Mercedes demand answers after Lewis Hamilton’s dangerous British Grand Prix blow-out

Mercedes have demanded answers after Lewis Hamilton hobbled to his heroic British Grand Prix victory on three wheels.

The world champion nursed his stricken car home through most of the last lap after a puncture to his front-left tyre nearly robbed him of the win last Sunday.

Now Mercedes are awaiting the results of an investigation by tyres supplier Pirelli into the dangerous blow-out – one of three punctures in the closing moments of the Silverstone showpiece.  

Mercedes have demanded answers after Lewis Hamilton hobbled to his British Grand Prix win

The world champion had nursed his car home on three wheels after a front-left tyre puncture

Valtteri Bottas, in the other Mercedes, and McLaren’s Carlos Sainz suffered the same fate. 

An explanation is expected on Tuesday. There is special urgency given the circuit will host a second race, the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, this weekend.

At issue is whether the punctures were caused by debris, after Kimi Rakkonen’s front win broke off his Alfa Romeo, or whether the tyres simply wore during a long, 39-lap trip.

Mercedes await the results of a probe by tyres suppliers Pirelli into the dangerous blow-out

At issue is whether the punctures were caused by debris or whether the tyres simply wore 

While Bottas slipped from second to 11th, Hamilton kept his cool quite brilliantly to hold off the advancing Red Bull of Max Verstappen to claim his third successive win and extend his championship lead to 30 points.

Hamilton, now just four wins short of Michael Schumacher’s career record of 91 victories, is dominating the season. And even he knows it is too one-sided for fun.

‘I’m a racer at heart and this is not the championship fight I would have hoped for. I’d much, much prefer to be having a super-close battle with Max and Charles (Leclerc) because that is what I love.’