The Mercedes driver is now just four points behind world championship leader and team-mate Nico Rosberg at the top of the standings after chalking up his fourth win in the last five races.
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Rosberg had finished second at Silverstone behind teammate Lewis Hamilton, and just 1.339s ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
The polesitter dominated from start to finish, with the initial laps behind a safety auto as heavy rain hit the famous circuit.
The decision subsequently has ramifications for the title battle, with Rosberg’s original four point lead whittled down to just a single point heading to the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I think I stopped one lap too late”.
Defending world champion Lewis Hamilton crowd-surfed his way into the record books after a fearless display ensured a hat-trick of consecutive victories at the British Grand Prix.
On the down-side? Some might say that his podium interview did not do much to quell the booing of Rosberg, which was really rather undignified.
“Great job this weekend guys, thank you for your continued efforts”, Hamilton replied.
Rosberg slowed on lap 47 after reporting “gearbox problems” and fell back three seconds to 11 adrift of Hamilton.
In the pit lane, there were two near collisions before the race resumed and settled with Hamilton pulling 3.6 seconds clear by lap seven.
Australian Daniel Ricciardo was fourth for Red Bull, 17.9 seconds behind his team mate, with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen fifth.
Dutch teenager Max Verstappen was so impressed by the home fans at Sunday’s British Grand Prix that he felt he should change his passport.
Vettel was first in for slick tires after 15 laps before Verstappen swept past Rosberg to take second. When the safety auto finally pitted at the end of lap five, Hamilton established a lead of almost four seconds in just one lap over Rosberg.
“Firstly I am glad that the good English weather came out. It was so tricky in those conditions, it was drying out quickly but I was first to attack it and try not to make a mistake”, Hamilton said.
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‘It’s never plain, smooth sailing – that’s why the British GP is the best’. While Rosberg was pursuing Hamilton, he received a message via the team radio informing him that he’d lost seventh gear.
