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British Grand Prix: Racing Point's Sergio Perez tests positive for Covid-19
By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer
Last updated on 30 July 202030 July 2020.From the section Formula 1
Sergio Perez is sixth in the 2020 Formula 1 drivers' championship after two sixth-placed finishes and a seventh in the last race in Hungary
Racing Point's Sergio Perez has tested positive for coronavirus and will miss this weekend's British Grand Prix.
The Mexican is the first Formula 1 driver to test positive since the 2020 season made a belated start in Austria this month.
Perez has gone into self-quarantine, along with all his close contacts, as per F1's track-and-trace system.
A statement from governing body the FIA said "procedures… have provided for swift containment".
The statement adds that Perez's positive test "will have no wider impact on this weekend's event".
Racing Point said Perez was "physically well and in good spirits, but he will continue to self-isolate under the guidelines of the relevant public health authorities, with safety the ultimate priority for the team and the sport".
The team said it planned to enter two cars in the British Grand Prix and would "communicate the next steps in due course".
Gutierrez, who last raced in F1 in 2016, is the designated reserve for this weekend, as Vandoorne, who raced for McLaren in 2017 and 2018, is preparing for the resumption of the Formula E season, in which he is a title contender.
However, Racing Point have the option of picking another driver if they choose, and other drivers are under consideration. The team may feel that they want a driver with more recent experience than Gutierrez.
In that sense, German Nico Hulkenberg - who left F1 at the end of last season after three seasons at Renault, before which he drove for Racing Point when it was known as Force India - would be a leading contender. Hulkenberg was Perez's team-mate at the outfit from 2014-16.
F1 has a series of protocols that participants have to follow to minimise the risks with coronavirus.
This includes keeping teams separate from each other, having a series of 'sub-bubbles' inside each team to limit contact, and an extensive test, track and trace system.
The sport had considered it inevitable that there would be positive tests, but bosses believe the competition can continue as a result of its mitigation procedures.
The original season-opening race in Melbourne, Australia, was called off in March after some McLaren personnel tested positive.
Swami
By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer
Last updated on 30 July 202030 July 2020.From the section Formula 1
Sergio Perez is sixth in the 2020 Formula 1 drivers' championship after two sixth-placed finishes and a seventh in the last race in Hungary
Racing Point's Sergio Perez has tested positive for coronavirus and will miss this weekend's British Grand Prix.
The Mexican is the first Formula 1 driver to test positive since the 2020 season made a belated start in Austria this month.
Perez has gone into self-quarantine, along with all his close contacts, as per F1's track-and-trace system.
A statement from governing body the FIA said "procedures… have provided for swift containment".
The statement adds that Perez's positive test "will have no wider impact on this weekend's event".
Racing Point said Perez was "physically well and in good spirits, but he will continue to self-isolate under the guidelines of the relevant public health authorities, with safety the ultimate priority for the team and the sport".
The team said it planned to enter two cars in the British Grand Prix and would "communicate the next steps in due course".
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Gutierrez, who last raced in F1 in 2016, is the designated reserve for this weekend, as Vandoorne, who raced for McLaren in 2017 and 2018, is preparing for the resumption of the Formula E season, in which he is a title contender.
However, Racing Point have the option of picking another driver if they choose, and other drivers are under consideration. The team may feel that they want a driver with more recent experience than Gutierrez.
In that sense, German Nico Hulkenberg - who left F1 at the end of last season after three seasons at Renault, before which he drove for Racing Point when it was known as Force India - would be a leading contender. Hulkenberg was Perez's team-mate at the outfit from 2014-16.
F1 has a series of protocols that participants have to follow to minimise the risks with coronavirus.
This includes keeping teams separate from each other, having a series of 'sub-bubbles' inside each team to limit contact, and an extensive test, track and trace system.
The sport had considered it inevitable that there would be positive tests, but bosses believe the competition can continue as a result of its mitigation procedures.
The original season-opening race in Melbourne, Australia, was called off in March after some McLaren personnel tested positive.
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British Grand Prix: Verstappen fastest in first practice, ahead of Hamilton
By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer at Silverstone
Last updated on 1 hour ago1 hour ago.From the section Formula 1
Second practice is live on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra from 15:00 BST
Red Bull's Max Verstappen was fastest in first practice at the British Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton.
Verstappen was 0.474 seconds clear of the world championship leader but used a softer tyre than Hamilton, whose team start the weekend as strong favourites.
