31/07/2011
NEWS STORY
We can't quite remember when the forecasters got it so wrong however, what should have been a day of high temperatures and bright sunshine is instead more like an Autumnal day in London.
What started off as drizzle has intensified into a downpour while the temperature is unseasonably cool.
Consequently, everything we have learned in the previous four sessions goes out the window, with Pirelli boss Paul Hembery admitting that this afternoon will be a massive challenge for all involved.
"It's a big challenge for the teams, more so because this track is quite difficult with setup," he told Pitpass. "Over the last couple of days the teams have been doing a lot of work on trying to find the right balance for the car, they've been suffering with the movement from understeer to oversteer. Maybe too much oversteer in some cases. To throw in maybe a damp equation…"
The GP2 race started in damp conditions however, within 15 laps a dry line was becoming evident. "If it started like the GP2 race they'd be on the intermediates," Hembery continued. "Looking at the way it's drying they would then be jumping on to the slicks rather than using the full rain tyres."
Crossover from the intermediate tyres to slicks is expected to be around 115% of a 'normal' lap time, though some teams could gamble and switch earlier. "Supersofts will work pretty well in lightly damp conditions," said Hembery explained.
However, when teams make the decision to switch from intermediates to wets, if indeed it is still damp come race time, will be a step into the unknown. There's been no wet running throughout the weekend, and while the teams now have some experience in the rain with Pirelli rubber, they've not yet experienced it with the supersoft compound.
"We haven't got the experience of that crossover with the supersofts, we've not had the rain and the supersofts before, we've just had rain with soft tyres," said Hembery. "That will be, I'm not going to say a jump in the dark for teams, but that will be an area where they haven't got experience and they'll have to base it on good judgement.
"The track seems to be draining pretty quickly, and if we do get a bit more rain later on in the day like we've had this morning I'm confident we'll have a similar situation where they'll start on intermediates, the track will dry quickly, and they'll jump straight on to the supersofts."
Should the conditions remain as is, it's bad news for Ferrari, but good news for McLaren, with Jenson Button eyeing the possibility of celebrating his 200th Grand Prix in the best way possible… with a win.
In the hour leading up to the start the weather is constantly changing, it's raining, it stops, it's drizzling, it stops. It's certainly very cloudy with little chance of sunshine. It's particularly wet in S2 where the concrete run offs have a worrying sheen. Turn 1 is more greasy than damp.
The one driver who could make a brave gamble today is Sebastien Buemi who starts from twenty-third. The Swiss could opt to start on slicks and, should conditions improve, gain a significant advantage on his rivals.
Five minutes before the pitlane opens, with it still drizzling, Mike Gascoyne confirms that both Lotus' will go to the grid on inters.
As a number of teams follow the Lotus' example, drivers complete a couple of installation laps - courtesy of a trip through the pitlane - in order to evaluate the track conditions.
Renault reports that it's "quite damp out there", Ferrari claims that the race will start under "light rain". On track, as if to prove the point, Massa is sliding all over the place at Turn 4. It's also very windy.
Whatever the conditions at the start, pole-man Vettel will be keen to get ahead of the pack and leave his rivals to sort themselves out, especially in that greasy first turn. Then again, Hamilton, Button, Massa, Alonso and Webber will have similar thoughts.
Speaking minutes before the pitlane closes, Paul di Resta insists that it's not wet enough for wet tyres, that they would destroy themselves, and that inters are the way.
Worryingly, moments before the start of the race the live timing appears to be malfunctioning.
The field heads off on the warm-up lap, everyone seemingly on inters. Some parts of the track clearly wetter than others.
They're away, Vettel makes a great start but Hamilton is slow away, everyone very cautious. That said, Button makes a move on his teammate at Turn 2 but Hamilton is having none of it. Great starts from both Mercedes, Schumacher battling with Alonso.
They're all really struggling for grip, tippy-toes around the track.
At the end lap 1, it's Vettel, Hamilton, Button, Rosberg, Alonso, Schumacher, Massa and Webber.
