(Motorsports news) Following a mid-race red light caused by Kevin Magnussen’s crash, Hamilton started from third place on the medium tire while Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen chose the hards. Despite failing to take advantage of the early tyre advantage to leapfrog Leclerc away from the line, Hamilton ultimately passed the Ferrari a few laps later as he set his sights on Verstappen ahead.

The world champion, on the other hand, had a clear and evident pace advantage and gradually moved away, while Hamilton knuckled to keep his tires alive. Although the trailing Ferrari team expected the mediums to go off to aid its drivers’ recovery, Hamilton kept them alive and even set the fastest lap on the final lap. In post-race television interviews with former teammate and 2009 world champion Jenson Button, Hamilton said it had not been easy.

“I wasn’t expecting it to last,” he remarked of his final spell on the mediums. “However, I did some really sweet finesse.” I tried to drive like you.” Hamilton’s second-place finish was a welcome relief after he was disqualified for a same result at the United States Grand Prix last weekend. And he was pleased with how Mercedes had knuckled down after the Austin disappointment to secure another excellent result.

“I feel good,” he remarked. “We weren’t having to push ourselves ridiculously hard out there.” But, considering we started sixth, this is a fantastic outcome. “I am quite proud of the squad. This has been a really trying couple of weeks, and to come back from a terrible time last weekend with the ultimate result is fantastic.” Verstappen admitted he was quite unconcerned on his path to victory, which gave him a record-breaking 16th win in an F1 season.

“I mean, to be honest, we are of course experiencing I think an incredible season,” Verstappen went on to say. “Of course, we had to start P3 today as well.” However, I believe the car’s speed was excellent. We tried a different technique than everyone else, but with a red flag, we couldn’t really show it off. “But nevertheless, on those hard tyres at the end, I think we were very, very strong.”

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