06/07/2008
NEWS STORY
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Other than the British Grand Prix, today sees the men's final at Wimbledon, and that can only mean one thing… rain, and lot's of it.
Yes, as predicted, the rain gods have been busy in Northamptonshire, and pretty much elsewhere in the UK. This morning's GP2 race was held in atrocious conditions, with Bruno Senna taking a dominant win which will surely lead to endless comparisons with his Uncle, while this afternoon we can expect much more of the same, with rain and strong winds battering the track and the hardy souls in the grandstands and public enclosures.
Consequently, the form book goes out of the window, and while we might well have expected to see Heikki Kovalainen or even Mark Webber take a maiden GP win, today's conditions could even see Jenson Button or Giancarlo Fisichella return to the top step of the podium.
With forty-five minutes to go before the start, the rain has stopped, but the ominous clouds that surround the circuit indicate that this is merely a temporary lull.
There is talk that Kovalainen is running heavier than his McLaren teammate, which puts yesterday's performance into perspective, while Webber is thought to have been running on fumes. However, as we've said before, once the heavens open up - and they will - all the previous planning and strategy means little, especially if one or two drivers get a little over-enthusiastic at Copse and end up bringing out the safety car.
Alonso is one of the first drivers to come out for an installation lap, the Renault throwing up the familiar rooster tail. Full wets would appear to be the order of the day, however, many appear to have opted for inters, since the rain has now stopped.
As he makes his way to the grid, the front of Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari twitches, the Finn we be eager, once the race gets underway, to make a move on Webber and Kovalainen, whilst keeping a watching eye on Hamilton and the rest of the guys behind him.
Nico Rosberg, who had a dreadful qualifying session, complaining that his car was "dancing" in every corner, is starting from the pitlane, his team having worked on his suspension overnight.
The air temperature is 16 degrees C, while the track temperature is 17 degrees, almost chilly. The wind speed is 6.9 mps.
Looking down the grid, as the field prepares to head off for the warm up lap, everyone appears to be on standard wets. They head off, Kovalainen leading the way, everyone taking it very cautiously. After all, who will forget Alain Prost's off at Imola all those years ago? Even the best can get caught out.
They're away, and it's a poor tart from Webber, but a superb start from Hamilton, who almost takes the lead through Copse, but Kovalainen is having none of it. The Finn appearing to touch his English teammate's car as they battle for the lead. As the field heads off into the distance, Webber spins, a disaster for the Australian who drops to last. Further on around the lap, Massa spins as does Nakajima, while Coulthard and Vettel go off into the gravel. It's mayhem for some but not for others.
At the end of the first lap, Hamilton prepares to make a move on Kovalainen, but then falls back. There's still a long, long way to go.
Kovalainen, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Heidfeld, Alonso, Piquet, Trulli, Kubica, Glock and Barrichello. We've lost Vettel and Coulthard.
Another spin for Massa, who is having a dreadful day.
On lap 4, Alonso posts a new fastest lap, the Spaniard 4.3s behind Raikkonen. Moments later, Hamilton passes Kovalainen evoking memories of Mansell and Piquet all those years ago. The crowd erupts. The replay shows that the Finn made no attempt to block his teammate.
Behind the leaders, Raikkonen keeps a watching eye, though team orders are not allowed, we are pretty certain that Heikki is running more fuel, hence the team will be happy to see the English driver move ahead.
On lap 6, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (34.445), stretching his lead to 2.4s. Further back, Webber is up to fifteenth, while Massa is still running last (eighteenth).
Another lap, another fastest lap for Hamilton, who extends his lead to 3.2s. Lap times are falling, clear proof that conditions are improving, albeit slightly. Best scrap is that for twelfth, which sees Sutil attempting to stave off Bourdais and Webber. Massa remains last, 5.9s down on Rosberg.
In one fell swoop, Webber passes Bourdais and then Sutil, the Australian out to make amends for his first lap error.
A spin at Abbey sees Kovalainen lose second to Raikkonen, and allow Alonso to close in. Elsewhere, Webber (twelfth) posts a new fastest lap (33.810).
On lap twelve, there's talk of further rain within the next five minutes. At which point Sutil spins off into the gravel, his race over.