Racing Point's Lance Stroll was third, ahead of Red Bull's Alexander Albon.
Nico Hulkenberg, a last-minute sub for Sergio Perez after the Mexican contracted coronavirus, was a creditable ninth on his return to F1.
The German, who was 0.588 seconds slower than Stroll, had his position confirmed only minutes before the session started because of the wait to confirm he did not have coronavirus.
Hulkenberg, who was out of F1 after being dropped by Renault last season, was preferred because of his long experience, both in F1 and with the team, having driven for them when they were known as Force India in 2012 and 2014-16.
The session took place under cloudless skies and in soaring temperatures of more than 30C.
In any other year, the circuit would have been teeming with tens of thousands of fans soaking up the sun and enjoying their experience of F1. But the usual festival atmosphere of the British Grand Prix is absent as a result of the lack of fans, who have had to be kept away as a result of the pandemic.
All the British drivers have spoken of how "weird" the event feels without fans, but none will find that more than Hamilton, who has made his home race his own with a record six victories.
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Hamilton took the championship lead for the first time this year with victory in the last race in Hungary, the third of the season, and is looking to extend it over two races at Silverstone on successive weekends.
He started the weekend looking strong but quickly rejected the 'soft' tyre that Verstappen used to set his fastest time, with the Briton saying: "Let's get off this tyre, it's terrible." His fastest time was set on the medium.
Other than that, the morning was smooth, although Mercedes have fitted a new MGU-K to his car - a part of the hybrid system - after seeing some anomalies on the data in Hungary.
All other Mercedes engines will have the same part fitted at the next race as a reliability upgrade and the team say it should not lead to grid penalties for Hamilton later in the season.
Team-mate Valtteri Bottas, meanwhile, was down in sixth place, a second off Verstappen and 0.6 seconds behind Hamilton, but used the 'hard' tyre for his best lap.
Albon has a new engineer for this weekend as Red Bull seek to help him get to grips with a difficult car, and it is a return for Simon Rennie, who previously worked with Daniel Ricciardo from 2014-18.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was fifth fastest, while the Renaults of Esteban Ocon and Daniel Ricciardo were seventh and eighth. The Frenchman trialled upgraded bargeboard and floor, while the Australian ran the standard parts to compare. Their times were just 0.017 seconds apart.
Leclerc's team-mate Sebastian Vettel missed most of the session after an intercooler problem was discovered on his car. He had to stop so Ferrari could repair it in time for this afternoon's second session.
McLaren's Lando Norris, fourth in the championship heading into the weekend, was only 13th, a place behind team-mate Carlos Sainz.
Norris is running a new helmet colour scheme, the result of a competition he ran for fans, from which he chose a design by a six-year-old girl called Eva.
The session was stopped for 12 minutes after a spin at Becketts by Alfa Romeo's Antonio Giovinazzi, who returned to the pits with all four tyres damaged and rubber flailing and damaging his car.
Swami
By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer at Silverstone
Last updated on 1 hour ago1 hour ago.From the section Formula 1
Second practice is live on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra from 15:00 BST
Red Bull's Max Verstappen was fastest in first practice at the British Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton.
Verstappen was 0.474 seconds clear of the world championship leader but used a softer tyre than Hamilton, whose team start the weekend as strong favourites.
Racing Point's Lance Stroll was third, ahead of Red Bull's Alexander Albon.
Nico Hulkenberg, a last-minute sub for Sergio Perez after the Mexican contracted coronavirus, was a creditable ninth on his return to F1.
The German, who was 0.588 seconds slower than Stroll, had his position confirmed only minutes before the session started because of the wait to confirm he did not have coronavirus.
- British Grand Prix first practice results
- Hulkenberg to stand in for Perez after positive Covid-19 test
Hulkenberg, who was out of F1 after being dropped by Renault last season, was preferred because of his long experience, both in F1 and with the team, having driven for them when they were known as Force India in 2012 and 2014-16.
The session took place under cloudless skies and in soaring temperatures of more than 30C.
In any other year, the circuit would have been teeming with tens of thousands of fans soaking up the sun and enjoying their experience of F1. But the usual festival atmosphere of the British Grand Prix is absent as a result of the lack of fans, who have had to be kept away as a result of the pandemic.
All the British drivers have spoken of how "weird" the event feels without fans, but none will find that more than Hamilton, who has made his home race his own with a record six victories.
