By July 2024, Lewis Hamilton had learnt not to even remotely entertain the prospect of getting his hopes up. Two-and-a-half years, 31 months and 945 days speak to that: the time since his last victory in Formula One, back in December 2021 in Saudi Arabia.
But if the man himself wouldn’t prophesise with a smidge of optimism, then his supporters and the British media would. After qualifying second for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone – behind Mercedes teammate George Russell and ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris in an all-British top-three – a long-awaited win was on the horizon.
