30/06/2013
NEWS STORY
Having enjoyed home wins in both GP2 races, courtesy of Sam Bird and Jon Lancaster, an expectant, largely partisan, crowd is hoping that Lewis Hamilton can do the same this afternoon.
British hopes have already taken a knock with Paul di Resta’s exclusion from the qualifying results. Despite taking fifth on the grid, his best result since Monza 2012, the Scot was excluded as a result of his car being 1.5kg underweight.
In fact that’s not entirely true, it was the combined weight of car and driver that was underweight. His team claim that the discrepancy is due to the driver losing weight over the course of the weekend… a less kind observer might suggest that somebody has knocked the (growing) chip from his shoulder.
With Friday’s deluge a distant memory, the bright sunshine and increasing temperatures will be putting a smile on the faces of those in the Lotus and Ferrari garages, warmer temperatures suiting both teams.
Looking at the grid, and most of the practice session, this seems to be a straight fight between Mercedes and Red Bull, however, as we know from experience, for the most part the Silver Arrows are only really good over one lap. Consequently it’s looking very good for Sebastian and Mark this weekend.
Totally unhappy with his car on Friday, Lewis Hamilton has become more at one with it as the weekend wore on, his qualifying lap testament to that fact, for it was a sublime, faultless bit of driving.
How sad therefore, that he will have his work cut out today to make it to the podium, far less the top step.
While Sebastian Vettel looks to further increase his tally, the romantic in us believes that Mark Webber will prove victorious on a track he clearly loves and on which he has enjoyed great success.
Di Resta’s penalty – he has been relegated to the back of the grid – is a bitter blow to Force India. However, another strong drive should see Adrian Sutil pick up a decent points haul, while a good strategic call could also see di Resta take something away from today.
The Scot’s exclusion is good news for Daniel Ricciardo, who, like his Toro Rosso teammate Jean-Eric Vergne, has appeared just a little bit more motivated than usual this weekend. We wonder why.
Of course, a good result for either of them could play a big part in their quest for the second seat at Red Bull in 2014, on the other hand we know from experience that loyalty rarely comes into it when it comes to making such decisions in Milton Keynes, or should we say Salzburg.
Despite having The Device at his disposal for the first time, Kimi Raikkonen doesn’t really appear to have benefitted from it, qualifying behind his teammate, who doesn’t have it, albeit by just 0.007s.
Then again, as we said, the warmer temperatures will suit the Lotus, so perhaps we may see The Iceman make up for the disappointment of Monaco and Canada. An opportunity for Grosjean to get back some of his credibility also.
The despondency in the Ferrari garage is of operatic proportions, the Maranello outfit losing out totally in the unseasonably cool conditions yesterday. Like Lotus, Fernando and Felipe will be banking on a bit of localised global warming this afternoon.
For McLaren it’s business as usual, the Woking outfit going through the motions as it looks ahead to 2014… or is that 2015. Unlike Lotus and Ferrari, Jenson and Sergio would appreciate a good old fashioned downpour this afternoon.
If the McLaren boys are wishing their lives away, so too, no doubt, are their counterparts at Sauber and Williams.
On Friday afternoon, Nico Hulkenberg was despondent at being unable to pass a Marussia, even with the benefit of DRS and KERS, while, as Williams celebrates its 600th Grand Prix, Pastor Maldonado and Valtteri Bottas will be wishing they were there during the good times rather than the present when the Grove outfit is but a shadow of its former self.
As ever, tyres are the big talking point, and in view of today’s improved weather Paul Hembery believes most teams will opt for three stops while some, most notably Lotus, may opt for 2. It is virtually impossible that di Resta will repeat his Montreal one-stop feat.
The tyres Available today are hard (prime) and medium (option). Meanwhile, the DRS zones are on the Hangar Straight (between Turns 14 and 15), and on the Wellington Straight (between Turns 5 and 6. The Detection Zones are at Maggots (Turn 10) and just before Village (Turn 3).
The pitlane opens bang on 12:30, and one by one the cars pour on to the Northamptonshire track. Bottas almost runs into the back of Pic as the Frenchman performs a practice start at the end of the pitlane.
Pushed to make a prediction, we’ll go for Webber taking his second successive win here, ahead of Vettel and Raikkonen. And no, we will not edit this after the race… except for typos.
As the field prepares to head off on the parade lap, the air temperature is 21 degrees C, while the track temperature is 29 degrees.
All are starting on the option rubber other than Button, Vergne, Hulkenberg, Gutierrez, Pic, di Resta and Van der Garde, who all start on the prime. The Dutchman starts behind the Scot due to a late gearbox change… nothing to do with his grid penalty following his numerous incidents in Canada.
Button, who qualified eleventh but moves up to tenth following di Resta’s exclusion, gets to choose his tyres… he’s gone for the primes.
