British Grand Prix 2014: I needed this, says victorious Lewis Hamilton

British Grand Prix 2014: Lewis Hamilton admits his delight after taking home victory in front of the home crowd at Silverstone

By The Sport Review
Sunday 6 July 2014, 16:28 UK

Lewis Hamilton in action at Silverstone Photo: Mercedes

A beaming Lewis Hamilton could not hide his delight after his dramatic British Grand Prix victory at Silverstone revived his Formula 1 title hopes.

Hamilton delighted the home crowd as he finished ahead of Williams’ Valtteri Bottas and Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, cutting Nico Rosberg’s championship lead to just four points after his Mercedes team-mate was forced to retire with a gearbox problem.

I don’t want to see a team-mate fail, I want a one-two, but I really needed this result

Lewis Hamilton

Rosberg was leading the race but the German’s gearbox began to develop a fault and failed halfway through the Grand Prix.

“I can’t believe it. It’s very mixed emotions at the moment,” said Hamilton, who started sixth. “But we have the greatest fans here. It was you guys who spurred me on.

“At the beginning I allowed him to get a good gap and look after the tyres. But we came out on the harder tyre and could not believe I had that kind of pace.

“I don’t want to see a team-mate fail, I want a one-two, but I really needed this result.”

Mercedes’ executive director Toto Wolff added: “What a day for Lewis, it was the perfect result for the crowd. I’m really sorry for Nico but today was Lewis’ day.

“We will let them race all season no matter what. They know it is important for us to win the constructors’ championship so they will not risk the cars until the very end.”