View more on twitter
Hamilton took the championship lead for the first time this year with victory in the last race in Hungary, the third of the season, and is looking to extend it over two races at Silverstone on successive weekends.
He started the weekend looking strong but quickly rejected the 'soft' tyre that Verstappen used to set his fastest time, with the Briton saying: "Let's get off this tyre, it's terrible." His fastest time was set on the medium.
Other than that, the morning was smooth, although Mercedes have fitted a new MGU-K to his car - a part of the hybrid system - after seeing some anomalies on the data in Hungary.
All other Mercedes engines will have the same part fitted at the next race as a reliability upgrade and the team say it should not lead to grid penalties for Hamilton later in the season.
Team-mate Valtteri Bottas, meanwhile, was down in sixth place, a second off Verstappen and 0.6 seconds behind Hamilton, but used the 'hard' tyre for his best lap.
Albon has a new engineer for this weekend as Red Bull seek to help him get to grips with a difficult car, and it is a return for Simon Rennie, who previously worked with Daniel Ricciardo from 2014-18.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was fifth fastest, while the Renaults of Esteban Ocon and Daniel Ricciardo were seventh and eighth. The Frenchman trialled upgraded bargeboard and floor, while the Australian ran the standard parts to compare. Their times were just 0.017 seconds apart.
Leclerc's team-mate Sebastian Vettel missed most of the session after an intercooler problem was discovered on his car. He had to stop so Ferrari could repair it in time for this afternoon's second session.
McLaren's Lando Norris, fourth in the championship heading into the weekend, was only 13th, a place behind team-mate Carlos Sainz.
Norris is running a new helmet colour scheme, the result of a competition he ran for fans, from which he chose a design by a six-year-old girl called Eva.
The session was stopped for 12 minutes after a spin at Becketts by Alfa Romeo's Antonio Giovinazzi, who returned to the pits with all four tyres damaged and rubber flailing and damaging his car.
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British Grand Prix: Alex Albon crashes as Lance Stroll tops second practice
By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer at Silverstone
Last updated on 6 minutes ago6 minutes ago.From the section Formula 1
Third practice and qualifying is live on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and BBC Sport website from 11:00 BST
Alexander Albon suffered a heavy crash in his Red Bull as Lance Stroll's Racing Point set the pace in second practice at the British Grand Prix.
Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton were only third and fifth, struggling with the windy conditions and balance on the 'soft' tyres.
Albon was second fastest, 0.090 seconds behind Stroll, but crashed at Stowe.
Albon has a new race engineer as Red Bull try to help the inexperienced driver cope with a difficult car.
The Anglo-Thai's crash was the umpteenth time either he or team-mate Max Verstappen have lost the rear of their car mid-corner this season as the team battle with an aerodynamic instability problem with their new design.
Team-mate Max Verstappen was only 14th, after getting blocked by Haas driver Romain Grosjean on his sole flying lap on the soft tyre, but appeared to have similar pace to Bottas on the medium tyre on a long run.
Hamilton, split from his team-mate by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in fourth, looked very fast on the race-simulation runs later in the session, but the teams ran different programmes at different times so it was difficult to compare them as accurately as normal.
Stroll topped the leader board in second practice ahead of Albon's Red Bull and Bottas of Mercedes
Leclerc's team-mate Sebastian Vettel had a difficult day, missing nearly all the first session with an intercooler problem and then being delayed in the second session by a need to change his pedals after he complained of something loose in the cockpit. He ended up 18th.
Temperatures were extremely high at Silverstone on Friday, hitting 35C during the course of the afternoon.
But conditions are expected to be significantly cooler over the weekend, which means the times from Friday are especially unrepresentative.
But Stroll's time underlines Racing Point's emergence as a contender close to the front this year, in a car that has been dubbed the 'pink Mercedes' as the team admit to copying last year's world title-winning car.
Behind the top five, McLaren's Carlos Sainz was sixth, ahead of Nico Hulkenberg, who is subbing for Sergio Perez at Racing Point after the Mexican contracted coronavirus.
Perez says he is asymptomatic but is forced to self-isolate and may miss next weekend's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, again back at Silverstone.
Hulkenberg flew to Silverstone on Thursday night after Perez's test result and spent the evening learning about the car and having a seat fit.
He then was confirmed only minutes before the first session in the morning when his coronavirus test came back negative.
