Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen toast their victories with champagne.
Fierce rivals in 2021, Max Verstappen was one of the first to congratulate Lewis Hamilton on his British Grand Prix before cracking a joke with the Mercedes driver in the cooldown room.
Hamilton came from second on the grid to win Sunday’s British Grand Prix, his first race win in 945 days.
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He last stood on the top step of the podium in 2021 during the second-to-last race, engaged in an intense battle for the championship with Verstappen. Both drivers were tied on points, leading them to the season finale in Abu Dhabi where only the winner would take it all.
In a controversial turn of events, Verstappen emerged victorious in the race by executing a last-lap maneuver, thereby dethroning Hamilton as the reigning Formula 1 World Champion and starting his own championship reign.
But despite 2021’s intense rivalry, the Dutchman was quickly over to Hamilton on their cooldown lap back to the pits to congratulate him for Sunday’s victory.
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Their relationship has become so amicable that they shared a lighthearted moment in the cooldown room. Verstappen was caught on camera teasing Hamilton, saying, “Long time no see!” before they both made their way to the podium.
Hamilton playfully responded to Verstappen’s impressive streak by jokingly calling him a “ball hogger!”
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After the reigning World Champion failed to narrow the gap in the final stint, Verstappen claimed second place and joined Hamilton on the podium.
After surpassing Lando Norris and securing second place, Verstappen, who was using hard tyres, seemed to have a faster pace than Hamilton, who was on softs. However, Hamilton managed to maintain his position and ultimately won the race with a 1.4-second lead.
Verstappen informed the Dutch media that he indeed executed a commendable race, as he made appropriate decisions; however, the opposing team simply displayed a slight advantage in terms of speed.
“It’s always a special moment for him when he triumphs in front of his hometown supporters.”
Regarding Hamilton, he experienced a surge of emotions upon not only breaking his losing streak but also clinching victory in his last British Grand Prix as a Mercedes driver.
He stated, “Since 2021, I wake up each day with the determination to fight, train, and dedicate my mind to the task at hand. I am fully committed to working as hard as possible alongside this incredible team.”
“This is my final race at the British Grand Prix with this team, and I had a strong desire to win it for them. I hold deep affection for them, and I highly value and recognize their dedicated efforts throughout the years.”
I am eternally appreciative of every member on this team, every individual at Mercedes, and all of our partners. I simply want to express my gratitude to each and every one of you for being present here with us today. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
“I want to express my gratitude to all our amazing fans. I could witness your support with every lap I completed, and there is simply no better sensation than crossing the finish line in the lead.”
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