Lewis Hamilton won the Formula One British Grand Prix on Sunday after Max Verstappen crashed out on lap one after a coming-together with his title rival.
Championship leader Verstappen started in pole position at Silverstone after winning the inaugural F1 Sprint race on Saturday, but the Red Bull driver’s left rear tyre hit Hamilton’s front right tyre on the Copse corner on the opening lap, leading the Belgian to spin off the track and hit the barrier hard at approximately 180mph. Verstappen, who had won the last three grands prix ahead of Sunday’s event, emerged from his wrecked car and was checked by medical staff before being transported to a local hospital.
In the immediate aftermath of the crash, which resulted in Hamilton receiving a 10-second penalty, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc surged past the Briton and into the lead. A red flag followed, leading to a 40-minute suspension of racing, but Leclerc retained his focus for a standing restart and would retain his lead for 49 laps. Hamilton was hunting the Monegasque, however, and finally caught Leclerc on Copse with just two laps to go in a dramatic finish.
Hamilton saw out the final laps to record his third straight British GP victory, seventh in eight years, and eighth overall. In doing so, the defending champion – second in the drivers’ standings – closed the gap to Verstappen to eight points in the race for the title.
Follow the fallout from the Formula One British Grand Prix below.
