Silverstone (United Kingdom) (AFP)

Fortune had chosen his side: Lewis Hamilton, helped by a "perfect timing" safety car, won a sixth record victory at the British Grand Prix, the 10th race of the F1 World Championship, Sunday at Silverstone .

This success allows the Brit to become the most rewarded driver in his country, ahead of Scotland's Jim Clark and Frenchman Alain Prost, with their five trophies each.

"Being among these great is one of the coolest things," he said. "Today is one of the best days I can remember, which reminds me of my first victory here in 2008. The excitement and joy are exactly the same."

Most importantly, Hamilton is 31-39 points ahead of the drivers' standings over Finnish team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who was unlucky second in the GP.

"As far as I can remember, this is my strongest season to date - at least in the first ten races," he says.

The Brit has indeed won seven GPs and his Mercedes team nine, and seven doubled now. In the constructors, Mercedes has an abysmal advantage of 164 points on Ferrari, and 216 points on Red Bull!

- Vettel in the hard -

For the Scuderia, Monegasque Charles Leclerc completes the podium, ahead of the French Pierre Gasly, who finally comes out of the water by achieving his "best weekend" since his arrival at Red Bull early in the season.

"We have changed a lot and I am very pleased to have seen a lot of progress in the first practice session," said the 23-year-old.

Max Verstappen's Dutch team-mate is only fifth, hooked by Sebastian Vettel on lap 37 as they fight for third place.

The German, forced to return to the pits and penalized by 10 seconds, is him 16th and penultimate.

Since the mistake made on the track in Canada in early June, which led the commissioners to deprive him of the victory for Hamilton, the quadruple world champion is the shadow of himself. It's been three times since his teammate outclassed him in qualifying and then in the race!

In the championship, Verstappen still strengthens his third place at 87 lenghts of Hamilton, 13 in front of Vettel, fourth, and 16 before Leclerc, fifth.

"I'm not angry, just disappointed," said Red Bull's Dutchman, "it was a tough race and Seb did not do it on purpose." He apologized as soon as I got out of the car. I think we did the show today and proved that this sport is far from boring. "

- thrilling duels -

Although won on a race fact, the neutralization that followed a spin of the Italian Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo Racing), this GP has delivered many thrilling duels.

Between Bottas and Hamilton first, in the early laps. The Finn, on pole with the British, managed to maintain his starting position until his pit stop, to change tires, in the 16th lap.

Reached the five-time world champion, he then found himself "stuck" in second place, Hamilton having been able to stop under the safety car regime six laps later, thus maintaining his leadership position. After that, Bottas was no longer able to worry him.

Between Leclerc and Verstappen then, culminating at the 14th and 24th rounds. More aggressive than in Austria at the end of June, the Monegasque learned the lessons of the battle for the victory lost against the Dutchman in the previous GP.

"It opened my eyes to how far we can go and what is accepted," he explained, "I had never had so much fun in F1 (...) Still at the limit, but I always believe in the rules. "

Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr (McLaren), Australia's Daniel Ricciardo (Renault), Finland's Kimi Räikkönen (Alfa Romeo Racing), Russia's Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso) and Germany's Nico Hülkenberg (Renault) complete the top 10 .

The second Frenchman, Romain Grosjean (Haas), gave up early after a collision with his Danish teammate Kevin Magnussen.

After Hamilton this weekend, Vettel's turn to play at home at the next Grand Prix in Germany on July 28.

© 2019 AFP