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Verstappen claims victory as Mercedes men wilt in the heat at Silverstone

  • Dutchman delivers Red Bull’s first victory at Silverstone since 2012
  • Hamilton retains lead in the drivers’ championship after second place finish

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Red Bull’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen pumps his fist after winning the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone. Photo: AFP

Max Verstappen delivered Red Bull’s first victory at Silverstone since 2012 on Sunday when he made the most of a superior strategy in sizzling conditions to beat both Mercedes and claim victory in the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.

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It was the Dutchman’s first victory of the season after Mercedes had won all four season-opening races and the ninth of his career.

“I think we did everything perfectly today,” he said. “Thank you.”

His team boss Christian Horner responded with a team in-joke: “That was brilliant ... fully sanitised.”

Verstappen owed his victory to a team decision to start the race on hard compound tyres while his main rivals all launched from the grid on ‘mediums’, the two Mercedes men struggling to manage tyre-wear throughout the race.

Verstappen won by 11.326 seconds ahead of drivers standings leader and six-time champion Lewis Hamilton who passed Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in the closing stages. The Finn finished third.

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