Toro Rosso's Pierre Gasly was eighth, ahead of Renault's Daniel Ricciardo, both running new parts on their cars.
Sainz's team-mate Lando Norris was 11th quickest, just over 0.3secs behind the Spaniard, while George Russell put the Williams 17th fastest.
Swami
By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer at Silverstone
Last updated on 6 minutes ago6 minutes ago.From the section Formula 1
Third practice and qualifying is live on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and BBC Sport website from 11:00 BST
Alexander Albon suffered a heavy crash in his Red Bull as Lance Stroll's Racing Point set the pace in second practice at the British Grand Prix.
Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton were only third and fifth, struggling with the windy conditions and balance on the 'soft' tyres.
Albon was second fastest, 0.090 seconds behind Stroll, but crashed at Stowe.
Albon has a new race engineer as Red Bull try to help the inexperienced driver cope with a difficult car.
The Anglo-Thai's crash was the umpteenth time either he or team-mate Max Verstappen have lost the rear of their car mid-corner this season as the team battle with an aerodynamic instability problem with their new design.
- British Grand Prix second practice results
- Hulkenberg to stand in for Perez after positive Covid-19 test
Team-mate Max Verstappen was only 14th, after getting blocked by Haas driver Romain Grosjean on his sole flying lap on the soft tyre, but appeared to have similar pace to Bottas on the medium tyre on a long run.
Hamilton, split from his team-mate by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in fourth, looked very fast on the race-simulation runs later in the session, but the teams ran different programmes at different times so it was difficult to compare them as accurately as normal.
Stroll topped the leader board in second practice ahead of Albon's Red Bull and Bottas of Mercedes
Leclerc's team-mate Sebastian Vettel had a difficult day, missing nearly all the first session with an intercooler problem and then being delayed in the second session by a need to change his pedals after he complained of something loose in the cockpit. He ended up 18th.
Temperatures were extremely high at Silverstone on Friday, hitting 35C during the course of the afternoon.
But conditions are expected to be significantly cooler over the weekend, which means the times from Friday are especially unrepresentative.
But Stroll's time underlines Racing Point's emergence as a contender close to the front this year, in a car that has been dubbed the 'pink Mercedes' as the team admit to copying last year's world title-winning car.
Behind the top five, McLaren's Carlos Sainz was sixth, ahead of Nico Hulkenberg, who is subbing for Sergio Perez at Racing Point after the Mexican contracted coronavirus.
Perez says he is asymptomatic but is forced to self-isolate and may miss next weekend's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, again back at Silverstone.
Hulkenberg flew to Silverstone on Thursday night after Perez's test result and spent the evening learning about the car and having a seat fit.
He then was confirmed only minutes before the first session in the morning when his coronavirus test came back negative.
Toro Rosso's Pierre Gasly was eighth, ahead of Renault's Daniel Ricciardo, both running new parts on their cars.
Sainz's team-mate Lando Norris was 11th quickest, just over 0.3secs behind the Spaniard, while George Russell put the Williams 17th fastest.
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Lewis Hamilton on pole position for British Grand Prix
By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer at Silverstone
Last updated on 7 minutes ago7 minutes ago.From the section Formula 1
Sunday's British Grand Prix is live on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sport website from 14:10 BST
Lewis Hamilton set the fastest ever lap around Silverstone to beat Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas to pole position at the British Grand Prix.
Hamilton, faster on both runs in the final session, was 0.313 seconds clear of Bottas while Red Bull's Max Verstappen pipped Charles Leclerc's improved Ferrari to third.
McLaren's Lando Norris starred with fifth place, ahead of the so-called 'pink Mercedes' Racing Point of Lance Stroll.
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel could manage only 10th after struggling all weekend.
Mercedes untouchable
The Mercedes cars were expected to fly around the high-speed Silverstone sweeps and so it proved, with Hamilton ending qualifying 1.022secs quicker than Verstappen.
The black cars have such an advantage - exacerbated by Red Bull and Ferrari falling back compared to last year - that at this stage it seems hard to see them being beaten at all this year.
Hamilton's pole was his fifth at Silverstone in six years and he is aiming to extend his record of home victories to seven on Sunday.
But it was far from plain sailing - Hamilton was beaten by Bottas in the first two sessions of qualifying and even had a spin early in the second, but he pulled the laps out of the bag when it mattered in the top 10 shoot-out.
