Across 103 grand prix victories and seven world championships in close to 20 years on the Formula One grid, never had he felt the staggering rush of emotion that came at Silverstone upon crossing the line.

Hamilton had not won since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in December 2021. A 945-day drought, at long last, is over. Two-and-a-half years filled with hard lessons, big life choices, and (remarkably for the most successful driver in F1 history) some serious self-doubt.

It flooded out of him all at once.

“I can’t stop crying,” Hamilton said with a chuckle, sniffing to compose himself for the post-race interview as he stood draped in a British flag collected from a marshal on the cool-down lap. The crowd cheered his name.

The release of emotion meant so much to Hamilton. Nearing the twilight of his F1 career and into his final season with Mercedes ahead of his switch to Ferrari next year, he inevitably wondered if he’d scored his last race win. If he’d forever be stuck on 103 and seven world titles.

“There’s definitely been days between 2021 and here where I didn’t feel like I was good enough or whether I was going to get back to where I am today,” Hamilton admitted.