Hamilton takes stunning win after controversial crash with Verstappen

Lewis Hamilton delivered a remarkable comeback to win the British Grand Prix after he was accused of putting Max Verstappen’s life on the line when Formula One’s championship rivals crashed at 190mph.

Hamilton passed Charles Leclerc with only two-and-ahalf laps remaining of a thrilling race after the Ferrari driverranoutofroadontheexit of Copse in front of a 140,000 spectators on a sizzling afternoon at Silverstone where this season’stitlebattleboiledover.

Hamilton was hit with a 10-second penalty for a terrifying lap-one shunt which saw Verstappen’s afternoon end in the barriers and subsequently hospital. But his stunning win – his eighth on home turf – moved him to within seven points of Verstappen on a remarkable afternoon.

The biggest flashpoint in recent seasons took place afterjustninecorners.Hamilton hustledpole-sitterVerstappen throughout the first lap.

The Dutchman closed the door on his rival at the opening right-handed Abbey bend. But his defence through the ensuing corners put Hamilton on the front foot and the Mercedes man momentarily moved ahead of Verstappen at more than 200mph on the Wellington Straight, only to see Verstappen hold the positionbyretainingtheracingline through Brooklands.

ButVerstappenranwideon the exit of Luffield, affording Hamilton a third opportunity forglory.Verstappenmovedto the centre of the track before Hamilton drew alongside him and within centimetres of the wall on the old pit straight.

Verstappenwasmarginally ahead as they approached the right-handed Copse but as the

Dutchman turned in for the corner, Hamilton’s left-front tagged the right-rear of his Red Bull.

The force of the impact sent Verstappen spiralling out of control, backwards through thegravel,andintothebarriers to an audible groan of concern among the largest gathering at asportingeventintheUKsince the pandemic started.

Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase was straight on the radio, asking: “Max are you OK?” For eight seconds there was nothing. Then suddenly, the sound of a man wincing in pain following an impact which registered at 51G.

Verstappen managed to haulhimselfoutofhiswrittenoffRedBullmachinebeforebeing led away to an ambulance. There was relief among the fans and a round of applause as he managed to offer a wave.