Hamilton now has 91 career pole positions
Hamilton said: "There is a relatively big gap between us and third place but it doesn't matter. Valtteri is pushing me right to the limit. He has been pushing me all weekend.
"I made some changes before qualifying and it was worse. It was a real struggle out there.
"This track is difficult with the wind and it is like juggling balls while spinning plates at high speed.
"I had that spin but with some deep breaths I managed to compose myself. It never gets old."
Bottas said: "I was just waiting for Q3 but then I started to drift bit more with the rear end. I don't know what happened, Lewis found more than me."
Hamilton said he had missed the 100,000-plus fans who would normally flock to Silverstone for this weekend but said: "Hopefully back home they enjoyed it today."
Positive signs for Ferrari - but for how long?
Ferrari's Leclerc starts fourth on the grid for tomorrow's race but could face a potential penalty for an unsafe release
Verstappen said that there was no way of challenging the Mercedes, but Red Bull will be just as concerned that while Hamilton's time was 0.7secs quicker than Bottas' pole from last year, Verstappen himself was a fraction slower than he was in 2019.
"Very early in qualifying there were just way too fast," he said. "You try to accept that and do the best you can. To be P3 is a good start.
"We are little but closer in the race. I don't say I am going fight them but at least you have a fighting chance starting third."
His team-mate Alexander Albon was struggling after a crash on Friday and missing much of the final practice session with a battery problem and qualified only 12th.
Verstappen had to fight to beat Leclerc, in Ferrari's best qualifying performance of the year.
The Italian team have chosen a low-downforce set-up for this weekend, finding that it gives them strong one-lap pace, but they have been struggling on long runs and expect to be less competitive in the race.
Behind them, Norris excelled for McLaren, wearing a charming helmet design created by a six-year-old female fan for the weekend.
He took fifth on the grid, ahead of Stroll and just under 0.2secs quicker than team-mate Carlos Sainz.
The upgraded Renaults of Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon were eighth and ninth, with Vettel taking the final top 10 spot nearly a second adrift of team-mate Leclerc after losing significant amounts of track time through the weekend owing to a series of reliability problems.
Williams' George Russell was 15th, but is under investigation for failing to slow for yellow caution flags and will drop three places if he is found guilty.
Swami
By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer at Silverstone
Last updated on 7 minutes ago7 minutes ago.From the section Formula 1
Sunday's British Grand Prix is live on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sport website from 14:10 BST
Lewis Hamilton set the fastest ever lap around Silverstone to beat Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas to pole position at the British Grand Prix.
Hamilton, faster on both runs in the final session, was 0.313 seconds clear of Bottas while Red Bull's Max Verstappen pipped Charles Leclerc's improved Ferrari to third.
McLaren's Lando Norris starred with fifth place, ahead of the so-called 'pink Mercedes' Racing Point of Lance Stroll.
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel could manage only 10th after struggling all weekend.
Mercedes untouchable
The Mercedes cars were expected to fly around the high-speed Silverstone sweeps and so it proved, with Hamilton ending qualifying 1.022secs quicker than Verstappen.
The black cars have such an advantage - exacerbated by Red Bull and Ferrari falling back compared to last year - that at this stage it seems hard to see them being beaten at all this year.
Hamilton's pole was his fifth at Silverstone in six years and he is aiming to extend his record of home victories to seven on Sunday.
But it was far from plain sailing - Hamilton was beaten by Bottas in the first two sessions of qualifying and even had a spin early in the second, but he pulled the laps out of the bag when it mattered in the top 10 shoot-out.
Hamilton now has 91 career pole positions
Hamilton said: "There is a relatively big gap between us and third place but it doesn't matter. Valtteri is pushing me right to the limit. He has been pushing me all weekend.
"I made some changes before qualifying and it was worse. It was a real struggle out there.
"This track is difficult with the wind and it is like juggling balls while spinning plates at high speed.
"I had that spin but with some deep breaths I managed to compose myself. It never gets old."
Bottas said: "I was just waiting for Q3 but then I started to drift bit more with the rear end. I don't know what happened, Lewis found more than me."
Hamilton said he had missed the 100,000-plus fans who would normally flock to Silverstone for this weekend but said: "Hopefully back home they enjoyed it today."
Positive signs for Ferrari - but for how long?
Ferrari's Leclerc starts fourth on the grid for tomorrow's race but could face a potential penalty for an unsafe release
Verstappen said that there was no way of challenging the Mercedes, but Red Bull will be just as concerned that while Hamilton's time was 0.7secs quicker than Bottas' pole from last year, Verstappen himself was a fraction slower than he was in 2019.
