Hamilton becomes the real Rain Man

Lewis Hamilton followed in the footsteps of F1 legends Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher by dominating wet-weather racing.

The Stevenage-driver thrilled 90,000 rain-lashed fans at Silverstone, and millions more on television, by romping to a thrilling British Grand Prix victory.

Hamilton, 23, left his rivals trailing by over a minute, to join the likes of Sir Stirling Moss,  Jim Clark, Sir Jackie Stewart, James Hunt, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, Johnny Herbert and David Coulthard as a winner on home soil.

After failing to score in the last two races in Canada and France,  Hamilton produced what he described as "the best victory I've ever had".

Evoking memories of the way Senna was dominant in such conditions, Hamilton said: "He was spectacular in the wet.

"He once said if you can drive in the wet then you can do anything, and the top drivers do come to the fore.

"Growing up I knew I wanted to master the wet, so throughout my career I've worked very, very hard to be sitting where I am.

"But it also comes very naturally. I am very sensitive and I know when to push, when not to push, and this win was a result of that."

After passing team-mate Heikki Kovalainen on lap five to take the lead, it then became a matter of Hamilton versus the elements.

Crucially, on lap 21, with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen within a second of Hamilton, the two title contenders pitted together.

While Hamilton changed on to a new set of tyres, Raikkonen remained on his old rubber, and it proved critical as Ferrari's gamble backfired.

At that stage the circuit was wet, but it was not raining, with Ferrari chiefs believing the track would slowly dry and Raikkonen's wearing tyres would give him the advantage.

But within four laps the rain struck again, and with it Hamilton cruised home, finishing a remarkable 68.5 seconds clear of BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld.

Hamilton said: "They were such tricky conditions, and I had huge problems with my visor.

"I couldn't see a thing, and it was fogging up on the right side, so between turns one and two I had to lift the visor and clean it on the inside, drop it down, and then clean it again before Stowe.

"I had to do that every lap just to be able to see, especially when it started to rain. It was just so slippery, so tough, a real mental challenge.

"I just had to focus on making sure I didn't have any mishaps or mistakes, while the team did a great job, so a big 'thank you' to them."

The victory means Hamilton is now in a three-way tie at the top of the drivers' championship, with Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Raikkonen also on 48 points, although Hamilton has a slight edge on countback.

David Coulthard's final British race, after he confirmed on Thursday he is to retire at the end of the season, lasted only half a lap as he collided with Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel and both ended up in the gravel.

Race coverage: Head to the ITV F1 website for detailed race coverage, interviews and exclusive video content

Related video reports:

¹ Rhiannon Mills looks back at the good and bad news for the region from the weekend's Grand Prix (Monday 7th July 2008)
¹ Hertfordshire's Lewis Hamilton wins the Grand Prix despite the wet weather conditions. (Sunday 6th July 2008)
¹ Lewis Hamilton will start fourth in the Grand Prix after the qualifying race at Silverstone. (Saturday 5th July 2008)

¹ Stuart Jarrold reports on the announcement about the move to from Silverstone to Donington. (Friday 4th July 2008)
¹ Steve Ryder from ITV's F1 team gives his reaction to the news. (Friday 4th July 2008)
¹ Martin Stew reports on the effect it will have on the Northamptonshire economy. (Friday 4th July 2008)
¹ Rhiannon Mills and Stuart Jarrold look at the Silverstone build-up and the sporting weekend that lies ahead. (Friday 4th July 2008)
¹ Extended interview with Martin Brundle, giving his view on the decision to quit Silverstone. (Friday 4th July 2008)

¹ David Coulthard says he plans to quit Formula One at the end of the season. (Thursday 3rd July 2008)
¹ Rhiannon Mills looks back through the archives, as the British Grand Prix celebrates its 60th anniversary. (Thursday 3rd July 2008)
¹ Bernie Ecclestone hinted at plans to move the British Grand Prix elsewhere earlier this year. (Wednesday 6th February 2008)
¹ Plans to redevelop the Silverstone circuit are shown to the Sports Minister last year. (Thursday 8th November 2007)

Silverstone circuit: Click here to go to the Silverstone circuit website.

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