Rain helps Hamilton win British GP

Lewis Hamilton seized back control of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone after being overtaken on the first corner to win his fifth race of the season Sunday and strengthen his Formula One title defense.

Mercedes finished first and second, with Nico Rosberg completing a ninth consecutive double podium for it.

“It was exciting for me; the start made it exciting and the English weather helped,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton is the first back-to-back Silverstone winner since David Coulthard 15 years ago, thrilling the 140,000-strong home crowd at the central England circuit.

Scattered showers at the Silverstone circuit added to the drama late, and Hamilton’s switch to intermediary tires came with a well-timed pit stop that allowed him to beat Rosberg by almost 11 seconds.

“As I came round that last lap, I was welling up seeing all those people on their feet,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton extended his lead to 17 points over Rosberg in the championship. Sebastian Vettel is back in third just as he was here after the Ferrari driver fought up to third.

“Without the rain I don’t think we would have been on the podium,” said Vettel, a four-time world champion.

Hamilton’s third Silverstone victory was his first after starting on the pole, but the start suggested it would be a disappointing day for the two-time world champion. Felipe Massa stormed out in front from third for Williams on the first turn.

“My clutch was good, it’s just that we had poor grip,” Hamilton said. “It made the race even more exciting for the fans.”