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Max Verstappen sprung the surprise of the season by beating Lewis Hamilton to win the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.<\/p>\nMax Verstappen sprung the surprise of the season by beating Lewis Hamilton to win the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
The Red Bull driver struck the sweet spot at Silverstone to cross the line 11.3 seconds clear of Hamilton, with Valtteri Bottas third.<\/p>\n
Mercedes had been expected to cruise to their fifth win from as many rounds this season.<\/p>\n
But both Hamilton and Bottas struggled with their tires to clear the way for Verstappen to take an unlikely win.<\/p>\n
Indeed, the Dutchman had been a 12\/1 outsider to take the chequered flag ahead of Sunday\u2019s race.<\/p>\n
Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari ahead of Alexander Albon. Racing Point\u2019s Lance Stroll was sixth. Hamilton will head to next week\u2019s Spanish Grand Prix with a 30-point championship lead over Verstappen.<\/p>\n
Hamilton\u2019s Mercedes team have been the class act in the field this year and, after pole-sitter Bottas beat Hamilton to the first corner, it looked as though it would be a straight fight between the all-black machines for victory.<\/p>\n
But Verstappen, who moved ahead of Racing Point\u2019s Nico Hulkenberg at the opening bend, remained hot on their heels. Both Mercedes cars started on the medium rubber, with Verstappen on the more durable hard tire.<\/p>\n
Verstappen sensed that the Mercedes cars were struggling and was soon hunting down Hamilton. At one stage, he was told to drop off Hamilton\u2019s gearbox to protect his tires.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the only chance to beat Mercedes,\u201d he said over the radio. \u201cI am not going to sit back like a grandma.\u201d<\/p>\n
He remained true to his word. Bottas pitted from the lead on lap 13 with Hamilton following in for fresh rubber on the following lap. Verstappen took the lead and, when he came in for new tires at the midway stage of the race, he left the pits just behind Bottas.<\/p>\n
Verstappen took only a handful of corners to regain top spot after he resisted Bottas\u2019 tame defense, making the move stick on the exit of Luffield.<\/p>\n
Both Verstappen and Bottas came in with 20 laps remaining for a second time, while Hamilton remained out on wearing rubber. Could the world champion get his tires to the end of the race? The answer came on lap 41 of 52 when Hamilton boxed for fresh rubber.<\/p>\n
Hamilton emerged down in fourth but the 35-year-old started to light up the time charts, posting the fastest lap of the race before taking Leclerc at Stowe for third. He then set his sights on hunting down Bottas and, with two laps to run, he got his man around the outside of Brooklands.<\/p>\n
As Verstappen cruised to the flag, Hulkenberg finished seventh, while Sebastian Vettel was outside the points in 12th following an opening-lap spin.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t see it coming but after the first stint it seemed we were really good on tires,\u201d Verstappen said after his ninth career win.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a lot of pace in the car. I didn\u2019t have any tyre issues and we kept pushing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was an incredible result to win, so everything worked out well and I am very happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hamilton, who matched Michael Schumacher\u2019s record of 155 career podiums, said: \u201cIt was a massive challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cCongrats to the Red Bull team and to Max. They didn\u2019t have the problems we had today.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was definitely unexpected to have the blistering as hardcode as we experienced \u2013 I was nervous the tire was going to explode \u2013 but I am grateful I managed to progress and get through the race.\u201d<\/p>\n