FORMULA ONE – VERSTAPPEN BREEZES TO VICTORY AT SILVERSTONE

BY RAPHEAL LUBANGAKENE

Red Bull and Max Verstappen are in cloud nine. Verstappen drove to a sixth consecutive race victory this season, at the popular British Grand Prix infront of a populous crowd. He was trailed by home comers Lando Norris in second and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in third position. Red Bull mustered their 11th straight triumph, equalling Mclaren’s record set in 1988. No other team has won a race this season. Verstappen has won eight to team mate Sergio Perez’s two of the ten races this year.

Verstappen steered past early pace setter Norris in the fourth lap and cruised clear until he saw the chequered flag after lap 52. Norris had Hamilton breathing down his rears as they even went wheel to wheel after the full safety car was deployed as a result of Kevin Magnussen’s flamed power unit, whereafter the Mclaren driver came out on top and scampered over the finish line, a little over three and a half seconds behind Verstappen.

Lewis Hamilton brought home his Mercedes a further three seconds to the roar of adoring home fans. And indeed it was double delight for the home fans as two British drivers stood tall on the podium.This was Hamilton’s 195th podium finish in his 320th race. No driver in formula one history has more. It was his 14th podium at the Northampton circuit as well.

Mclaren’s Oscar Piastri was denied a maiden podium after Lewis Hamilton leapfrogged him in wake of the safety car drama. British driver and Hamilton’s Mercedes Benz team mate George Russell, though, had a quite dreary day, crossing the finish line at 5th.

Meanwhile, Perez once again had to come from further behind the grid at 15th after a dismal qualifying session on Saturday, to finish 6th, some 12 seconds behind his compatriot Verstappen. Former Champion Fernando Alonso also had a day to forget after completing the race in 7th. Ferrari’s doomed season continues to unravel, with Charles Leclerc tussling for eight position with William’s Albon and eventually settling for 9th, while his team mate Carlos Sainz scored a single point at 10th. The Spaniard’s race was agonisingly disappointing after a strategy gone wrong, as he did not change his hard tyres following the safety car and three drivers, Perez, Albon and Leclerc eased past him in the closing laps.

This race was Verstappen’s first win at the British Grand Prix after winning from pole position. It was also the Dutch man’s fifth consecutive start from pole. He also collected the point for fastest lap of the race. He now leads the championship by 99 points with 12 races to run. Red Bull has garnered 411 points from the 10 races so far, and Mercedes trail them by a whooping 208 points. The season’s next stop is Hungary in two week’s time.

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