Webber passes Barrichello and sets off after Button, the Red Bull driver clearly a man on a mission.
Out front Hamilton leads Raikkonen by 5s, with Kovalainen a further 5.4s down the road. Massa has closed right up on Rosberg, but remains last, over a minute behind the leader.
Raikkonen posts fastest lap (33.526) as he closes to within 3.8s of Hamilton. However,, next time around, the Englishman posts 33.268, pulling out a 4.1s gap to the Ferrari. Elsewhere, Webber passes Button and sets off after Glock, who is 3.5s up the road, and Massa finally passes Rosberg.
On lap 17, it's Raikkonen who goes quickest (32.259), the Finn now 10.1s clear of Kovalainen, who has a 5.4s advantage over Alonso.
As Raikkonen posts another fastest lap (32.150), Webber goes quickest in the first sector. The Australian dives into the pits, the Red Bull driver confirming that he was running light in qualifying.
At the end of lap 19, Kovalainen is the first of the front-runners to pit, the Finn re-joining the race in sixth just ahead of Kubica.
Next time around, Alonso pits, the Spaniard opting to continue with the same set of inters. He rejoins in front of Glock in eighth.
At the end of lap 20, Hamilton and Raikkonen both pit. While the Finn keeps the same tyres, the McLaren driver changes his boots. The McLaren driver is first out, closely followed by his Ferrari rival.
In the stands, the umbrellas go up and the raincoats hurriedly pulled back on, as Massa pits. Heidfeld and Piquet also stop.
Consequently, Hamilton is leading again, with Raikkonen 4.6s behind. Kovalainen is third, ahead of Trulli (who has to pit), Heidfeld, Alonso and Glock, who also has to stop.
The rain is falling hard, a proven by Nakajima who spins. While Heidfeld makes short work of Glock and Alonso in a stunning bit of driving.
Alonso, who chose to retain the same tyres, is struggling, but what of Raikkonen, who also stuck with the same boots? The Finn is losing over 4s a lap to the McLaren driver. Glock passes Alonso for sixth, clear proof of how much the Spaniard is hurting.
On lap 25, Glock, Button and Nakajima all pit, as Alonso is passed by his Renault teammate. Poor strategy from Renault and also Ferrari, who both took a gamble that hasn't paid off.
As Kovalainen prepares to pass Raikkonen, who is 5s lap slower, Alonso and Trulli pit. The McLaren is all over the Ferrari, as Heidfeld sweeps past the pair of them to take second. Unreal! Elsewhere, it's all over for Fisichella who spins off.
On lap 28, Hamilton has a poor lap, posting 1:39, while Heidfeld posts 1:35. However, the Englishman still enjoys a 24s advantage over Heidfeld, who is 8.5s clear of Kovalainen. Elsewhere, Webber makes his second stop, the Australian having dropped to twelfth.
On lap 30, Raikkonen loses 8s to Hamilton and Heidfeld, the Finn finally opting to dive into the pits before things get any worse. The Finn rejoins in eleventh as Massa also pits. All in all, a woeful performance from Ferrari.
After 32 laps, it's Hamilton 24.5s clear of Heidfeld, who is 22s ahead of Kovalainen. Kubica is up to fourth, ahead of Piquet, Barrichello, Glock, Trulli, Alonso and Button.
Kubica closes in on Kovalainen, the Pole lapping 3s a lap quicker than the Finn. At Stowe the BMW driver makes his move, and there's nothing the McLaren driver can do about it.
The rain continues to fall, in fact, it appears to be falling even harder now.
At the end of lap 35, Kovalainen makes his second stop, promoting Barrichello to fifth. Elsewhere, Glock spins as conditions worsen. Barrichello and Button also stop. A problem with the Brazilian means that his teammate loses precious time as the cars are queued.
As the Williams pit - both of them - Piquet spins off, the Brazilian a mere passenger in the Renault.
Hamilton and Kubica both head off on to the grass, as Massa has his third spin of the afternoon. It's getting silly as Raikkonen also spins.
At the end of lap 38, Hamilton pits for inters, his father looking concerned. Heidfeld also pits, the German also sticking with inters, as does his teammate. Elsewhere, another spin for Raikkonen. A spin for Webber also.
