It was a win virtually 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 Components 1 podium for the primary time since that epic marketing campaign.
And the truth that it got here on Hamilton’s ultimate race at Silverstone for Mercedes was not misplaced on Group Principal Toto Wolff.
“At this time’s win is sort of a fairytale,” emphasised Wolff within the crew’s post-race report. “It’s our final British Grand Prix along with Lewis and what a technique to log off. It’s such an ideal feeling to have the ability to obtain victory in entrance of the British crowds with probably 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 a protracted, emotional embrace together with his father earlier than paying tribute to the 1000’s of followers cheering their hero.
Hamilton then shared his instant ideas with Jenson Button.
“Yeah, I can’t cease crying,” admitted the seven-time champion.
“I believe, , since 2021, I’m simply every single day getting up, attempting to combat, to coach, to place my thoughts to the duty and work as exhausting as I can with this superb crew and that is my final race right here, the British Grand Prix, with this crew 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 perpetually grateful to everybody on this crew, everybody at Mercedes, and all of our companions. And I simply wish to say thanks to all of you for being right here with us at this time. 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 higher feeling as to complete on the entrance right here.”
Hamilton’s tributes to the group as Silverstone continued into the FIA Press Convention.
“I imply, the automotive’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 understand, while you undergo Flip 7, it’s a protracted, lengthy nook, and also you see the fellows on the left, or by the final couple of corners, you can too see this unbelievable crowd, or into Flip 15. It’s actually, actually an unbelievable feeling to be on that monitor. That is one of the best monitor for me, personally. I believe that is one of the best monitor on the earth. Nevertheless it’s the followers additionally, the entire place, the wind route that you’ve got going into Stowe. That nook is unbelievable.”
In response to a query from the good Luke Smith from The Athletic, Hamilton talked concerning the feelings he felt, significantly in that prolonged post-race embrace together 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 believe, , I’ve had my mother and father come to a race right here and there,” started Hamilton.
“We’ve had, , my mother was there after we gained a championship. My dad’s been there after we gained a championship. It’s all the time been simply at a special level of life. First World Championship, , was unbelievable, nevertheless it was actually troublesome to soak up all of it on the age I used to be at. I believe this weekend, I believe simply inside life, , your mother and father are getting older, , 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 motive force. “However I’ve had them right here this weekend, and I believe 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 all the time 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 crew which were so unbelievable to us. I imply, Mercedes clearly supported me since I used to be 13. So it’s undoubtedly meant probably the most at this time to have them there and to have the ability to share it with them.”
Whereas there was a draw back for the crew, as pole-sitter George Russell retired early on a day that might have seen him on the rostrum as effectively, Hamilton’s victory marked two wins in a row for Mercedes, extending their run of spectacular type.
Hamilton addressed what this current type means for the crew going ahead.
Yeah, I believe massively, massively grateful to everybody within the crew. I believe that is simply hats off to everybody. Niki [Lauda] would undoubtedly 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,” mentioned Hamilton. “I believe George’s win final week was superb, nevertheless it wasn’t on pure tempo and I believe 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 everyone else. After which in the end, I believe with the situations at this time, the drivers capable of 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 significantly races the place you’re having race after race after race or seasons the place you’re having a number of wins,” mentioned Hamilton. “I believe with the form of the adversity I might say that we’ve gone by as a crew and that I personally felt, that I’ve skilled, these challenges, the fixed problem like all of us should get off the bed every single day and provides it our greatest shot. And, , there’s so many occasions the place you are feeling like your finest shot is simply not adequate.
“And the frustration generally that you could really feel, , and we stay in a time the place psychological well being is such a critical difficulty. And I’m not going to lie, that I’ve skilled that. And there’s undoubtedly been moments the place , 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 believe, actually, I’ve by no means cried coming from a win. It simply got here out of me. And it’s a extremely, 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.
