Mercedes has been rising rapidly over the last handful of weeks in Formula 1.
From George Russell’s victory last week in the Austrian Grand Prix to a Mercedes lockup in qualifying on Saturday at Silverstone Circuit, it was only a matter of time before the team’s lead driver, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, broke through.
While the team is aware it’s Hamilton’s last year aboard a Mercedes-powered entry before switching over to Ferrari next season, the team surged on Sunday.
After leapfrogging McLaren’s Lando Norris in the pits in the latter part of the British Grand Prix, Hamilton crossed underneath the checkered flag as the winner for the first time in over two years.
Mercedes’ Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff simply described it as a “fairytale.”
“It is our last British Grand Prix together with Lewis and what a way to sign off,” Wolff said. “It is such a great feeling to be able to achieve victory in front of the British crowds with the most iconic and most successful British driver in a Mercedes.”
Hamilton earned a record ninth victory at Silverstone to reach 104 triumphs in his F-1 career.
“Last week’s win was fortuitous,” Wolff said of Russell’s victory after leaders Max Verstappen and Lando Norris tangled. “Today, we were quick in almost all conditions. We were running first and second for a long time and, although the McLarens were quick when the rain fell, we were able to get back ahead of them.
“It is a win on merit, and it shows the grit of this team. We never stopped believing, we never stopped working, and we have been able to unlock the potential in the car. We are now on a roll.”
The team sits seventh (Russell) and eighth (Hamilton) in the driver standings.
For Hamilton, the victory was an emotional one as he endured “the most emotional end to a win” he’s ever had.
“Today means so much,” Hamilton said. “It is the most incredible honor to be standing on the top step of the podium here at Silverstone. I think my heart is still racing!”
With it being since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix that Hamilton celebrated victory, he described it as a “release of emotion” after crossing underneath the checkered flag.
“It has been a really challenging few years for everyone in the team,” Hamilton said. “Knowing how hard everyone has worked to fight back, I think it was a real release of emotion. I am forever grateful to everyone in this team, to Mercedes, and to all our partners. To finally succeed is the greatest feeling I remember having.
“It was a tricky race out there. The changeable conditions made it a real challenge. We kept our cool though and made the right call at the right time to switch back to slicks. That helped us take back the lead and from there, we were able to bring it home.”