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As Lando threaded his MCL39 through Silverstone’s iconic Maggotts, Becketts, and Chapel complex for the final time, snaking left, right, and left again, before launching down the Hangar Straight at 200 km/h, his focus shifted briefly to the Landostand directly in front of him at Stowe, as he allowed himself a moment to take stock.  

Typically, Stowe offers one of Silverstone’s prime overtaking opportunities, but by this point, Lando had no rivals to contend with, the win all but secured.  “Don’t do anything stupid”, he reminded himself, while contemplating how close he could get to the team on the pit wall, waiting to celebrate with him.  

“We were on slicks, and it was completely wet on the inside - I wanted to go as close to the pit wall in front of all the mechanics as possible, but it’s so easy to crash at that point,” he says, recalling his final lap.  

Following his historic home win at Silverstone, we sat down with Lando on his return to the McLaren factory to discuss that magical day. Speaking on the Boulevard at the McLaren Technology Centre, his trophy beside him, he revealed what was going through his head in the final laps, discussed his memories of our last win at Silverstone in 2008, and attempted to sum up what it meant to win in front of his home crowd, with his family in attendance.

The build-up and his belief  

For most of the year, the MCL39 has had an advantage over the rest of the field, but Saturday in Silverstone was one of the rare occasions when Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull’s machinery were on a par.  

Oscar and Lando had their work cut out, but both upped their game, securing second and third on the grid, respectively. Lando, having never previously been outqualified by a teammate at Silverstone, was narrowly beaten by Oscar. “Oscar keeps me on my toes”, he said with a smile on his return to the McLaren factory on Wednesday, speaking at an all-team debrief.  

But on Sunday morning, as he got ready and headed to his home circuit, Lando’s belief was steadfast: “Why can't today be my day?” 

“That genuinely was my thought in the morning,” he reiterates. “It is always hard to know what to think on a Sunday morning when you wake up. Starting third, I thought there was a possibility [to win]. Then, when the rain came down, even more of a possibility - but for it to go anyone's way, not just mine.  

“I think I said it in one of the interviews, but there are 20 drivers, and out of 20 of us, one of us has to win it… and I was in a McLaren, so I probably had a better chance than most.”  

Realising his dream  

Lando had gone close to victory here in both the previous seasons, standing on the podium at the 2023 and 2024 British Grands Prix, which gave him a taste of what the view might be like from the top step.   

On both occasions, McLaren were arguably underdogs - capable of fighting for podiums and not out of contention for victory, but not the favourites. This year was different. Having won all but two of the races so far, we were expected to win, which comes with a different type of pressure. Lando, having won this year’s Monaco Grand Prix, had already shown he could deliver in big moments.   

After narrowly missing out on Pole, he and Oscar were excellent in difficult wet conditions during the race. Both drivers got ahead of Verstappen in the opening stages, though the Red Bull driver later reclaimed second from Lando in the pits.  

Lando continued to run his own race and capitalised when Verstappen spun, and then when Oscar was penalised, assuming P1 ahead of his teammate. The pair went on to build up an unassailable lead from here.

“You have a lot of thoughts that quickly go through your head,” he says of the final lap.  

Among them was Lando’s first Formula 1 memory: watching Lewis Hamilton win in similarly wet conditions in the 2008 British Grand Prix, which was, until last Sunday, our most recent win at Silverstone.  

“Since that day in 2008, I have thought 'what is it like to stand on the top step at home in front of the British fans?” That thought fuelled his determination to reach Formula 1 and inspired him to never give up. “Dreams do come true,” he adds.  

“It genuinely is the first one I watched on TV, many, many years ago - one of the best races ever, and a lot of what I remember is the fans, the cheers and the noise – now I’ve gotten to live that. 

“[On the final lap] I was thinking of that, while at the same time, looking up at the grandstands all around the circuit, trying to take in the feeling.  

“Monaco was very special and cool, but I've always said the one I wanted to win more than any was Silverstone, because of the fans.   

“I wanted to really take in the atmosphere… the fans up on their feet, cheering and clapping, and now I can picture it perfectly. That is something that very few people, especially Brits at their home race, have ever gotten to feel, but I am one of them.”

Making history  

Only 13 British drivers have won their home race in F1’s 75-year history, an illustrious list featuring legendary names such as Stirling Moss, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Nigel Mansell, and now Lando. He is one of five Brits to have done so with McLaren, joining James Hunt, John Watson, David Coulthard and Lewis Hamilton.  

“That list is full of some pretty cool guys,” he says. “I want to win as many races as possible, but a number won’t define my memories. I will always be proud that I won at Silverstone, it is the one that puts the biggest smile on my face and probably will do forever. The one memory I’ll always have with me will probably be this weekend.”  

What made it even more special was the presence of Lando’s family and a larger number of the McLaren team than normal. While many travel to races regularly, other vital team members work Monday through Friday from the factory. Each year, the British Grand Prix offers them an opportunity to attend a race with their colleagues, families, and friends.  

“It is hard to say what it means – I think the emotion shows what it means better than words,” Lando says. “My mum and dad, my brother, my sisters, and my dad’s parents were all there. Having my whole family there and celebrating with them all was very special. I am sure my mum's parents would have been very proud. They'd have loved to have been there. I am sure they were looking down and enjoying the moment. They have all been on the journey with me.  

“My family have been by my side from the very, very beginning, so to have them all there, and to get the trophy and stand on the top step, I think it means as much to them as it does to me. 

“McLaren haven’t won this race since 2008, so to bring it back to them - and a lot of the team were there then also - was nice. It’s a good moment for the whole team.” 

After he’d finished celebrating with the team, wrapped up his media duties and packed away, Lando left the track and headed across to London, where he met up with friends to cap off the perfect day and “make more memories.”  

“I went back to London and had a very nice dinner with my friends - a big group of us to celebrate the moment,” he said. It was a unique moment in my life and a career memory. No matter what I achieve in the future, this is one that I will always remember.”