Leave no Silverstone unturned at Mercedes: Sir Lewis Hamilton wins his ninth British Grand Prix, a monumental achievement that will be etched in the annals of Formula One history. This victory is not just a win but a testament to Lewis Hamilton’s resilience and determination, inspiring generations of Formula One enthusiasts, engineers, and drivers.

Seventeen years dedicated to Formula One, seventeen million tears celebrated over Sir Lewis Hamilton’s win at the famous Silverstone track. From his early days as a rookie challenging Fernando Alonso to his recent victory at Silverstone, Hamilton’s career has been a rollercoaster of emotions and triumphs.

On a historical note, this win breaks the record for most wins at a Grand Prix previously held by Michael Schumacher and Sir Lewis Hamilton. However, on a personal note, and Formula One is the most personal sport, we watch drivers race in their younger years, create bonds with other drives, look up to different drives to one day meet them, and watch breathlessly as our drivers crash flying into walls, into each other, into the abyss of lost hope. The words Abi Dubai 2021 hushed in whispers, the burden of failure resting on Lewis Hamilton’s shoulders, the taste of an Eighth World Title which should have been his and in any other race, it would have been enough, it should have been enough. He pulls through, despite every knockback from every race he loses, wondering if he will ever be able to taste the mere essence of an Eighth World Title.

Nine hundred and forty-five days. With such mercy and grace, he is restored to his worthy title and wins Silverstone 2024. In my heart, the rookie who almost won against Fernando Alonso, the man who raises the bar for each driver, the driver who got disqualified in Sao Pablo 21, meaning he started from P20 and finished at P1, the teammate who lets George through for a chance at winning. This skilled man does not let tyre degeneration stop him from defending his position in Bahrain to Oscar Piastri or Fernando Alonso; he alone would never be deemed unworthy of his seat at Formula One. Lewis Hamilton is Formula One; he is bigger than Formula One and enables the future of Formula One through his programs.

Silverstone began as a three-British front row: George Russell, the Mercedes driver, started in P1, followed by Lewis Hamilton, another Mercedes driver, and Lando Norris, the third British driver for McLaren.

If you are new to Formula One, there are five leading teams constantly battling it out in Q1: Aston Martin (Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll), Ferrari (Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz), McLaren (Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri), Mercedes (Lewis Hamilton, George Russel), and Redbull (Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez). In Silverstone 2024, it appeared the two teams battling for a possible 2-1 were McLaren and Mercedes, yet neither got a 2-1 podium.

Silverstone races are a fan favourite for the race course, but more significantly, the swing of podiums due to weather conditions and Silverstone 2024 was no different. Ferrari finished in Q2 and Q3 due to their tyre choices, and frankly, Aston Martin started brilliantly this year mainly due to Fernando Alonso, but the team is crashing hard. Silverstone had four race leaders: George Russell, Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, and Oscar Piastri. The weather changes rapidly affect the type of tyre needed to be quick on the track first and for the driver to have more control over the car in the rain. Around the halfway mark, the weather began to clean up, meaning they needed to change their tyres at a pitstop, but what do you do when both your drivers are in Q1?

a) Duo-pitstop: Take both drivers in and out as quickly as possible. It’s most different to pull off but best in the long run. It’s high risk, high reward.

b) Opt for a pitstop strategy for one driver, leaving the other out until the optimal time for their pitstop. This approach gives the first driver a head start, but the second driver will need to play catch-up with the other drivers already on the grid, adding an extra layer of competition and strategy to the race.

Mercedes made a bold choice, opting for option A, which could have led to a 2-1 podium finish if not for George Russel’s unfortunate DNF due to suspected water system issue. Meanwhile, McLaren once again favoured their golden boy, leaving Oscar Piastri behind to receive new tyres first.

Max Verstappen slowly crept up from the ashes of Silverstone, remaining somehow in p5 for the duration of the race, climbing up as George Russell DNFed, then chased Oscar Piastri after the pitstop error.

Lando Norris could have come second, but he made a fatal mistake. McLaren gave him two options. Imagine you have a seven-world champion leading the race known for his skill at racing in harsh weather and defence and a three-world champion behind you known for his overtaking skills. You can choose soft tyres to battle Lewis Hamilton on soft or medium tyres to fight off Max Verstappen on hard tyres.

Lando Norris made the decision, not McLaren. He opted to try to charge Lewis Hamilton in soft, only to be charged down by Max Verstappen in a Redbull.

A tear shed over the view of Lewis Hamilton, British flag in hand, winning Silverstone, and more blood, sweat, and tears swelled under the moment George Russell met Lewis Hamilton immediately to congratulate him. A man who placed first in qualifying, a Mercedes driver who DNF’d during his home race, and a gentleman who runs over to his teammate, understanding the importance of this race to Lewis Hamilton. Then, anything other than a metaphor of a waterfall of tears would not do the moment with his father justice. A mirror to his loss in Abu Dubai 2021 when Lewis Hamilton could not get out of his car for ten minutes and hugged his father in his realisation that he lost. There was no anger or fight; he was defeated in sadness and disappointed in himself, the system, and the FIA.

Lewis Hamilton kisses the trophy in glistening glory, and the crowds roar, breathing in the legacy imprinted onto Mercedes. He is not merely a footnote or an acknowledgement; Lewis Hamilton is the man who raised the bar and Mercedes and continues to raise himself.