Lando Norris beats Lewis Hamilton in Battle of Britain at Silverstone and pair join winner Max Verstappen on podium

Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris staged an incredible sparring match at Silverstone which almost ended in disaster.

Norris, though, upstaged his childhood hero, to take second place behind race winner Max Verstappen.

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Hamilton tried the outside of NorrisCredit: Sky F1

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And then the inside at the same sectionCredit: Sky F1

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Neither worked and the two could hardly be separatedCredit: Sky F1

The pair of British superstars found themselves jostling for second place after a safety car restart, and Hamilton behind looked to have the advantage.

However, when the Mercedes driver made his move on the McLaren at Luffield and Woodcote, Norris held on and made an incredible defence.

Then, heading down the back straight to Copse, where Hamilton and Max Verstappen famously collided in 2021, Norris held his own, cutting the nose off of his fellow countryman who was forced to back out.

A lap later, Hamilton lined up the same move, and went side-to-side with Norris heading through Woodcote, lining up an attempt on the inside, but again it wasn’t enough.

Norris had then quashed the threat of the Mercedes, extending his lead in the following laps.

McLaren have been desperately short of form this season but a major upgrade at the British team’s home race worked wonders.

Indeed, Norris briefly led Sunday’s 52-lap race after he gazumped pole-sitter Verstappen following a supreme start in his McLaren to cheers from the British grandstands.

It marked the first time a McLaren car has led the British Grand Prix since Hamilton led for the Woking team in 2012.

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Norris made an electric start at Silverstone

However, Norris’ time at the top lasted only four-and-a-half laps after Verstappen, in his superior Red Bull machine, drew alongside the Briton on the Wellington Straight before making the move stick into Brooklands.

Piastri was running in third with Russell trying, but failing, to find a way past Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Hamilton started seventh but dropped to eighth at the end of the first lap before regaining the position when he nailed Fernando Alonso on lap seven.

A tedious race came alive on lap 33 when Kevin Magnussen spluttered to a halt in his Haas. Flames briefly engulfed the rear of his machine before turning to smoke.

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The safety car breathed new life into the Grand PrixCredit: Getty

With Magnussen’s Haas in a precarious position at the start of the Wellington Straight a full safety car was deployed and Hamilton, who had yet to pit, was the main beneficiary, turning a net seventh into third when the order shuffled out.

Verstappen and Hamilton bolted on the soft rubber, but Norris, despite pleading with his McLaren team to follow suit, was given the hard compound.

When the safety car peeled in at the end of lap 38, Norris’ mirrors were suddenly occupied with Hamilton’s black Mercedes.

Hamilton sensed his opportunity racing around the outside of Norris through Brooklands and then Luffield, only for the McLaren man to hold position.

A third chance arose for Hamilton on the run down Copse but Norris expertly defended the position, leaving Hamilton with nowhere to go.

Hamilton backed out and tried again on the following lap but Norris kept his elbows out and the elder Briton was unable to find a way past.

From there, Norris was able to keep Hamilton at arm’s length, crossing the line 2.9 sec clear of the Mercedes car.

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It’s yet another win for VerstappenCredit: Getty

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But the day belongs to Norris and McLarenCredit: Getty

“That McLaren is a rocket ship,” said Hamilton as he crossed the line.

Piastri finished fourth on a fine afternoon for McLaren, one place ahead of Russell, with Sergio Perez sixth after he started a lowly 15th.

Alonso took the flag in seventh with Alex Albon enhancing his reputation with a fine eighth for Williams.

Verstappen crossed the line 3.7 sec clear of Norris to maintain Red Bull’s unbeaten streak this season.