08/07/2012
NEWS STORY
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Following much overnight rain, the circuit was still damp for this morning's racing. The light showers at the start of the GP3 race never really developed, while, despite some ominous clouds and a few further spots of rain, the GP2 race was held in the dry.
However, the forecast for this afternoon's headline event, the British Grand Prix, is a 60% chance of rain, and let's be honest the forecasters have been pretty accurate so far this weekend.
Our resident race forecaster, Chris 'Egg' Freer, having got it wrong in Spain and Canada, looks as though he could be on to a winner this weekend, having predicted that Mark Webber will do the honours, thereby becoming the second driver to win two races this season.
That said, Mr Freer, though he might have also predicted Webber to win in our latest competition, is unlikely to be risking any serious money on such a wager. For if the new Pirelli tyres have caused the 2012 season to become something of a lottery, the weather gods looks sure to have their say over the course of the afternoon.
Were it bright and sunny, one would expect Webber to make short work of Fernando Alonso's Ferrari, with teammate Sebastian Vettel taking one of the other spots on the podium for the Austrian outfit. However, whether this race is held in the wet, dry, or changeable conditions, the outcome, at this stage, is almost impossible to call.
Certainly, whatever the weather, we can be sure of fun and games.
Following his Q3 faux pas, Romain Grosjean will be keen to get his weekend back on track, but so too will Lewis Hamilton who starts just ahead of the Frenchman. But more of the McLaren driver later.
Captain No Grip - or Jenson Button as he prefers to be known - needs a good result, but starting from eighteenth clearly has it all to do. Furthermore, now that the 2012 rubber has blown his tyre god status to smithereens one wonders if he will still be able to show his prowess in changeable conditions.
The Saubers made a pig's ear of strategy yesterday, but it's fair to say that both drivers will be out to impress this afternoon. That said, having incurred a five place grid penalty in Spain last month, Kamui Kobayashi has his work cut out.
With his countryman aiming to shine at Wimbledon today, Paul di Resta would dearly love to give fellow Scots another reason to crack open the Irn Brew, though the Force India driver, like so many out there, faces an uphill struggle.
If he can keep out of trouble, and let's not forget he is starting alongside Hamilton, Pastor Maldonado should be good for a few points today, though keeping out of trouble is always a big ask for the Williams driver. Same applies to his teammate, Bruno Senna, is another driver who needs to get on top of his game before the summer break, a time when, traditionally, team bosses turn their thoughts to the next season.
Showing a new maturity this season, though he admittedly faces a tough day - what ever the weather - this could be a further opportunity for Hamilton, who at least know he will have much of the crowd behind him.
While Alonso is getting all the headlines, Felipe Massa has been quietly getting on with the job, and yesterday's qualifying performance, while still a shadow of the Massa of old, was big improvement on the beginning of the season. A good handful of points or, dare we say it, a podium, would do wonders for his self confidence.
While some continue to take pot shots at Michael Schumacher, the German is clearly having the time of his life. Forever smiling, even waving to the partisan crowd yesterday - though some of those present were no doubt here also in 1999 cheering when he crashed (I was there and saw it and heard it, before you complain) - his performance in Q3 was like the Michael of old. Though talk of his (second) retirement continues, while he's still having the time of his life and able to perform, why shouldn't he continue.
Like Massa at Ferrari, Webber is the man in the shadows at Red Bull, quietly getting on with his job whilst the media spotlight focuses on his teammate. In the eyes of many the likeable Aussie is an honorary Englishman indeed, whilst most of his rivals live in Monaco he lives locally, therefore a win here today would be wholly acceptable.
That said, with every race Alonso grows in stature. From his Minardi days the Spaniard has always given 100%, and again this year he is doing things with the Ferrari that few other drivers could match. If the standings in the Constructors' Championship reflect the true standing of the teams then, based on the evidence thus far, Alonso rightly deserves to be heading the drivers' standings.
Thirty minutes before the start of the race, as the pitlane opens, there are wide patches of blue sky and the sun is shining. However, it remains cool and there are dark clouds in the distance. While it is thought the race will start in such conditions it is widely predicted that the rain should appear around one hour into the race.
Though we have seen more of the wets and inters this weekend, the dry options are hard (prime) and soft (option). The sole DRS zone is in the Wellington Straight.
Ferrari admits that with so much wet running there will be a large question mark in terms of tyre choice for the opening stint. "There is not really too much reference as there was very limited running on dry this weekend," says the Italian team.
On the way to the grid there are problems for Caterham, Vitaly Petrov stopping out on track. The team subsequently confirms that the Russian has suffered an "engine failure" and will be unable to start the race. After alternator problems in Valencia, further problems with the Renault engine.
As the field prepares to head off on the parade lap the air temperature is 17 degrees C, while the track temperature is 29 degrees. Wind speed is 3.9 mps as fans enjoy almost balmy conditions, at least compared to Friday and Saturday.
Free to choose their tyres, and with the official weather channel now predicting no rain for the first thirty minutes, tyre choice is split: Alonso, Hamilton, Rosberg, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg, Button, Kobayashi, Glock, de la Rosa and Karthikeyan of hard (prime), the rest on soft (option).
