Norris fulfills childhood dream with Silverstone win

SILVERSTONE, England — It was an image that inspired Briton Lando Norris to chase his Formula 1 dream.

The sight of countryman Lewis Hamilton, his tires kicking up a tail of spray as he sped through the rain toward victory at the British Grand Prix in 2008, stayed with the eight-year-old Norris, who was watching on TV.

On Sunday, Norris got his own win in a thrilling, wet British GP — also involving Hamilton — in front of his home crowd.

"I got that picture of him going around and seeing all the fans standing up, that picture of what the atmosphere at Silverstone is like, and dreamed of that for many, many years," Norris said. "Today I got to live that feeling myself."

Amid spins, crashes and controversy, Norris held on to win, cutting the gap with his teammate and title rival Oscar Piastri to eight points.

Norris had said it was the race he'd give up all other victories for.

He started third on the grid, overtook Max Verstappen for second, lost the place again due to a slow pit stop, then saw Verstappen spin out ahead of him. He took the lead after Piastri had to serve a 10-second penalty for sharp braking behind the earlier safety car.

It was McLaren's first win at Silverstone since that Hamilton victory in 2008. Hamilton went on to win his first title that year. On Sunday, Hamilton finished fourth.

"This is a dream, winning at home. It's beautiful," Norris told the team over the radio. "Thanks for the memory. I'll remember this more than anything."

He climbed out of the car and celebrated with both arms raised to take in the moment, before hugs with his team and his mother. On the podium, Norris closed his eyes with a smile as the British national anthem played.

"Apart from a championship, I think this is as good as it gets in terms of feelings, in terms of achievement, being proud — all of it," he told 2009 champion and compatriot Jenson Button.

"You know, this is where it all started for me. Watching you on TV many years ago. And now, thankfully, I've been able to have my go.

"The last few laps, I was just looking into the crowd. I was just trying to take it all in, enjoy the moment, because it might never happen again. I hope it does, but these are memories that will remain with me forever."

Piastri's request ignored

Piastri finished second behind Norris. After the penalty, he asked for the lead back.

The Australian thought the penalty was unfair, arguing it was for a legal move that he and others had done before to slow down the cars behind before speeding off at the restart.

Adding an element of controversy to what's been an unusually friendly title rivalry, Piastri even suggested that if McLaren thought the call was unfair, the team could ask him and Norris to swap places to cancel the effect of the penalty.

The team declined to do so.

Piastri had been leading the pack before the restart from safety car conditions, and slowed to back up the following cars, but did so sharply enough that Max Verstappen behind had to swerve to avoid him.

Once it became clear Piastri would have to serve the penalty at his next pit stop, Norris made sure the Australian couldn't build a lead to cancel it out. Norris just needed to stay with his teammate and hovered two seconds behind, waiting to inherit the lead.

"I'm not going to say much. I'll get myself in trouble", were Piastri's first words to 2009 world champion Button in a post-race interview.

"Apparently, you can't brake behind the safety car anymore. I mean, I did it for five laps before that. But, thanks to the crowd for a great event. Thanks for sticking through the weather.

"I still like Silverstone, even if I don't like it today."

History for Hulkenberg

In a race with plenty of crashes and spins, Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg finished third from 19th on the grid, marking his first podium finish in his 239th race of an F1 career that began in 2010.

His team hadn't finished in the top three since 2012.

Verstappen started on pole, but ended up fifth after spinning from second behind Piastri at a safety-car restart and briefly dropping to 10th. The Dutch driver stayed third in the standings, but it was another heavy blow to his title defense, leaving him 69 points adrift of Piastri.

Smart strategy could win big, like it did for Hulkenberg, or risk everything. George Russell asked the team for slick tires on a slippery track, and span off through the gravel a lap later, finishing 10th.

Agencies