GPI 2016 British Grand Prix Edition | Page 103

2016 BRITISH GRAND PRIX EDITION L ewis Hamilton turned Silverstone into his own personal mosh pit, riding a wave of energy to the chequered flag before celebrating his fourth British Grand Prix victory with some impromptu crowdsurfing. “That wasn’t planned,” said the Mercedes driver as images of him falling back into the sea of people, smiling serenely with his body supported by raised arms, travelled around the world. “I could see the crowd there and I just wanted to connect with them in some way. I was hoping that I would crowd surf further in and then I would have to say ‘take me back’ but I got right to the edge and I stayed there for like a second and then they pushed me back.” The rapt response to the home hero’s third win in a row at Silverstone – the first hat-trick at the circuit by any driver – contrasted to the boos that greeted him on the podium in Austria a week before. Then, after he and German teammate Nico Rosberg collided on the last lap and Hamilton went on to win, the joy had been tempered. After a race that had started behind the safety car following an earlier downpour and ended under bright skies, it was an unbridled love-in between the triple world champion and his adoring army of fans. There were some boos, but aimed at Rosberg as he stepped on to the podium – something Hamilton did not condone but excused as another manifestation of just how passionate the supporters were. GPI