We’ve just wrapped up a big British weekend of sport, but British success was limited to the racetrack, where Lewis Hamilton won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday.

Prince Harry was on hand to salute the winner with racing legend Jackie Stewart.

Hamilton came from sixth on the grid to win.

Up and coming young driver Max Chilton, 23, for Marussia, was nearly killed in a freak accident as the drivers jockeyed for position on the first lap. Just over a minute into the race, Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen dramatically left the track at the fastest section of the course, the Wellington Straight.

The car rejoined the track a few seconds later but broke up, strewing debris across the course.

“It seemed to bottom out as it rejoined,” said Chilton. “[Raikkonen] had a massive tank-slapper and it looked like he regained control and then it shot off again. I could see it was going to be a big one because the Armco [safety barrier] on the right-hand side was at 45 degrees and there was no tyre wall. I was waiting for something to happen and it was like an explosion, everything shot diagonally left across the track.

“I could see a big bit of silver coming and I’m pretty sure it was the alloy [wheel] because I shut my eyes at that point and there was a big impact. Thank god it hit the front nose and went to the lefthand side of the car, hit my front-left and destroyed the brake duct.”

Video replay of the crash shows Chilton weaving his way through an exploding tide of debris.

Chilton drove his damaged car back to the pits, but collected a drive-through penalty for coming in while the race was suspended and ultimately finished last.