Motor Racing: Hamilton is the raining champion!

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), July 7, 2008

LEWIS HAMILTON followed in the footsteps of his hero Ayrton Senna by becoming a wet-weather master.

Hamilton thrilled 90,000 rain-lashed fans at Silverstone by romping to a thrilling British Grand Prix victory.

The 23-year-old left his rivals trailing in the spray from his McLaren to join Sir Stirling Moss, Peter Collins, Jim Clark, Sir Jackie Stewart, James Hunt, John Watson, 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, and with increasing pressure on his shoulders, Hamilton produced what he described as "the best victory I have ever had".

Having triumphed in the monsoon which hit Japan last September, and then on Monaco's damp streets six weeks ago, this success has confirmed Hamilton as Formula One's ruler in the rain.

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 have worked very hard to be sitting where I am.

"It also comes naturally.

I am sensitive and I know when to push, when not to push, and this win was a result of that."

After passing teammate 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.

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 added: "I could not see a thing, and my visor 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."

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BEST OF BRITISH: Hamilton celebrates his Silverstone win