Hamilton crowned F1's king after British win

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Lewis Hamilton has been crowned Formula One's new king by an ecstatic British media after winning his home grand prix at Silverstone.

In the rain-soaked race Sunday, Hamilton lapped all but two of the field and finished more than a minute ahead of Nick Heidfeld's BMW Sauber.

Honda's Rubens Barrichello was third.

Hamilton's third victory of the season means that he is now level on 48 points with Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen -- he finished fourth -- in the drivers' championship.

Hamilton has also won in Australia and Monaco this season, but said of his Silverstone success that it was "by far the best victory I've ever had."

It was certainly an incredible turnaround from his trouble-plagued efforts in Montreal and Magny-Cours.

The British press were only too ready to agree, heaping praise on their countryman.

The Guardian said he won with "a drive of magisterial virtuosity" that had catapulted him into the realm of the sport's greats, before comparing him to the legendary Ayrton Senna.

The tabloid Sun newspaper was its typical robust self, dubbing the Briton "Hurricane Hamilton" and saying he was "the King of the Wet. And King of the Road."

The Times said Hamilton had produced "one of the greatest wet-weather drives in Formula One history."

McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh was equally effusive.

"I can't emphasize enough just how cool and collected Lewis stayed during the race.

"He was under immense pressure not only to get a result but also not to make a mistake -- in some of the trickiest conditions he has ever driven in."

Whitmarsh said Hamilton was so calm, it was as if he was on a "Sunday drive."

"Nothing seemed too difficult for him... we even recommended he ease his pace into the closing laps and he came back on the radio and told us he was already driving as slowly as he could."