Hamilton: Record British GP win feels as good as 2008

Reigning Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton says winning the British Grand Prix for a record sixth time felt as good as his first-ever victory at Silverstone in 2008.

Hamilton took advantage of a fortunately-timed Safety Car period to jump Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas into the lead, before dominating the rest of the race to score his sixth British GP victory, more than any other F1 driver.

The Briton, who took his first win at Silverstone in 2008, before adding four further victories between 2014 and 2017, said his latest triumph reminded him of his wet-weather masterclass while driving for McLaren in his first title-winning campaign.

“Today was one of the best days I can remember having,” Hamilton said.

“I remember my first win here in 2008 and the feeling I had coming out of Brooklands and going down what was at the time the start/finish straight and seeing the crowd, it felt so reminiscent of that today, and just the excitement, happiness and joy I felt.

“It was exactly the same as then. You would think you would get used to it or the feeling would numb, but it felt just as amazing as the first win that I ever had. So really, really grateful to all the people that have helped me achieved this today.

“I’ve got this incredible team, almost 2000 people in our team and we got to see them yesterday, we had a family fun fair kind of event that they do,” he added.

“They will never truly know just how grateful I am but it is really amazing to be a part of this team, and to be breaking down walls and records and to be pushing the limits every weekend. You never know if you will be able to deliver like we did today.”

Hamilton continued to edge closer to Michael Schumacher’s all-time wins record of 91 as he racked up his 80th career win, a result that moves him 39-points clear of Bottas in his quest to claim a sixth world championship.

“It feels incredible,” Hamilton explained. “I’ve not really been one to look at statistics. I really take it one race at a time and I like the approach that I have with that.

“Unless I stop and think of how many wins I have I didn’t really know if I had four, five, or whatever it was here.

“To then hear that I have six and to be up there with the greats, I remember growing up watching this sport and watching a lot of the greats and meeting a lot of the greats, even working with one of the greats and now to be up there with them, is one of the coolest things.”

Asked what it means to him to win his home race, Hamilton replied: “This is the greatest single moment of any athlete in the world to wave their flag as the number one or with gold or whatever it may be in their home country.

“It’s been the single most incredible feeling and most special moments an athlete can have. I come here and I look at all this incredible support.

“They always ask you ‘how much does it lift you up’ and it’s a huge amount of energy but a lot of weight comes with that, a lot of responsibility.

“People buy merchandise and flags and you just want to deliver for them so much, not only for yourself and your own ability, you can do it with your team.

“I’ve got like 40 family members here from my mums side and my dads side, a bunch from the Caribbean, so I really just wanted to deliver and when you achieve something like today and when you see all those British flags, one day I will look back and have a picture of me in the car with that flag and I will always be able to look at that and smile until my dying day.”