Lewis Hamilton wins British F1 Grand Prix for a record-equalling fifth time

Lewis Hamilton won his fourth successive British Grand Prix at Silverstone, becoming the joint-most successful driver at the circuit with five victories.

The three-time drivers’ champion has tied with Frenchman Alain Prost and his compatriot Jim Clark, who both won five times in Northamptonshire.

With his fourth race win of the season, Hamilton has moved within one point of championship leader Sebastian Vettel, who finished down in seventh.

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The 32-year-old’s dominant performance at Silverstone was the perfect cure to a difficult week for the Mercedes driver.

Hamilton came in for scathing criticism from the British media after he decided to miss an F1 promotional event, which all other drivers attended.

His decision to take a mini-break, a week after a spat with Vettel over a collision, was backed by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

On his home circuit, Hamilton, who recorded his 67th pole position on Saturday, returned and delivered a rampant display. 

The Briton won ahead of Finnish team-mate Valtteri Bottas and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen. 

Things are looking a lot more precarious for Ferrari’s Vettel, who has seen his lead slip in recent weeks with another disappointing showing at Silverstone.

The four-time champion suffered a tyre puncture with a lap to go after a series of vibrations on his wheels in previous rounds of the circuit. “There were no signs of that happening,” the 30-year-old said on team radio.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen struggled with the same tyre problems, but managed to finish the race in fifth place.

Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Bottas sits on 154 points, 22 and 23 behind the Briton and the German, respectively.

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