From out of nowhere Hamilton closes in on Hamilton and almost catches the German off guard. Massa, in seventh, is the fastest man on track as he tries to keep pace with Schumacher.
Vettel and Hamilton continue to battle while Alonso runs wide and allows Rosberg through.
After 4 laps it's Vettel, Hamilton, Button, Rosberg, Alonso, Massa, Webber and Schumacher.
Vettel runs wide into Turn 2 and Hamilton doesn't wait for an invitation. As he closes in on Vettel, Button is told he can use the "yellow button".
In eleventh, Petrov heads a train of cars which includes Buemi, Barrichello and Alguersuari.
Finally, after 6 laps we have the timing screens working.
Hamilton now leads by 3.2s with Vettel under intense pressure from Button. Rosberg remains fourth, ahead of the two Ferraris with Webber seventh, ahead of Schumacher, di Resta and Kobayashi.
Massa makes a mistake Alonso is through, the Spaniard immediately closing in on Rosberg. Moments later the Brazilian runs wide and goes off on to the grass, he's lightly clouts the barriers but is able to continue.
Alonso makes superb use of his DRS to leave Rosberg for dead, the German unable to do anything to defend his position. The Ferrari driver runs a little wide in Turn 1 but still goes quickest in S1.
On lap 8, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (40.554) as he extends his lead to 5.4s. However, next time around Alonso posts 40.334. The Ferrari crew gather in the pitlane for Massa but then return to the garage. The Brazilian's rear wing is damaged following his clash with the barriers.
In twelfth, Buemi has a whole load of cars running in his wake, Barrichello, Alguersuari and Maldonado.
Webber and Massa are the first drivers to pit, joined by Petrov and Barrichello. Webber and Massa both take on the option (supersoft) tyre.
Out front, Hamilton posts a 39.754 as teammate Button pits, di Resta also. Alonso eclipses Hamilton's time with a 39.518.
As he tries to get his tyres up to temperature Button is all over the place, slippin' and a slidin'.
At the end of lap 12 Hamilton pits, as do Vettel, Alonso and Rosberg. Consequently, Schumacher leads, with Hamilton rejoining in second, ahead of Vettel, Button, Alonso and Webber.
Hamilton is all over Schumacher, needlessly so really, the Mercedes driver finally diving into the pits. Meanwhile, after the briefest of battles Button disposes of Vettel as Webber makes similarly short work of Alonso. Some very brave driving going on out there.
After 14 laps, as Vettel is told not to overlap his brakes and throttle, Hamilton leads Button by 5.2s with Vettel third, ahead of Webber, Alonso, Rosberg, di Resta, Schumacher, Massa and Kobayashi. Everyone has made a stop.
Maldonado is under investigation for speeding in the pitlane while Kovalainen could be in bother for an unsafe release.
Behind the leading ten, it's: Barrichello, Petrov, Maldonado, Buemi, Alguersuari, Kovalainen, Heidfeld, Sutil, Perez, Glock, Trulli, d'Ambrosio, Ricciardo and Liuzzi. No retirements.
As Hamilton extends his lead to 6.9s, Vettel is keeping Button on his toes. The German enjoying a 7.8s cushion over his Red Bull teammate who is under pressure from Alonso.
Maldonado serves his drive-through, having been found guilty, while we await news of Kovalainen.
Mike Gascoyne tweets that rain is expected within the next fifteen minutes but that it will be light.
As Massa closes in on Schumacher, he is told to use his DRS, in addition to the fact that he is "massively faster" than the German.
As the stewards announce that they will take no further action re Kovalainen, teammate Trulli pulls off to the side of the track, the first retirement of the day.
As the field settles down, what we really need is another quick shower.
Just a second ahead of Alonso, Webber posts a new fastest lap as he attempts to close the 6.7s gap to his Red Bull teammate. The German responds by going quickest in S1. Elsewhere, Massa is unable to get close to Schumacher.
Replay shows Maldonado making a great pass on Kovalainen on the pit straight then immediately over-cooking it at Turn 1 and allowing the Lotus driver to re-take the position (15th).
