BOHAMIAN RHAPSODY

Queen legend May waves Lewis through to emotional victory

- DANIEL MOXON

AS Brian May of Queen waved the chequered flag, Lewis Hamilton finally recaptured his crown as king of Silverstone.

He was without a win anywhere since 2021 and freely admitted to thinking he might never stand on the top step of a Formula One podium again.

But he did so in glorious Northamptonshire sunshine, draped in the Union Flag, while taking the adulation of the fans cheering his long-awaited success.

Hamilton had started as the second of a trio of Britons in the first three grid slots, behind only his team-mate George Russell, and it was the younger Mercedes driver who pulled away in the early stages.

When the first spots of rain hit, though, the tide turned in favour of the McLarens.

Lando Norris had lost a place to Max Verstappen early on but roared past both the championship leader and the two Mercedes with ease to take control.