Lewis Hamilton said Niki Lauda’s spirit guided him to the toughest win of his career in Monaco.

Hamilton pointed to Lauda’s name, which graced the back of his one-off red helmet, after he fended off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to claim a nail-biting victory – his third on Monte Carlo’s famous streets.

Lauda, Mercedes’ non-executive chairman, died on Monday, aged 70. Hamilton, whose team all wore red caps in tribute to Lauda, said he planned to phone the late Austrian’s wife, Birgit, on Sunday night. He also confirmed he will attend Lauda’s funeral in Vienna on Wednesday.

Hamilton was left to masterfully tiptoe his way to the end after a strategy error left the Briton on less durable tyres than his rivals.

He even survived a late collision with Verstappen when the young Dutchman launched a gung-ho move for victory with three laps to go.

Relieved and wearing his Mercedes race suit, as well as a red baseball cap emblazoned with the word ‘Niki’, Hamilton then celebrated his win by back-flopping into the swimming pool.

After towelling down, he reflected on an emotional win.

“I definitely felt like Niki was racing with me,” said Hamilton after the 77th win of his remarkable Formula One life.

“That was for you, Niki. Your fighting spirit was right there with me every step of the way. I know he was looking down and taking his hat off to us.

“It was the hardest race I have ever had, it was the biggest challenge I have had. It has been such a hard week, emotionally. I just wanted to do the job and deliver for Niki. When I was driving, I was like what would Niki do?

“As a driver, my goal is to be respected as Niki was. He was a hero to so many.

“I cannot wait to give my dad a call and see what he made of it. I am sure I will get a chance to speak to Birgit after the race, too – to let her know how much I appreciated her support. She kept us connected.”

The build-up to one of the sport’s biggest events had been played out against the backdrop of the death of one of its grandest characters.

Drivers, past and present, lined up at the front of the grid in the moments before Sunday’s race for a one-minute silence as they stood to remember the three-time world champion.

Pole-sitter Hamilton blasted away from his marks to keep Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas and the fast-starting Verstappen at bay.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc then crashed with Renault driver Nico Hulkenberg. Debris from Leclerc’s punctured tyre littered the track.

Out came the safety car, in went the leaders. But Mercedes curiously put the less durable medium tyre on Hamilton’s car. Verstappen had the harder rubber on, which saw Hamilton coming under increasing pressure in the latter stages – his tyres shot.

Verstappen sensed his moment on the run out of the tunnel and launched an assault down Hamilton’s inside, but he could not make the move stick, as his right-front hit Hamilton’s rear left. A flurry of sparks ensued, but both men somehow made it to the finish.

Verstappen was demoted to fourth following a five-second penalty for a pit-lane collision with Bottas. Sebastian Vettel finished second as Bottas completed the podium.

Hamilton spent much of the race taking aim at his team for their tyre blunder. At one stage, he said he needed a “miracle” to win.

“I don’t know how I did it today,” added Hamilton, who is now 17 points clear of Bottas in the standings.

“There were so many opportunities to make mistakes, so many opportunities to give up, and so many opportunities to make excuses.

“I was like, I am not letting go. I was holding on for dear life. I will have a glass of wine, or maybe a few, to celebrate tonight.”