Hamilton, upon telling his crew that his right-rear is overheating, is told to keep to the wet patches. The McLaren driver is now lapping around a second a lap slower than Button who posts a new fastest lap (27.057).
Heidfeld pulls off to the side of the track at the end of the pitlane his Renault on fire. The German leaps from the car to safety. Sensing a possible safety car, Barrichello, Alguersuari, Kovalainen and Perez all pit, as do Webber and Alonso.
Replay shows the Renault was on fire as it left the pits after its stop. There is a small explosion as a marshal sprays the car with extinguisher fluid. Scary. Yellow flags are waved furiously as a result of the debris.
Hamilton pits (at the end of lap 26) rejoining in third, as does Schumacher, while it looks as though the safety car will not make an appearance.
Next time around, Button, Alonso, Rosberg and di Resta all pit, handing the lead, albeit temporarily, to Vettel. Elsewhere, fellow German Schumacher has parked his car after spinning and what appeared to be a clash with Massa, the third retirement of the day.
Vettel pits at the end of lap 28, rejoining in third, behind Hamilton and Button. Massa makes a great move on Rosberg to take seventh, The German appearing to be struggling.
As Alonso pursues Webber, it is announced that Perez is under investigation for overtaking under the yellow flags.
On lap 31, from out of nowhere, Vettel produces a new fastest lap (25.741) as he closes to within 5.8s of Button. Perez is handed a drive-through.
Webber has to draw on all his experience to keep Alonso at bay, as Massa passes Kobayashi to take sixth. The Sauber driver has only stopped once.
At half-distance, it's: Hamilton, Button, Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Massa, Rosberg, di Resta, Barrichello and Alguersuari. Kobayashi has just pitted.
Barrichello is under pressure from the Toro Rosso duo, as, at the end of lap 36, Alonso makes his third stop, taking on another set of options. He rejoins still in fifth.
"We need to get this set (of tyres) to go another nine laps or so," Hamilton is told. Meanwhile, Alonso is already almost 2s a sector quicker than Webber.
No sooner has Alguersuari passed Barrichello than the Brazilian pits. Alonso posts a new fastest lap (24.718) almost 3s quicker than the cars ahead of him.
Webber pits at the end of lap 39 Webber pits, the Australian, surprisingly taking on a set of prime (soft) tyres. He rejoins in fifth, 8s behind Alonso.
Hamilton pits at the end of lap 40, unable to make his tyres go the desired distance, he takes on a set of used options. He rejoins in third, 9s down on the new race leader, his McLaren teammate.
On board camera shows Vettel really struggling with his tyres as Massa pits from seventh. The German pits next time around, rejoining in fourth behind Alonso on primes.
As Button pits at the end of lap 42, taking on a brand new set of primes, the Englishman is on the same strategy as the Red Bulls and the opposite of his McLaren teammate. Hamilton will have to make another stop while the other three hope to go the distance. Indeed, Webber is told that his tyres must last the remaining 31 laps.
Hamilton is advised that he has a 6.6s lead, he is also told the tyre situation. Behind him, Button is lapping a second quicker.
Vettel passes Alonso on the main straight, the Spaniard tried to resist but is unable to. The Red Bull is now up to third.
Providing there are no more accidents, fires or downpours the drama now centres on Hamilton's tyre strategy. Behind him, Button , who remains quicker, is told that he can get to the end of the race but needs to watch his front tyres.
At which point it suddenly starts raining. Hamilton runs wide at Turn 6 and Button is through with Vettel closing in. Alonso pits for the prime tyre. Replay show Hamilton spinning his car around following his off and being lucky not to be hit by di Resta who had to go off track to avoid hitting the McLaren. A visit to the stewards for Mr Hamilton later this afternoon?
It only appears to be raining on one part of the track and not significantly. The leading three now covered by 2.8s with Webber a further 11s down the road.
The shower appears to stop and Hamilton closes in on his teammate, Vettel watches with interest. However, Ferrari tells Alonso that the rain will continue for ten minutes.
