2024 British Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton became the first driver in F1 history to win the same grand prix nine times. That it should be his home race and that it should come after such a long fallow period just made the achievement all the more remarkable.

After qualifying alongside pole-sitting team mate George Russell, he ran the early laps in the wheel tracks of the other Mercedes. But that was when the track was dry. “As soon as the rain came I knew I had to make my move,” said Hamilton. Clearly quicker in the wet conditions on slicks, he sailed by on the 17th lap into Stowe.

It wasn’t wet enough for intermediates but it was wet enough for the McLarens and their bigger wings to catch and pass both Mercs. As Hamilton and Russell each ran wide at Abbey on lap 19, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri put McLaren 1-2. A few laps earlier they’d passed Max Verstappen’s Red Bull (which was opening out its front tyre) and left it well behind.