It was always going to be about Turn 1 at Silverstone, especially with DRS enabled, and Vettel managed to get past Hamilton into the lead, with the Brit falling to the back of the pile thanks to contact with Kimi Raikkonen.
The grid was shook and it seemed like Hamilton would lose considerable points in the driver’s championship race.
However, the Brit dug deep and thanks to those two safety cars, he somehow managed to end up with P2 at his home venue.
Hamilton was constantly struggling with tyres, but managed them well all through the grand prix, and was aided a bit by the safety car during the dying stages of the grand prix.
Raikkonen who had caused that lap 1 mishap for Hamilton, received a 10 second penalty managed to end on the podium, just behind Vettel and Hamilton.
Vettel drove superbly all through, and while it seemed that Bottas would end up with the race win thanks to that safety car strategy,
But those tyres didn’t really hold up and Vettel was able to get past him to get his 51st career win.
With this win, Vettel further extends his championship lead.
This is how Twitter reacted:
Thriller of a race!
Sebastian Vettel takes the win at the #BritishGP 🇬🇧.
Lewis Hamilton recovered from dead last to P2!
Report 👉 https://t.co/ifgDI8cTGW #bbcf1 pic.twitter.com/5YZafm9oJo
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 8, 2018
What a recovery by @LewisHamilton!! Last on the first lap to P2 by the chequered flag!! @ValtteriBottas comes home P4 after a valiant fight 💪#F1 #BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/Nz7UexMhTP
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) July 8, 2018
YEEEEES! Great win, mega job Seb! And podium with Kimi. Well done guys. It’s coming home… yes, but to Maranello 👊 #ForzaFerrari #BritishGP
— Gianluca D’Alessandro (@Gianludale27) July 8, 2018
It’s another Championship point for @PierreGASLY 👏 Far from an easy weekend for the team, but he’s brought it home superbly 🤜🤛 #BritishGP 🇬🇧 #F1 pic.twitter.com/I3q45RFZcy
— Honda Racing F1 (@HondaRacingF1) July 8, 2018
What a man! 😃 The skill, the drive, to take a hit and come back in 2nd!! 💪🏾 THAT is what a champion is made of! 🌟🌟🌟🌟 We are so proud of our champ @LewisHamilton and our brave team @MercedesAMGF1 🙌🏻🙌🏾🙌🏽 #NeverGiveUp #BritishGP #LewisHamilton @F1 pic.twitter.com/KzhYXCzfvD
— Team LH (@Team_LH) July 8, 2018
#BritishGP 🇬🇧 || Race Results
Charles Leclerc
Position: DNFCharles was driving in P7 but when he pitted, a wheel didn‘t engage and he had to retire the car 😞
We come back stronger in Hockenheim! 💪🏼#F1 #CL16 #TeamLeclerc pic.twitter.com/dGBVSapKT3— Charles Leclerc #16 (@LeclercNews) July 8, 2018
Definitely am getting the impression that this year may just be a year of red. Vettel is driving supremely. #BritishGP
— Craig Woollard 🏁 (@Craig_Woollard) July 8, 2018
Omfg i feel so exhausted after this 🤣 #F1 #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/Q50SjErnvG
— mssiena (@dnzzz99) July 8, 2018
Driver of the day, well done Lewis mate, great recovery drive #BritishGP
— 🏴J-Tesfaye🏴 (@JoshL_21) July 8, 2018
LEWIS GOES FOR IT! #VB77 falling back after hanging onto the lead so brilliantly… 💔 🇬🇧 #BritishGP
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) July 8, 2018
ARGHHHHHH!!! VET sweeps past #VB77 for the lead… 🇬🇧 #BritishGP
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) July 8, 2018
You get hit at the start, fall back to P18, have a brilliant race, finish P2. That’s what we call a Driver of the Day. Well done, Lewis. #F1 #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/xq4PnZbG2Q
— Giedo van der Garde (@GvanderGarde) July 8, 2018
You get hit at the start, fall back to P18, have a brilliant race, finish P2. That’s what we call a Driver of the Day. Well done, Lewis. #F1 #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/xq4PnZbG2Q
— Giedo van der Garde (@GvanderGarde) July 8, 2018
Waiting for Seb’s “GRAZIE RAGAZZI!” like…#BritishGP #ForzaFerrari #WTF1 #Seb5 pic.twitter.com/uddR8Im8gt
— Jason Kuhlsson 🇮🇸🇮🇸🇮🇸 (@jkuhl1948) July 8, 2018