all want.”