Phew! So, with 39 laps completed, and the sun beginning to break through (seriously), Hamilton leads Heidfeld by 36s, with Trulli third, ahead of Alonso, Barrichello, Kovalainen, Kubica, Raikkonen, Glock and Rosberg.
While the front runners are on inters, Barrichello, on full wets, is considerably quicker. However, that will change as conditions improve.
It's all over for Kubica as the Pole spins off. Button's race is over also, as Rosberg heads back to the pits for a new nose following an off.
A 360 for Glock, as Barrichello closes in on Heidfeld, the Brazilian now just 7s behind the German. However, it is revealed that the problem during the Honda driver's pit stop meant he didn't take on enough fuel, dreadful luck for the veteran driver.
After 43 laps, Hamilton leads Heidfeld by 46s. However, the German is unable to keep Barrichello at bay, the Honda sweeping past the BMW driver…. though to little avail it would seem.
Raikkonen closes in on Kovalainen, the Ferrari running 2s a lap faster than the McLaren.
The Hondas crew is in the pitlane for Barrichello, who could still manage a podium finish here. As the Brazilian dives into the pits, Heidfeld re-takes second position. The Honda driver, who fits standard wets, rejoins in third. Elsewhere, Bourdais spins but is able to continue.
As Trulli pits, Massa spins at the beginning of the pit straight, as the Brazilian's miserable afternoon continues. Moments later, Webber also spins.
With 11 laps remaining, Hamilton has over a minute on Heidfeld, with Barrichello third, ahead of Kovalainen, Alonso, Raikkonen, Nakajima, Trulli, Rosberg and Webber.
A spin from Kovalainen, not only allows Alonso and Raikkonen through, it also allows Hamilton to close right up, which will surely lead to the Englishman lapping his teammate before much longer.
With damage limitation in mind, Raikkonen closes in on Alonso. Although a podium finish would appear to be out of the question, the Finn wants every point he can get, and fourth is better than fifth. To compound Ferrari's miserable Silverstone weekend, Hamilton laps Raikkonen.
Eventually, Raikkonen makes his move on Alonso, and there is nothing the Renault driver can do about it, Nonetheless, a vintage performance from the Spaniard.
Kovalainen and Alonso are having a great scrap, the Renault driver refusing to capitulate to the man who took his seat. Meanwhile, Nakajima and Trulli close in.
As Nakajima stalks Alonso and Kovalainen, he is warned not to allow Trulli to take advantage.
Finally, Kovalainen gets past the Renault, the Finn making his move at Luffield. Nakajima also closes in on the struggling Spaniard.
Hamilton begins his final lap, cue sunshine, air horns and flag waving.
The Englishman punches the air as he crosses the line, an emphatic win for the McLaren driver, a victory that gives him the joint lead in the World Championship at half-distance.
A canny drive from Nick Heidfeld sees the German take second, on a weekend in which he finally appeared to come to terms not only with his teammate but qualifying. Hopefully, this will serve as a confidence boost for the former F3000 champion as he seeks to retain his seat for 2009.
Surely even Rubens wouldn't have predicted a podium result, but then again, in these conditions, maybe he might have. A great drive, not to say, great strategy, sees the Brazilian veteran take a surprise result.
While Kimi Raikkonen takes fourth, and the joint lead in the World Championship, this has been an appalling day for Ferrari, particularly in terms of strategy. While Massa clearly has problem which saw him spin every time he put his foot down, who on earth allowed Kimi to stay out on his intermediates for so long?
Heikki will be wondering where it all went wrong, however, even had he not been passed by Hamilton early in the race, this was not going to be his day. Yesterday proved that he has what it takes to take pole position, now he needs to work on the remainder of the package. We remain convinced that that first win cannot be that far away.
Poor old Alonso did the best he could, and it really was a typically gutsy performance from the two -time champion.
Another points finish from Trulli as Toyota continues to impress while Nakajima once again out-performs his Williams teammate.
However, the day and the plaudits belong to Hamilton, who drove a flawless race, just when he needed to. Following disappointing performances in Canada and France, the Englishman has delivered in remarkable style, silencing his critics… until the next time.
As we head into the second half of the season, what could be better than a three-way title fight, with Kovalainen and the BMW all determined to make it a six-way scrap.