Championship leader Lewis Hamilton hails the support he received from the Silverstone fans, as the Mercedes driver admits to “tearing up” in the final lap of last weekend’s British Grand Prix.
Having been overtaken by both Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas on the opening laps, Hamilton leapfrogged the two Williams at the first round of pit stops and was cruising to victory when skies opened up in the final third of the race.
While the defending champion pitted for inters at the perfect time, the Briton says the closing stages proved nerve-wracking and claims his supporters gave him the required energy to secure his third win on home soil.
“I know I had a long long way to go,” Hamilton said. “Twenty or thirty laps here is a long way. You do ten and you think you’ve already done thirty.
“Then I could see the weather getting worse and worse and you’re thinking ‘please hold off’ because if it doesn’t rain, we’re good. If it rains it makes it a lot harder and I tell you it was one of the trickiest races I’ve had here.
“I’m so thankful for all the support. I couldn’t have done without [the fans]. Every lap I could see them out of the corner of my eye and I just felt them spurring me along.
“And really I was very honoured to be representing the Brits, to have the British flag up there.
“I started to tear up on that last lap, just really hoping I could hold onto it for the fans and I felt them all way.”
Hamilton’s fifth win of the season gives him a 17-point edge over Rosberg in the Drivers’ standings at the halfway point.
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