Hamilton delights with huge British GP "bonus"

Ewan Gale
Sunday 3 July 2022 18:11 - Updated: 18:11

Lewis Hamilton has described his British Grand Prix podium as a "huge bonus".

The Mercedes driver was involved in a battle around Silverstone that will live long in the memory as Hamilton fought Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso and Lando Norris during a frantic final 10 laps.

The pack had been bunched together after a late safety car period for Esteban Ocon's stranded Alpine, with Leclerc and Hamilton frequently swapping positions - including a breathtaking sequence that saw the seven-time champion make a move the long way around at Luffield before the Ferrari fought back around the outside at Copse.

The safety car seemingly scuppered Hamilton's chance to win the race after the Briton had extended his first stint to create a tyre offset to the two leading Ferraris.

After finishing behind Perez and eventual race winner Carlos Sainz, Hamilton said: "I gave it everything today. I was trying to chase down those Ferraris but congratulations to Carlos, they were just too quick today for us.

"In the end, I was in amongst that battle with Checo, those guys were just too quick on the straights for me today.

"I am so so grateful for the hard work the team did to get the upgrade here. We made a step closer to them so we have got to keep pushing.

"We lost a little bit of time in the pit stop and then I was chasing and chasing.

"The pace was great on both sets of tyres and at the end there, once you get a Red Bull behind you, they are so fast on the straights, we have got some improvements to make.

"But this is a huge bonus for us to be on the podium."

Hamilton addresses first lap meleé

The race was red-flagged during the first start attempt after a frightening incident involving five cars at turn one.

Guanyu Zhou was sent into the catch-fence at Abbey upside down after tangling with Hamilton's team-mate George Russell, while Alex Albon was transferred to Coventry hospital to undergo precautionary checks.

Addressing the incident, Hamilton said: "I am glad everyone is safe in the big crash at the beginning of the day."