SILVERSTONE, England (AFP) - Three-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton streaked away to comfortably win his home British Grand Prix for the third consecutive time, and four overall on Sunday.

His Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg hung on for a provisional second.

Third was the Red Bull of Max Verstappen, but the championship leader - suffering late gear-box trouble - was under investigation over a radio communication that could spell further trouble for the German.

Rosberg still leads the drivers' title race with 171 points but Hamilton has cut the gap to only four points.

Hamilton, who started from pole in a race that began slowly behind the safety car because of heavy rain, has gradually eaten away at rival Rosberg's lead.

The Briton, the reigning world champion has now made it four wins in the last five races to pile the pressure on Rosberg.

The duo had a last-lap collision last weekend in Austria, before Hamilton claimed a controversial victory, further straining already frosty relations between the two.

Rosberg was booed on the podium at Silverstone.

"We have the best fans here, thank you so much," Hamilton told the adoring 100,000 crowd.