They're away, and Alonso holds his lead though he swaps sides with Webber. They get through the first corner cleanly but further on there's contact, di Resta picking up a puncture. Also Raikkonen appear to clout Vettel.
At the end of lap 1, it's: Alonso, Webber, Schumacher, Massa, Vettel, Maldonado, Raikkonen, Hamilton and Senna.
There are some tremendous scraps through the field, Grosjean taking to the grass as he battles Button and Maldonado fighting with Raikkonen. A mistake allows Kobayashi to pass Grosjean, the Sauber driver now up to thirteenth. At the end of lap 2, Grosjean pits.
Massa is battling Schumacher for third, as Vettel climbs all over the Ferrari. Forced to hold off the Red Bull, Massa loses ground to Schumacher.
Di Resta is back in the pits, the Scot appearing to have damaged his suspension. Replay shows that the Scot appeared to be touched by Raikkonen at the start.
After three laps, Alonso leads Webber by 0.8s with Schumacher a further 1.8s behind. Hamilton is eighth, 0.5s down on Maldonado but under pressure from Perez.
After 4 laps, it's: Alonso, Webber, Schumacher, Perez, Vettel, Raikkonen, Maldonado, Hamilton, Perez, Senna, Hulkenberg, Kobayashi, Button, Rosberg, Vergne and Ricciardo.
"I've got no pace," says Hamilton, "I can't keep up with these guys." The McLaren driver losing out to those runners ahead of him on softs. That said, race leader Alonso is 0.6s quicker than Webber and the rest.
At the back of the field, Grosjean has passed Pic to take twenty-first, setting a new fastest lap in the process.
Massa makes a move on Schumacher but the German slams the door, firmly. "Use KERS at 7 and 13," Massa is told by Rob Smedley. A queue is now forming as the two former teammates as they battle for third.
"Our pace is as good as everyone ahead of us," Hamilton is told, "it's looking good at the moment."
As Alonso opens his lead to 2.6s this suggests that the advice to Hamilton, also on hards, is correct.
Schumacher heads a train of nine cars, covered by 4.7s. Amongst them, Perez is all over Hamilton.
"This is alright Mark, Schumacher 40.1 is holding the others up." The Australian has a 4s advantage over the German.
At the end of lap 10, Vettel pits. The German rejoins in fifteenth, having switched to the prime rubber.
"Felipe, tell me quickly about they tyres when you can," says Rob Smedley. "They're OK," replies the Brazilian, who proves the point by making a bold move on Schumacher that sticks.
Maldonado and Perez both pit at the end of lap 11, as Alonso posts a new fastest lap (38.518). They rejoin in 15th and 16th, both on the harder rubber.
As Schumacher pits, Maldonado slows, the Williams driver having been involved in an incident with Perez that sees the Sauber driver out on the spot. Maldonado returns to the pits.
At the end of lap 13, Massa and Raikkonen both pit, as Alonso extends his lead to 5s.
The stewards announce they are to investigate the Maldonado/Perez incident.
Webber pits at the end of lap 14, as do Senna and Vergne, teammate Vettel now up to seventh as the Australian rejoins in fourth.
Race leader Alonso pits at the end of lap 15, the Ferrari driver rejoining in second still on the harder rubber.
Vettel passes Button to take seventh as Massa also closes in on the McLaren driver, subsequently passing him with ease.
Kobayashi and Hulkenberg both pits at the end of lap 16, as do Button and Ricciardo. Whilst everyone has opted for the primes, Button switches to softs.
Though he has yet to stop, Hamilton now leads, from Alonso, Webber, Vettel, Massa, Schumacher, Raikkonen, Grosjean, Kobayashi and Hulkenberg.
Back on track, Button is all over twelfth placed Rosberg who is 2.3s down on Senna.
Alonso is all over Hamilton, however, the McLaren driver is having none of it. On fresher rubber the Spaniard eventually nails the Englishman who really didn't need to get involved in such a scrap.
Further back, Raikkonen hunts down Schumacher, the world champion who preceded him at Ferrari.
Now 2.3s down on Alonso, Hamilton needs to pit, the Englishman being caught by Webber who is 2.8s behind. The McLaren driver and de la Rosa are the only drivers yet to pit.
Next time around however, at the end of la p20, Hamilton does pit. No problems this time around, and the Englishman rejoins in seventh behind the Schumacher/Raikkonen battle and ahead of Grosjean.
Three world champions battling for fifth, Schumacher, Raikkonen and Hamilton. None of them known for giving an inch. "Cars ahead are on prime, we can give them some trouble," Hamilton is told.
Raikkonen makes easy work of Schumacher at the end of the Wellington straight on lap 23, Hamilton also passing the struggling German moments later.
In clear air, Raikkonen immediately posts a new fastest lap (37.386), as Alonso enjoys a 4.8s lead over Webber.
As Schumacher asks about his tyres, to be told that he must make them last another 8 laps, Alonso posts a new fastest lap (37.042).
At half distance, it's: Alonso, Webber, Vettel, Massa, Raikkonen, Hamilton, Schumacher, Kobayashi, Hulkenberg and Senna. Grosjean pits.