"Very early in qualifying there were just way too fast," he said. "You try to accept that and do the best you can. To be P3 is a good start.
"We are little but closer in the race. I don't say I am going fight them but at least you have a fighting chance starting third."
His team-mate Alexander Albon was struggling after a crash on Friday and missing much of the final practice session with a battery problem and qualified only 12th.
Verstappen had to fight to beat Leclerc, in Ferrari's best qualifying performance of the year.
The Italian team have chosen a low-downforce set-up for this weekend, finding that it gives them strong one-lap pace, but they have been struggling on long runs and expect to be less competitive in the race.
Behind them, Norris excelled for McLaren, wearing a charming helmet design created by a six-year-old female fan for the weekend.
He took fifth on the grid, ahead of Stroll and just under 0.2secs quicker than team-mate Carlos Sainz.
The upgraded Renaults of Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon were eighth and ninth, with Vettel taking the final top 10 spot nearly a second adrift of team-mate Leclerc after losing significant amounts of track time through the weekend owing to a series of reliability problems.
Williams' George Russell was 15th, but is under investigation for failing to slow for yellow caution flags and will drop three places if he is found guilty.
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Lewis Hamilton wins British Grand Prix after puncture on last lap
By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer at Silverstone
Last updated on 1 hour ago1 hour ago.From the section Formula 1
Next Sunday's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone is live on 5 Live and the BBC Sport website
Lewis Hamilton took an extraordinary victory in a dramatic finish to the British Grand Prix despite suffering a puncture on the last lap.
The Mercedes driver's left-front tyre failed halfway around the last lap but he held on in front of Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
Verstappen would have won had he not stopped late for fresh tyres in a successful quest for the point for fastest lap.
Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas also punctured, two laps earlier, which dropped him out of the points.
The Finn finished 11th and dropped to 30 points behind Hamilton in the title race, a potentially devastating blow to his hopes so early in a season truncated by the coronavirus.
McLaren's Carlos Sainz was a third driver to suffer a left-front puncture, his like Hamilton's on the last lap, and he dropped from fourth place to 13th.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was promoted from fourth to the final podium spot by the late drama.
Late drama leads to seismic moment
The drama started with Bottas suffering a puncture to his Mercedes with two laps to go
It was a remarkable finish to a race that had been soporific until that point, and Hamilton recognised that afterwards, saying over the radio, his voice drenched in relief: "That was close."
The Mercedes drivers had been nursing their tyres after making an earlier than expected pit stop because of the second of two safety cars.
They stopped to change from medium to hard tyres on lap 13, very early to make it to the end of the race on one set of hard tyres.
They were clearly managing their pace from then on, but despite that dark rings appeared on their tyres as the race moved into the closing stages.
But there was no real sign of the drama to come until Bottas' left front tyre deflated shortly after starting lap 50, with two to go.
The Finn limped around almost an entire lap and was too far back to get into the points.
Hamilton looked then to be cruising to the flag, until he too suffered a puncture, this time heading down the back straight towards Brooklands. Then it was a question of whether he could get around the remainder of the lap - more than half of it - before Verstappen caught him.
Hamilton said: "Up until the last lap, everything was relatively smooth sailing.
"The tyres felt great. Valtteri was really pushing incredibly hard and I was doing some management of that tyre and he looked like he wasn't doing any.
Hamilton is now a seven-time British Grand Prix winner
"When (his) tyre went, everything seemed fine, so I was thinking maybe it was OK. And then just down the straight it deflated.
"I noticed the shape of the tyre shifting, and that was heart in the mouth and I didn't know if it had gone down until I braked.
"Then just driving it - sometimes it will come off and break the wing. I nearly didn't get round the last two corners. Maybe we should have stopped towards the end when we saw the delaminations (on the other cars)."
Hamilton said his engineer Peter Bonnington was counting down the gap to Verstappen over the radio as he neared the flag.
"The car seemed to turn OK through Maggotts and Becketts," Hamilton said, "and then it was a real struggle in the last two corners. I could hear the gap coming down from 19 to 10. I could hear out of the last corner him going: "Nine, eight, seven," and I was just like: 'Get back on the gas.'"
It was a dramatic finish to a race that could well have an equally substantial impact on the championship fight.
