It was a win nearly 1,000 days within the making.
On a difficult Sunday at Silverstone, Lewis Hamilton captured victory for the primary time for the reason that 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, lastly reaching the highest step of a Formulation 1 podium for the primary time since that epic marketing campaign.
And the truth that it got here on Hamilton’s closing race at Silverstone for Mercedes was not misplaced on Crew Principal Toto Wolff.
“At this time’s win is sort of a fairytale,” emphasised Wolff within the workforce’s post-race report. “It’s our final British Grand Prix along with Lewis and what a approach to log off. It’s such an awesome feeling to have the ability to obtain victory in entrance of the British crowds with essentially the most iconic, and most profitable British driver in a Mercedes.”
Hamilton’s feelings matched the second. The legendary British driver was choked up as he took the checkered flag, and that continued as he was handed a Union Jack at Becketts Nook throughout his cooldown lap. When he lastly introduced his W15 to a cease he shared an extended, emotional embrace along with his father earlier than paying tribute to the 1000’s of followers cheering their hero.
Hamilton then shared his quick ideas with Jenson Button.
“Yeah, I can’t cease crying,” admitted the seven-time champion.
“I feel, you understand, since 2021, I’m simply on daily basis getting up, attempting to battle, to coach, to place my thoughts to the duty and work as exhausting as I can with this wonderful workforce and that is my final race right here, the British Grand Prix, with this workforce so I needed to win this a lot for them, as a result of I like them, I admire them a lot, all of the exhausting work they’ve been placing in over time,” continued Hamilton.
“I’m eternally grateful to everybody on this workforce, everybody at Mercedes, and all of our companions. And I simply need to say thanks to all of you for being right here with us right this moment. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks. After which in any other case to all our unbelievable followers,” added the Mercedes driver, “I may see you lap by lap as I used to be coming round, and there’s simply no larger feeling as to complete on the entrance right here.”
Hamilton’s tributes to the gang as Silverstone continued into the FIA Press Convention.
“I imply, the automobile’s so loud, so exhausting to listen to, however I may see it, and I actually may really feel [the crowd noise],” described Hamilton. “You already know, whenever you undergo Flip 7, it’s an extended, lengthy nook, and also you see the blokes on the left, or by means of the final couple of corners, you too can see this unbelievable crowd, or into Flip 15. It’s actually, actually an unbelievable feeling to be on that observe. That is the perfect observe for me, personally. I feel that is the perfect observe on the planet. Nevertheless it’s the followers additionally, the entire place, the wind course that you’ve going into Stowe. That nook is unbelievable.”
In response to a query from the sensible Luke Smith from The Athletic, Hamilton talked in regards to the feelings he felt, notably in that prolonged post-race embrace along with his father, and whether or not this win felt any totally different than his earlier 103 F1 victories.
“Yeah, it actually does, as a result of I feel, you understand, I’ve had my dad and mom come to a race right here and there,” started Hamilton.
“We’ve had, you understand, my mother was there after we received a championship. My dad’s been there after we received a championship. It’s at all times been simply at a special level of life. First World Championship, you understand, was unbelievable, nevertheless it was actually tough to soak up all of it on the age I used to be at. I feel this weekend, I feel simply inside life, you understand, your dad and mom are getting older, you understand, we’re touring a lot.
“Time with household is a continuing problem. My niece and nephew are rising up and rising out their cuteness,” continued the driving force. “However I’ve had them right here this weekend, and I feel they’ve all… All of us attempt to be there for one another, even at a distance. However to have them there and… I imply, I do know I’ve at all times had their assist, however to have the ability to see them there and share this expertise, they needed to be at my final race, the final British Grand Prix with this workforce which have been so unbelievable to us. I imply, Mercedes clearly supported me since I used to be 13. So it’s positively meant essentially the most right this moment to have them there and to have the ability to share it with them.”
Whereas there was a draw back for the workforce, as pole-sitter George Russell retired early on a day that would have seen him on the rostrum as properly, Hamilton’s victory marked two wins in a row for Mercedes, extending their run of spectacular kind.
Hamilton addressed what this latest kind means for the workforce going ahead.
Yeah, I feel vastly, vastly grateful to everybody within the workforce. I feel that is simply hats off to everybody. Niki [Lauda] would positively take his hat off, however everybody that’s continued to work exhausting, everybody within the storage that’s continued to indicate up every weekend and never get downbeat by outcomes,” stated Hamilton. “I feel George’s win final week was wonderful, nevertheless it wasn’t on pure tempo and I feel this weekend was the primary time we did it on pure tempo. [With] qualifying on the entrance row. After which after that, even pulling in that first stint, each of us pulling away from all people else. After which finally, I feel with the circumstances right this moment, the drivers in a position to make a little bit of a distinction.”
Hamilton additionally admitted that the time between victories meant this win was even sweeter, together with the admission that for the primary time in 104 victories, tears lastly fell after a win.
“Completely. It feels totally different to earlier races and notably races the place you’re having race after race after race or seasons the place you’re having a number of wins,” stated Hamilton. “I feel with the sort of the adversity I’d say that we’ve gone by means of as a workforce and that I personally felt, that I’ve skilled, these challenges, the fixed problem like all of us should get off the bed on daily basis and provides it our greatest shot. And, you understand, there’s so many instances the place you’re feeling like your finest shot is simply not adequate.
“And the frustration generally you could really feel, you understand, and we dwell in a time the place psychological well being is such a critical challenge. And I’m not going to lie, that I’ve skilled that. And there’s positively been moments the place you understand, the thought that this was it, that that was by no means going to occur once more,” continued Hamilton. “So to have this sense come throughout the road, I feel, truthfully, I’ve by no means cried coming from a win. It simply got here out of me. And it’s a very, actually nice feeling. I’m very, very grateful for it.”
A fairytale Sunday, in what’s shaping as much as be a fairytale season for the Silver Arrows.
