Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc agree on Lewis Hamilton theory after British Grand Prix

Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc finished behind race winner Lewis Hamilton at the British Grand Prix this afternoon and the pair agree that the six-time world champion cannot be stopped in the Championship hunt.

Mercedes dominated all weekend as Hamilton started the race, which was help behind closed doors, on pole position.

The 35-year-old comfortably led for the majority of the 52 laps with team-mate Valtteri Bottas in second.

However, catastrophe struck when Bottas’ front left tyre blew with one lap remaining to gift Verstappen second place.

The Red Bull driver’s luck grew further when Hamilton suffered a similar issue as he was approaching the final corner.

Verstappen had just taken an extra pitstop to try and secure the extra point for the quickest lap and was 30 seconds behind the Mercedes star.

But he quickly set about closing down the gap – falling just seconds short as Hamilton limped over the chequered flag.

The Brit admitted he was lucky to secure a third victory of the season which leaves him 30 points clear of Bottas at the top of the Drivers’ Championship.

Verstappen has achieved a podium finish in each of his three outings and sits third in the standings.

When asked if he could close the gap to Hamilton he shut down the question with a simple “no.”

Ferrari’s young hope Leclerc was very fortunate to earn a Silverstone podium place but he agreed with Verstappen when quizzed on the possibility of anyone else winning the title.

If Hamilton does finish top of the pile once again come the end of the year then he will tie Michael Schumacher’s record.

Hamilton sat in the post-race press conference alongside Verstappen and Leclerc and explained why he would prefer a closer battle.

“I’m a racer at heart. That’s what excites me,” he said.

“This is not the Championship fight that I would have hoped for.

“I would much prefer to be having a super-close battle with these two here because that’s what gets me going – it’s not a close battle with Max and Charles in qualifying.

“I really, really hope that in future, it is closer.”

Source: express.co.uk