Lewis Hamilton wins British Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton shares a moment with the assembled masses at Silverstone after admitting he struggled — Lewis Hamilton shares a moment with the assembled masses at Silverstone

Formula One world champion and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton managed to see off a Williams threat to win the British Grand Prix on Sunday 5^th, 2015.

Hamilton lost the lead off the line after being bypassed by Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas at the start after an early safety car stage but overturned matters against the Williams’ during the first round of pit stops.

The Briton also went on to survive late rain at the end of the race while teammate and championship rival Nico Rosberg bounced back from fourth to second place.

Germany’s Sebastian Vettel finished third for Ferrari, behind Rosberg, with Williams driver Felipe Massa missing out a place on the podium after leading for the first 20 laps following a blazing start.

Hamilton who previously won at Silverstone in 2008 and 2014 recorded his 38th career victory extending his lead to 17 points over team-mate Rosberg who had won three of the past four races.

The estimated 140,000 fans enjoyed what is regarded as the best race of the year so far with Hamilton becoming the third Briton, after Jim Clark and Nigel Mansell, to win three times at home.

Nico Rosberg of Germany, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel — Top three-Nico Rosberg of Germany, race winner Lewis Hamilton of Britain and third placed Sebastian Vettel .

Hamilton acknowledged how Mercedes’ bad starts had “made the race for the fans” and, thanked the fans, he said: “Thank you for coming out today and making my whole weekend, I really wanted to do it for you guys. I couldn’t have done it without you. I’m so elated. You can’t imagine how happy I am. I was tearing up on the last lap.”

Only 13 cars finished, with Sauber‘s Brazilian Felipe Nasr retiring before the start when his car was stuck in sixth gear on the track as he headed for the grid.

A virtual safety car also came into play on lap 34 when the Toro Rosso of Spaniard Carlos Sainz stopped on the runoff and had to be removed with a tractor.