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Vettel on top at Silverstone

Published:Sunday | July 8, 2018 | 12:00 AM
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AP
Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany (right) celebrates on the podium in front of second placed Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain after winning the British Formula One Grand Prix at the Silverstone racetrack, Silverstone, England yesterday.
AP
Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel (front, center) of Germany leads at the start, followed by Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland, and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, during the British Formula One Grand Prix at the Silverstone racetrack, Silverstone, England yesterday.
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SILVERSTONE, England (AP):

Sebastian Vettel took advantage of a bad start and disastrous first lap for Lewis Hamilton to win the British Grand Prix and extend his lead in the championship standings yesterday.

Hamilton started in pole position, but Vettel streaked ahead, and his Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen compounded Hamilton's misfortune when he bumped into the British driver, sending his Mercedes off the track and leaving him last.

Hamilton managed to fight his way back to finish second after a Ferrari-Mercedes duel developed with Valtteri Bottas leading until Vettel hit the front again with five laps to go.

The German finished 2.264 seconds ahead of Hamilton for his fourth win of the season, denying Hamilton what would have been a fifth straight win in his home race.

Hamilton had been going for his sixth overall to beat the joint record held by Jim Clark and Alain Prost.

Vettel, who led Hamilton by one point going into the 10th of 21 races, now leads by eight.

 

Super start

 

"It was a super start, a super race, and yeah, a hammer finish," said Vettel, who had been dealing with a stiff neck for qualifying the day before.

Raikkonen, who completed the podium for Ferrari, was handed a 10-second penalty for the early incident involving Hamilton, but the Finn acknowledged that he deserved it.

"That's how it goes sometimes. Not a straightforward race," Raikkonen said.

That was no comfort to Hamilton, who quickly worked his way back through the back-runners as he posted the fastest lap times.

"I'm sorry I couldn't bring it home for you today," the four-time world champion told his fans. "We take it on the chin, and believe me, I will not give up. I will not give up."

 

Drivers Championship Table

 

Rank Driver Team Wins Points

1 S. Vettel Ferrari 4 171

2 L.Hamilton Mercedes 3 163

3 K.Raikkonen Ferrari 0 116

4 D. Ricciardo Red Bull 2 106

5 V. Bottas Mercedes 0 104

6 M.Verstappen Red Bull 1 93

7 N. Hulkenberg Renault 0 42

8 F. Alonso McLaren 0 40

9 K.Magnussen Haas 0 39

10 C. Sainz Jr Renault 0 28