Hamilton retakes the lead after Button runs wide in Turn 2, as Rosberg pits for a set of inters. Elsewhere, Vettel runs wide and Button takes back the lead on the main straight. However, moments later the 2008 champ passes his teammate again.
As the rain increases in intensity, Webber pits, as do Petrov, Barrichello, Sutil, Maldonado and Liuzzi. Out front the McLaren duo continues its duel.
At the end of lap 52, Hamilton pits for inters, the McLaren also getting a tweak to its front wing. The Englishman rejoins in third.
The stewards announce that Hamilton is under investigation for the earlier incident when he spun the car.
Webber, who was on inters, makes his fifth stop, the Red Bull driver feeling that the switch was a bad move. To prove this Alonso sweeps by Hamilton just as the McLaren driver is handed a drive-through.
At the end of lap 54 Hamilton pits for primes, but still has to serve his penalty. Rosberg, Petrov, Sutil and Kovalainen also pit.
Consequently, after 55 laps, it's Button, Vettel, Alonso, Hamilton, Massa, Webber, Kobayashi, Buemi, di Resta and Alguersuari. Though Hamilton still has to serve his penalty.
"Hamilton has a drive through," Webber is advised, "he will come out close to you." The Australian responds by posting the fastest time in S1 and a PB in S2. At the end of lap 56, Hamilton serves his drive-through, rejoining in sixth right behind the Massa/Webber scrap for fifth.
Behind the leading ten, it's: Rosberg ahead of Petrov, Barrichello, Sutil, Perez, Maldonado, Kovalainen, Glock, Ricciardo, d'Ambrosio and Liuzzi.
On lap 58, Webber uses his DRS and KERS to seep past Massa, with Hamilton nailing the Brazilian a couple of corners later. The Brazilian subsequently pits whilst teammate Alonso spins without losing position.
Kovalainen's race is over, the Finn pulling to the side of the track with smoke pouring from his front brakes.
Button leads Vettel by 7.1s with Alonso a further 19s down the road. However, all eyes are on Hamilton who closes to within a second of Webber, posting a new fastest lap (23.876) in the process.
A great fight for eighth, with Kobayashi under pressure from Buemi, Alguersuari and Rosberg. Buemi passes the Japanese who moves over to slam the door on Alguersuari, they clash, sending the Spaniard into a spin.
It's like shooting fish in a barrel as Rosberg and Alguersuari pick off Kobayashi as he struggles with his tyres.
As he weaves through the back markers, Webber is caught and passed by Hamilton. The Australian attempts to fight back but cannot make it stick. Kobayashi, a lap down on the battling pair, doesn't help the situation.
Now in free air, Webber sets off after Hamilton who is 32s down on third placed Alonso.
Out front, 9s clear of the world championship leader, Button appears to be cruising towards a magnificent win in what is his 200th Grand Prix.
Rosberg, who is on fairly fresh rubber, is chasing down Buemi and di Resta, the German sensing that seventh is entirely possible. He's clapping around 0.7s quicker than the pair of them. Meanwhile, Webber hasn't given up on Hamilton.
As Alonso rues the spin that may well have cost him second place, Webber posts a series of fastest sector times as he hunts down Hamilton.
Even before he crosses the line, Button is waving to the crowd - hasn't he heard of Nigel Mansell - the McLaren driver taking a fine win.
"Brilliant, awesome, fantastic," the Englishman is told, "a great way to celebrate your two-hundredth!" "A perfect way to go into the summer break," Button replies, "let's come back and win 'em all."
Vettel takes second, ahead of Alonso, Hamilton, Webber, Mass, di Resta, Buemi, Rosberg and Alguersuari.
Kobayashi finishes eleventh, ahead of Petrov, Barrichello, Sutil, Perez, Maldonado, Glock, Ricciardo, d'Ambrosio and Liuzzi.
All in all an entertaining race with Button taking what can only be described as a fairy tale win, this being such a significant race on such a significant circuit.
Others are bound to have their opinion, most notably Vettel and Hamilton, however, in such conditions it was wide open and at the end of the day it was the increasingly likeable Briton who came up trumps.
Indeed, a perfect way to head off into the summer break.
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