Lewis Hamilton clinched a record-breaking sixth British Grand Prix win at Silverstone on Sunday to extend his lead atop the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship standings.

After missing out on pole position by just 0.006s to Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas, an Antonio Giovinazzi spin and subsequent safety car helped Hamilton to his seventh win of the season.

He was joined on the podium by his Finnish teammate and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who once again offered up some thrilling driving as he held off the challenge of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in what has become the most exciting rivalry in F1 today.

After taking the chequered flag in front of a rapturous Silverstone crowd and opening up a 39 point gap atop the standings, Hamilton was filled with gratitude.

“I can’t tell you how incredible this feels guys. Everyone’s support and energy out there, that was crazy,” he said. “I can’t express how grateful I am to all the fans, and to my incredible team. We’ve worked really hard for this.

“The British Grand Prix means so much to me and to have a sixth win here at Silverstone, in front of all the home fans, this moment will stay with me for the rest of my life.

“Thanks for the positive energy everyone, we did this together.”

As has become the norm over the past few decades, a huge crowd was in attendance for what would turn out to be a true thriller of a race.

Pole-sitter Bottas looked calm from the start, managing to keep Hamilton at bay in the early laps.

But a spirited attack from the Brit paid off at Luffield as the five-time champion squeezed past Bottas, much to the delight of the Union Jack-waving crowd.

But their joy was short-lived as the Finn tucked into Hamilton’s slipstream to reclaim the lead at Copse.

Mercedes pitted Bottas first, who rejoined in third behind Hamilton and the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel.

But then Giovinazzi beached his Alfa Romeo at Vale, bringing out the safety car and the perfect time for Hamilton to pit without dropping down the pecking order.

From then on, Hamilton showed his experience to eke out a comfortable lead and chase down the chequered flag without drama.

Behind the Silver Arrows, the jubilant crowd were treated to some spectacular racing from the Ferraris and Red Bulls vying for third place.

Wheel-to-wheel action between the two mainstays of Formula 1 has become a regular occurrence this season, particularly between the rising stars of Leclerc and Verstappen.

This time out it was Leclerc who would claim a vital spot on the podium, but only after Vettel dramatically ran into the back of Verstappen.

Verstappen would recover from the incident to finish fifth, behind teammate Pierre Gasly, while Vettel was left to trail home in 16th.

Carlos Sainz claimed sixth place for McLaren, ahead of the Renault of Daniel Ricciardo and Alfa Romeo of Kimi Raikkonen.

Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat crossed in ninth and Nico Hulkenberg’s Renault snatched 10th from the Toro Rosso of Alexander Albon.

But it was Hamilton’s day, surpassing Jim Clark and Alain Prost’s five British GP wins, and even claiming the fastest lap on 30-lap-old tyres on the final lap.