LONDON, July 9 (BNA): Max Verstappen recovered from a slow start to win the British Grand Prix on Sunday to claim his sixth consecutive Formula 1 victory, as Lando Norris held off fellow British driver Lewis Hamilton in a thrilling battle for second place.
Starting from pole position, Verstappen was passed off the line by McLaren’s Norris in what he later admitted was a “terrible” start but returned to the lead on lap five and held on to the finish.
Red Bull has won all 10 races this year, 11 in a row including the final race of 2022, matching McLaren’s record of 11 consecutive wins set in 1988, according to the Associated Press.
Norris was expected to drop back after qualifying a surprising second on the grid, but instead he remained Verstappen’s closest rival throughout the race.
After the safety car restart, he battled wheel-by-wheel with seven-time champion Hamilton who had what were theoretically faster tyres, but held onto second place for his and McLaren’s best result since 2021. “It was an amazing battle,” Norris said.
Hamilton had started seventh and credited the crowd for providing him with his fourteenth podium finish at his home race. “I didn’t do it,” he said, “the crowd did.” “I felt energy, I felt supported. That’s why we’re back there.”
McLaren rookie Oscar Piastri had a career-high fourth pole position ahead of Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate George Russell, as the upgraded McLaren car proved far more competitive than the team expected.
Verstappen’s Red Bull team mate Sergio Perez was off the podium for the fourth time in five races, having started 15th, finishing seventh for Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin and an impressive eighth for Williams’ Alexander Albon.
Ferrari was among the losers because Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz had just pitted. They finished ninth and tenth, respectively.
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