Flawless Lewis Hamilton claims fifth British Grand Prix victory as Sebastian Vettel suffers setback

Sport360 staff 19:00 16/07/2017

Lewis Hamilton slashed the deficit to Sebastian Vettel at the summit of the Formula One championship after a crushing performance at Silverstone to win the British Grand Prix for a record-equalling fifth time.

Hamilton led every lap to the delight of his home crowd as he moved to within just one point of Vettel in the title race after the Ferrari driver suffered a puncture on the penultimate lap to finish in seventh.

His Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was poised to finish second but he also suffered a puncture in the closing moments to promote Valtteri Bottas one spot as Mercedes completed a remarkable one-two finish.

Bottas started ninth but stormed back through the field, including a pass on Vettel with eight laps remaining to the delight of the partisan crowd.

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DRIVER OF THE DAY

A close one between Mercedes’ Valterri Bottas and Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, but we give this one to the Australian Ricciardo who had a miserable qualifying session on Saturday and was forced to start at the back of the grid with Fernando Alonso after serving a grid penalty for replacing a turbo unit.

The Aussie drove an admirable race to climb to a fifth position after starting 19th on the grid with innumerable overtakes.

FASTEST LAP

Lewis Hamilton had a flawless afternoon leading the British Grand Prix from start to finish after taking pole on Saturday.

The British driver was in full flow during the entire weekend at Silverstone and he set the fastest lap of the day during lap 48 setting a scorching time of 1:30.621 .

Dutchman Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing set the second fastest time during lap 51 with a timing of 1:30.678.

Hamilton set the fasted lap on route to the chequered flag.

Hamilton set the fasted lap on route to the chequered flag.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was the biggest loser of the day after suffering a puncture in the penultimate lap of the race while running in fourth place forcing him to enter the pits. This cost Vettel three places with the German ultimately finishing seventh.

The puncture coupled with Hamilton’s record equalling fifth British Grand Prix win means that Vettel’s lead in the championship has been cut to just a solitary point.

Sebastian Vettel heads for the pits after suffering a puncture.

Sebastian Vettel heads for the pits after suffering a puncture.

ONE TO WATCH

Force India’s Esteban Ocon finished ahead of experienced team-mate Sergio Perez in eighth position.

The Frenchman has had a stellar year so far in only his first complete season in Formula 1. He has racked up many points finishes this season and the fact that he beat Perez despite starting just behind the Mexican in seventh place will give the young man a lot of satisfaction.

Esteban Ocon's stock continues to rise.

Esteban Ocon’s stock continues to rise.

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