Lewis Hamilton let his emotions pour out after clinching his long-awaited victory at the British Grand Prix.

The seven-time world champion had endured a difficult few years, last winning the 2021 Saudi Grand Prix as part of his dramatic title battle with Max Verstappen. Hamilton’s triumph at Silverstone meant he stood on top of the podium for the first time in 31 months and claimed a record ninth victory at the home of British motor racing.

It was perfect timing for the 39-year-old, who will be leaving Mercedes at the end of the season, as he got to celebrate with his friends and family. The sense of occasion saw the usually composed Hamilton burst into tears as he celebrated overcoming his near three-year challenge.

After the race, Hamilton spoke openly about his emotions: “I don’t think I ever have [cried after a race]. I often think about the weight of a tear and what it carries.

“With 2021 and the past few years, how challenging it’s been, I think there’s happiness and there’s sorrow within those tears. Ultimately, just gratitude. I’m really, really, really grateful and also proud of myself and proud of the team.

“I think there have been so many moments where I didn’t think that I was good enough or I was able to do what I did today ever again. That’s a really, really tough thing to accept. Today’s shown that I don’t need to accept that. “

It proved to be a record-breaking day for Hamilton, who claimed the most wins at a single track and became the oldest driver to win a race this century, among other feats. He also is the first driver to win after his 300th race, with the British Grand Prix being his 344th.

Lewis Hamilton (C) celebrated finishing top of the podium for the first time since 2021 ( 
Image:
MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Despite such a lengthy and storied career, Hamilton is still setting records but also facing fresh challenges. He admitted that his win drought had impacted his mental health at points and that it was not a quick fix to adjust his mindset.

“Honestly, when I came back in 2022, I thought that I was over it,” Hamilton said. “And I know I wasn’t, and it’s taken a long time to heal that kind of feeling. That’s only natural for anyone that has that experience. I’ve just been continuing to try and work on myself and find that inner peace day by day.”