As Alonso laps countryman de la Rosa, the only driver still to pit, Grosjean goes quickest in the final two sectors, the Frenchman on primes. Moments later, de la Rosa pits for softs.
Hamilton pits at the end of lap 28, the McLaren driver switching back to the harder rubber. Back on track the Lotus duo trade fastest laps. Hamilton rejoins in twelfth.
"You've got Grosjean covered," Hamilton is told, "you've got twenty-three laps remaining, you wont be stopping again. You're doing a great job."
Ahead of the McLaren driver, teammate Button makes short work of Rosberg, as does Grosjean, both passing the Mercedes driver through the Maggots/Becketts complex. Brave stuff.
As Vettel pits at the end of lap 31, Hamilton passes Button as does Grosjean, though the 2009 champion subsequently pits.
Under pressure from Grosjean, Hamilton is told that he's doing a great job. The McLaren driver clearly feeling that he is going to be unable to hold off the Lotus.
Webber pits at the end of lap 33, as Vettel posts a new fastest lap (36.357). The Australian, on hards, rejoins in fourth.
Schumacher now under pressure from Kobayashi, as Raikkonen pits from third place. Schumacher also pits as Button, currently thirteenth, posts a new fastest lap.
Making full use of his DRS, Grosjean leaves Hamilton for dead, as Massa and Hulkenberg both pit.
As Webber posts a new fastest lap (36.132), Grosjean, in clear air, immediately pulls away from Hamilton.
After 36 laps, with Alonso still to make his second stop, the Spaniard heads Webber, Vettel, Massa, Kobayashi, Raikkonen, Grosjean, Hamilton, Rosberg and Schumacher.
At the end of lap 37, Alonso makes his second stop, switching to the softer rubber with 14 laps remaining. Kobayashi and Rosberg also pit. Replay shows the Sauber driver missing his slot and hitting a couple of his mechanics.
With a 3.9s gap and thirteen laps remaining, Webber's only real hope, other than the rain making an appearance, is that Alonso's softs wont go the distance.
Grosjean, currently sixth, goes quickest (35.645) as he closes the 3.6s gap to his Lotus teammate.
Senna, tenth and ahead of Button, is told that he is looking good and wont be needing to stop again. That said, Button responds by going quickest in S1.
The cameras cut to the official timing monitors which inform that no rain is expected within the next thirty minutes.
As Webber and Vettel close in on Alonso, Hulkenberg is locked in battle with Senna and Button for ninth. Meanwhile, Schumacher is closing in on Hamilton.
Lap 43 sees a PB for Webber as he closes to within 2.2s of Alonso. Vettel, who has lost ground to Webber, is now under pressure from Massa.
Button makes a bold move on Senna which nearly comes to grief, McLaren really struggling today.
As Webber closes to within 1.3s of Alonso, Schumacher is just 1.1s down on seventh-placed Hamilton.
As Webber closes to within 0.5s of Alonso, almost touching distance, the Australian is told that his gearbox is fine. Basically, the Red Bull driver is told 'go get him!' Elsewhere, Schumacher, courtesy of DRS, nails Hamilton on the Wellington Straight.
In a fantastically bold move Webber goes around the outside of Alonso in Brooklands, the Australian taking the lead with typical bravura. In the process he also posts a new fastest lap (34.953).
With 4 laps remaining, Vettel is 4.3s behind Alonso, one wonders if Red Bull can makes it a 1-2.
Now 1.1 down on Massa, Raikkonen posts a new fastest lap (34.728). Elsewhere, Button is still running behind Senna.
Massa is told to use full KERS power as he closes on Vettel; "come on you can do this," urges Rob Smedley. That said, the Brazilian has Raikkonen in his mirrors, though a mistake from the Finn gives the Ferrari driver a little breathing space.
When Senna finally, successfully makes his move on Hulkenberg the German is caught unaware. Button also passes the Force India driver, as does Kobayashi, who runs wide as he tries to re-take the Williams.
Webber takes the flag, the Australian leading home Alonso by 3s. Vettel finishes third, ahead of Massa, Raikkonen, Grosjean, Schumacher, Hamilton, Senna and Button.
Kobayashi is eleventh, ahead of Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Vergne, Rosberg, Maldonado, Kovalainen, Glock, Pic, de la Rosa and Karthikeyan.
"A great day for us, a great day for me," says Webber over the radio.
In the end the weather gods weren't needed today, though surely a bit of rain would have spiced things up even further.
While Alonso gave a great performance, his team took a gamble and it failed, just as it has worked on previous occasions.
On the other hand, Webber played it cool and as a result he leaves Britain as one of only two drivers to have won two races this year and just thirteen points behind the championship leader.
Before the podium ceremony Alonso's disappointment was writ large upon his face, but what of Hamilton, McLaren really having failed here today.
As we head to back to back races in Germany and Hungary, congratulations to Webber and Red Bull and, of course, the thousands of fans who have helped make this weekend so memorable.
With action throughout the field, it was a great day for the fans also. And deservedly so.
Check out our Grand Prix gallery, here.