A frenetic midfield battle
Following Sainz's late puncture, Renault's Daniel Ricciardo came out on top in a close midfield battle, passing the other McLaren of Lando Norris late in the race, while the Australian's team-mate Esteban Ocon took sixth.
Alpha Tauri's Pierre Gasly drove a strong race to seventh, including a brave pass on Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel around the outside of Stowe and then taking the inside for the tight left-hander at Vale that follows.
And Red Bull's Alexander Albon recovered to eighth after being penalised - harshly in some eyes - for a collision with Haas driver Kevin Magnussen at Club on the first lap, an incident that brought out the first of two safety cars.
Future McLaren team-mates Ricciardo and Norris were wheel-to-wheel in the midfield fight
Albon seemed to legitimately go for an opportunity created by the Dane's error in clipping the kerb on the exit of Vale and was almost completely alongside the Haas, before backing out to try to avoid a collision when he realised Magnussen was coming across, the cars hitting front wheel to rear.
Albon was at the back when Red Bull pitted him for fresh tyres after the safety car period had ended. But he stuck with it, and a second stop for tyres later in the race dropped him to last but enabled him to attack in the closing laps.
The second safety car was triggered on lap 12 by a heavy crash for Gasly's team-mate Daniil Kvyat, who was making a switch change on his wheel when he clipped a kerb at flat-out Maggotts and smashed into the wall at high speed.
Williams' George Russell took 12th, ahead of Sainz, the Alfa Romeo of Antonio Giovinazzi, Russell's team-mate Nicholas Latifi and Haas driver Romain Grosjean - who is under investigation for dangerous defensive driving - and the second Alfa of a struggling Kimi Raikkonen.
Driver of the day
Hamilton was impressive in his consummate control, both of the race and his final lap but Leclerc was perhaps the stand-out performer, taking third in the uncompetitive Ferrari having qualified it fourth, while his team-mate Sebastian Vettel was a long way behind in an uncompetitive 10th, losing out in fights with midfielders
What happens next?
Another race in Britain, this time F1's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix next weekend. Can Hamilton make it two wins in a row at home - and four on the trot in the season?
What they said
Lewis Hamilton: "Up until that last lap everything was relatively smooth sailing. Valtteri was really pushing incredibly hard, I was doing some management of the tyre. When I heard his went I looked at mine and it seemed fine. I have definitely never experienced anything like that on the last lap and my heart definitely nearly stopped."
Max Verstappen: "It was lucky and unlucky. The Mercedes were too quick. The tyres didn't look great with 10 laps to go, they didn't look pretty. I told my engineer to drink and to stay hydrated! It was pretty lonely; I was just managing my pace and looking after the tyres."
Charles Leclerc: "It was a very tricky race. As soon as I heard Valtteri had a tyre problem I slowed down quite a lot. Looking at us we have done the best we could have done today. I am very happy with how I managed the tyres from beginning to the end and I am happy with the balance of the car."
Swami
By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer at Silverstone
Last updated on 1 hour ago1 hour ago.From the section Formula 1
Next Sunday's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone is live on 5 Live and the BBC Sport website
Lewis Hamilton took an extraordinary victory in a dramatic finish to the British Grand Prix despite suffering a puncture on the last lap.
The Mercedes driver's left-front tyre failed halfway around the last lap but he held on in front of Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
Verstappen would have won had he not stopped late for fresh tyres in a successful quest for the point for fastest lap.
Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas also punctured, two laps earlier, which dropped him out of the points.
The Finn finished 11th and dropped to 30 points behind Hamilton in the title race, a potentially devastating blow to his hopes so early in a season truncated by the coronavirus.
McLaren's Carlos Sainz was a third driver to suffer a left-front puncture, his like Hamilton's on the last lap, and he dropped from fourth place to 13th.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was promoted from fourth to the final podium spot by the late drama.
Late drama leads to seismic moment
The drama started with Bottas suffering a puncture to his Mercedes with two laps to go
It was a remarkable finish to a race that had been soporific until that point, and Hamilton recognised that afterwards, saying over the radio, his voice drenched in relief: "That was close."
The Mercedes drivers had been nursing their tyres after making an earlier than expected pit stop because of the second of two safety cars.
They stopped to change from medium to hard tyres on lap 13, very early to make it to the end of the race on one set of hard tyres.
They were clearly managing their pace from then on, but despite that dark rings appeared on their tyres as the race moved into the closing stages.
