LEWIS HAMILTON and Lando Norris did their best to put on a show for the 160,000 fans who crammed into Silverstone.
The two traded blows for the title of being named best of the runners’ up as once again Max Verstappen proved too strong.
AFPMax Verstappen wins again at Silverstone – after starting the race on pole[/caption]
PAHe’s extended his lead at the top of the Drivers Championship to 99 points[/caption]
Verstappen took the chequered flag for the eighth time in 10 races – and the sixth time in a row. Norris was second and Hamilton third.
Norris said: “It is pretty insane! None of this would be possible without the team and they did an amazing job.
“I managed to hold off Lewis. I tried to hold on to Max for as long as possible…but I don’t care, P2 is all good. The whole in-lap I was trying to wave to everyone.”
Hamilton, who started seventh and was quizzed about his recover, added: “The crowd did it!
“Silverstone put on an amazing show. I felt the energy and the support and congratulations to Lando and McLaren.
“As a team, we know we are not that far away and we can keep pushing.”
F1‘s critics will no doubt see the result and label it another dullard, but really this was a belting race.
There is now a very good case for looking at this season’s championship table and immediately discounting Verstappen, who is 99 points clear of the rest of the field.
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There is no stopping him from taking a third world title – there is simply no contest.
But he did not get it all his own way here. Norris made a sensational start and quickly jumped Verstappen to go into the lead.
The sight of the Brit leading the British Grand Prix brought the fans to their feet. The cheers echoed around the grandstands as someone else was finally able to lead the opening few laps.
Sadly, it lasted just five laps before Verstappen powered his way back in front, but the McLaren man wasn’t done.
He battled to hold on to second place and got his elbows out when he needed to hold off the threat of Hamilton.
A safety car did further threaten Verstappen’s win when Kevin Magnussen’s Haas caught fire.
But at the restart, he again proved too strong and while we were treated to another battle between Hamilton and Norris, they were not fighting for the win.
Verstappen said: “Lando was super quick and took me a few laps to overtake them but then with the safety car and on the soft tyre it was very tricky.
“It was a good result for the team, 11 wins in a row for the team is an amazing achievement.”
Norris managed to consolidate his second, sparking wild celebrations in the McLaren garage as team boss Zak Brown high-fived anyone in a papaya-coloured shirt.
Hamilton crossed the line in third to make it an impressive 11 straight podiums at Silverstone.