The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Hamilton masterclass as gap cut to one point
Mercedes driver also benefits from Vettel puncture on penultimate lap
Lewis Hamilton delivered a masterclass at Silverstone to win his home race for a record-equalling fifth time.
His British Grand Prix victory was made all the more sweet when his championship rival Sebastian Vettel suffered a puncture on the penultimate lap.
Vettel, who was on course to finish third, crossed the line seventh to enable Hamilton to move to within just one point of the German.
Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas charged from ninth to second in another impressive display which will surely see Toto Wolff extend the Finn’s one-year deal.
But that will have to wait for another day as it was Hamilton’s weekend after he secured pole position, led from startto-finish, and set the fastest lap en route to recording his fourth consecutive victory on home turf and his fifth in all to match Britain’s double world champion Jim Clark.
Hamilton faced a backlash from the sport’s fans for missing a promotional event in London earlier this week, preferring instead to take a two-day break with friends on the Greek island of Mykonos.
But, after such a strong display, Hamilton will feel as though his decision has been vindicated, with his victory here helping to get his stuttering championship charge firmly back on track.
Hamilton’s two-day holiday on the eve of his home race led to questions about his desire, focus and indeed how long he may remain on the grid.
His Mercedes deal expires at the end of next season, and he said here he intends to see out the deal, but whether he chooses to go beyond 2018 remains to be seen.
Hamilton has been on something of a charm offensive this weekend after he courted jeers for being the only driver to dodge the London event.
The Stevenage-born racer drove to virtually every corner of the 3.6-mile Silverstone circuit after taking the chequered flag to pay tribute to the nearsell-out crowd of 137,500 spectators.
Hamilton stopped for his one and only change of tyres at the end of lap 25 and left the pits in charge of the race, with Kimi Raikkonen in second and Vettel third. Matters looked to be settled after that. However, the race came alive in the closing moments.
First, Bottas stormed around Vettel on the Hangar Straight to move up to third.
He then took second as Raikkonen suffered a front-left puncture.
Vettel, also struggling with his tyres, suffered the same fate on the penultimate lap.
The crowd greeted Vettel’s demise with cheers as the championship leader limped back to the pits for repairs.
Vettel dropped to seventh to ensure a 19-point swing in this year’s championship race.
Fernando Alonso retired following another Honda engine failure, while Britain’s Jolyon Palmer did not even start after his Renault expired on the parade lap.