But there was no real sign of the drama to come until Bottas' left front tyre deflated shortly after starting lap 50, with two to go.
The Finn limped around almost an entire lap and was too far back to get into the points.
Hamilton looked then to be cruising to the flag, until he too suffered a puncture, this time heading down the back straight towards Brooklands. Then it was a question of whether he could get around the remainder of the lap - more than half of it - before Verstappen caught him.
Hamilton said: "Up until the last lap, everything was relatively smooth sailing.
"The tyres felt great. Valtteri was really pushing incredibly hard and I was doing some management of that tyre and he looked like he wasn't doing any.
Hamilton is now a seven-time British Grand Prix winner
"When (his) tyre went, everything seemed fine, so I was thinking maybe it was OK. And then just down the straight it deflated.
"I noticed the shape of the tyre shifting, and that was heart in the mouth and I didn't know if it had gone down until I braked.
"Then just driving it - sometimes it will come off and break the wing. I nearly didn't get round the last two corners. Maybe we should have stopped towards the end when we saw the delaminations (on the other cars)."
Hamilton said his engineer Peter Bonnington was counting down the gap to Verstappen over the radio as he neared the flag.
"The car seemed to turn OK through Maggotts and Becketts," Hamilton said, "and then it was a real struggle in the last two corners. I could hear the gap coming down from 19 to 10. I could hear out of the last corner him going: "Nine, eight, seven," and I was just like: 'Get back on the gas.'"
It was a dramatic finish to a race that could well have an equally substantial impact on the championship fight.
A frenetic midfield battle
Following Sainz's late puncture, Renault's Daniel Ricciardo came out on top in a close midfield battle, passing the other McLaren of Lando Norris late in the race, while the Australian's team-mate Esteban Ocon took sixth.
Alpha Tauri's Pierre Gasly drove a strong race to seventh, including a brave pass on Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel around the outside of Stowe and then taking the inside for the tight left-hander at Vale that follows.
And Red Bull's Alexander Albon recovered to eighth after being penalised - harshly in some eyes - for a collision with Haas driver Kevin Magnussen at Club on the first lap, an incident that brought out the first of two safety cars.
Future McLaren team-mates Ricciardo and Norris were wheel-to-wheel in the midfield fight
Albon seemed to legitimately go for an opportunity created by the Dane's error in clipping the kerb on the exit of Vale and was almost completely alongside the Haas, before backing out to try to avoid a collision when he realised Magnussen was coming across, the cars hitting front wheel to rear.
Albon was at the back when Red Bull pitted him for fresh tyres after the safety car period had ended. But he stuck with it, and a second stop for tyres later in the race dropped him to last but enabled him to attack in the closing laps.
The second safety car was triggered on lap 12 by a heavy crash for Gasly's team-mate Daniil Kvyat, who was making a switch change on his wheel when he clipped a kerb at flat-out Maggotts and smashed into the wall at high speed.
Williams' George Russell took 12th, ahead of Sainz, the Alfa Romeo of Antonio Giovinazzi, Russell's team-mate Nicholas Latifi and Haas driver Romain Grosjean - who is under investigation for dangerous defensive driving - and the second Alfa of a struggling Kimi Raikkonen.
Driver of the day
Hamilton was impressive in his consummate control, both of the race and his final lap but Leclerc was perhaps the stand-out performer, taking third in the uncompetitive Ferrari having qualified it fourth, while his team-mate Sebastian Vettel was a long way behind in an uncompetitive 10th, losing out in fights with midfielders
What happens next?
Another race in Britain, this time F1's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix next weekend. Can Hamilton make it two wins in a row at home - and four on the trot in the season?
What they said
Lewis Hamilton: "Up until that last lap everything was relatively smooth sailing. Valtteri was really pushing incredibly hard, I was doing some management of the tyre. When I heard his went I looked at mine and it seemed fine. I have definitely never experienced anything like that on the last lap and my heart definitely nearly stopped."
Max Verstappen: "It was lucky and unlucky. The Mercedes were too quick. The tyres didn't look great with 10 laps to go, they didn't look pretty. I told my engineer to drink and to stay hydrated! It was pretty lonely; I was just managing my pace and looking after the tyres."
Charles Leclerc: "It was a very tricky race. As soon as I heard Valtteri had a tyre problem I slowed down quite a lot. Looking at us we have done the best we could have done today. I am very happy with how I managed the tyres from beginning to the end and I am happy with the balance of the car."
Swami