Formula 1: Verstappen tricked the Silver Arrows - tire strategy secures first win of the season

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Max Verstappen celebrated his first win of the season

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has won his first race of the current season. The Dutchman prevailed over the Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas in the anniversary race for the 70th birthday of Formula 1 at Silverstone. The two Silver Arrows had won the previous four races. Verstappen had already had a chance to win on the same track last week, but ended up in second place. This time it worked with victory.

Bottas started from pole position a few days after his contract was extended until 2021, but was unable to defend the lead. In the drivers' championship, Verstappen overtook Bottas, who had been second so far. Hamilton continues to lead the World Cup.

Nico Hülkenberg at Racing Point started from third place on his comeback after an eight month break from racing, but was immediately overtaken by Hintermann Verstappen at the start of the race. In the end, Hulkenberg finished seventh. At the front, Hamilton attacked his team-mate Bottas, but initially couldn't get past.

Verstappen drives to victory on hard tires

The leading trio with Bottas, Hamilton and Verstappen then moved away from their pursuers for several seconds. Racing Point with Hülkenberg and Lance Stroll could not follow the three. Verstappen was the only one of the top drivers to start with hard tires and took the lead after 13 laps when both Mercedes drivers drove into the pits one after the other for their first tire change. The Red Bull driver's lead over the pursuers was now over 13 seconds.

Halfway through the race, Verstappen also pitted. After switching to medium tires, he came back on the track in second place behind Bottas, but overtook the Mercedes after a few corners. After a few fast laps, Verstappen opted for hard tires again, following a two-stop strategy. Hamilton then took the lead, but had tire problems, just like last week. With ten laps to go, the Brit had to go into the pits and Verstappen took the lead again, which he defended until the end.

Sebastian Vettel finished twelfth in the end. His start had looked good at first, but his Ferrari started to lurch in the first corner. As a result, Vettel was temporarily passed from position eleven to last place. Team-mate Charles Lecerlec worked his way up from eighth to fourth place.

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