Helmut Marko saw Lewis Hamilton do something ‘unbelievable’ to beat Max Verstappen at Silverstone

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Helmut Marko saw Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton do something ‘unbelievable’ to win the British Grand Prix ahead of Red Bull driver Max Verstappen at Silverstone.

After a staggering 945 days, Hamilton returned to the top step of a Formula 1 podium at his home track last weekend. The 39-year-old had not won a Grand Prix since the Saudi Arabian GP of 2021. But he overcame the changeable conditions and various foes to seal glory again.

Verstappen was the final foe Hamilton had to deny to win the British GP after fending off his pole position-winning teammate, George Russell, plus the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The Mercedes legend also only took the chequered flag 1.465 seconds ahead.

Helmut Marko hails Lewis Hamilton’s tyre management to win the 2024 British GP

Verstappen took chunks of time out of Hamilton’s lead in the closing stages but the Red Bull racer fell short. The 26-year-old held a clear pace advantage over the Briton in the final laps. But the Dutchman could not overcome the lead Hamilton built during the wetter conditions.

McLaren were the class of the grid when rain hit Silverstone and even Carlos Sainz of Ferrari challenged Verstappen for P4. But Red Bull made the right call to put hard tyres onto his car at their final pit stop, while Mercedes opted to give Hamilton a set of soft compound Pirellis.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari in 2025

Norris also took a set of softs to cover Hamilton, despite McLaren saving an extra set of the medium tyres. It ensured the 24-year-old was easy-pickings for Verstappen who, to Marko’s astonishment, could not also catch Hamilton as the Mercedes racer worked wonders to win.

“He drove a sensational race,” Marko told OE24. “The way he saved the soft tyres over the distance was unbelievable.”

Lewis Hamilton made the difference as Lando Norris failed to hold on at Silverstone

Red Bull aced their strategy as Silverstone started to dry out by giving Verstappen the hard tyres to finish the British GP on. It meant he was free to push as much as the three-time F1 champion could, whereas Hamilton and Norris had to nurse their soft tyres until the finish.

Had Verstappen had possibly even just two more laps, the tyre off-set could have also seen him win the British GP rather than Hamilton taking a record ninth victory at Silverstone. He was by far the fastest of the podium trio as Norris slipped to P3 with a 6.082-second deficit.

McLaren, on the other hand, left Silverstone rueing how the Woking outfit managed Norris’ strategy at the British GP. If they gave the Briton the medium tyres the team saved, he may have won as Piastri proved the MCL38’s pace with lap times quicker than Verstappen’s laps.