They’re away, and a poor start from Rosberg allows Vettel through to second. A great start from Massa who is up to fifth while Webber drops down the field after a dreadful start which included being clouted by Grosjean which caused him to run wide and lose further places.
At the end of lap one, it’s: Hamilton, Vettel, Rosberg, Sutil, Massa, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Grosjean, Alonso and Button. Webber is told he has “front wing damage”.
Having passed Button, who got a good start, Alonso is all over Grosjean. Raikkonen, courtesy of a strong start, is all over Massa.
After three laps, Hamilton leads by 1.5s with Vettel 1.3s clear of Rosberg. A train of cars has formed behind Sutil who is 1.9s down on Rosberg. Di Resta is up to sixteenth, hard on the heels of Maldonado.
Out front, Hamilton posts a string of fastest laps, the latest being 38.194, as he extends his lead to 2.1s. Alonso is all over Ricciardo but the Red Bull hopeful is having none of it.
Capt. No Grip reports that all four tyres feel as though they are overheating.
The right-front wing on Webber’s car hangs at a worrying angle. Nonetheless, the Australian is up for a fight, making short work of Button.
Disaster for Hamilton who has suffered a tyre failure, the worst possible PR for Pirelli. Halfway around the lap, the failure sees the Mercedes drop through the field like a stone.
Replay of the tyre exploding on the Wellington Straight is reminiscent of Mansell’s failure in Adelaide all those years ago. There is a lot of debris from the tyre.
Having pitted, Hamilton rejoins the race in twenty-seconds, 4.2s down on Van der Garde, having stuck with the option rubber.
Next time around Grosjean pits as does Vergne. Meanwhile a tyre failure for Massa who subsequently spins.
Alonso and Webber both pit at the end of lap 10, Gutierrez also. The Australian gets a set of primes and a new nose.
As Massa arrives back in the pits, his car appearing to have incurred a fair bit of damage at the rear, Vettel is leading by 3.3s.
Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Button, Gutierrez and Bianchi all pit at the end of lap 11.
Webber is warned that punctures are happening to the right rears in Turns 3 and 4.
Rosberg and Sutil both pit at the end of lap 12, as does Hulkenberg.
Alonso on a real charge, passing Raikkonen and Grosjean on successive laps. As Vettel is told to pit the Spaniard makes short work of Vergne to take sixth. Vettel and Perez both pit.
A great battle for fifth between Vergne, Grosjean and Raikkonen as fourth-placed Alonso chases Sutil.
Yet another tyre failure, this time for Vergne, who rubber detonate on the approach to Stowe, one of the fastest points of the circuit. Thankfully the Frenchman is in full control and is able to pit almost immediately.
The Safety Car is deployed just as Vettel is told that he too has tyre damage. The German is currently leading Rosberg by 2.8s. Sutil is third, ahead of Alonso, Raikkonen, Grosjean, Ricciardo, Perez, Webber and Button. Di Resta is up to eleventh, Hamilton seventeenth and Massa still in twenty-second.
Bottas pits for more mediums, as does his teammate, while Pic stays on the primes.
Webber is told that during his pit stop the team found cuts to Vettel’s left-rear. Elsewhere, Massa makes another pit stop.
As the field bunches up behind the Safety Car, marshals take to the track to clear the huge amount of debris.
Rosberg is told that the damage is happening when the tyres get hot and is mainly happening in Turn 4.
Vettel is told that the team is investigating the issue, in the meantime he is urged to keep well away from the kerbs.
After 20 laps, behind the Safety Car, it’s: Vettel, Rosberg, Sutil, Alonso, Raikkonen, Grosjean, Ricciardo, Perez, Webber, Button, di Resta, Hulkenberg, Gutierrez, Hamilton, Maldonado, Vergne, Bottas, Pic, Bianchi, Chilton, Van der Garde and Massa.
All are on primes other than Sutil, Button, di Resta, Gutierrez and Maldonado.
At the re-start Perez takes Webber, however, the Australian re-takes the position (8th) a few corners later.
As if he hasn’t got enough on his plate, Hamilton gets up close and very personal with Gutierrez.
Out front, and despite the warnings, Vettel posts a new fastest lap (36.634), as he enjoys a 1.4s lead over Rosberg. Hamilton finally nails Gutierrez to take thirteenth.
As Hulkenberg and Vergne pit, at the end of lap 25, Vettel is told he is managing the gap to Rosberg well. Hulkenberg is understood to have had a slow puncture.
“Throttle/brake overlap is preventing KERS charging,” Hamilton is told.
As Sutil appears to be holding up Alonso and Raikkonen, Grosjean has a train of three cars in his wake. Elsewhere, Gutierrez pits.
Ricciardo makes a great move on Grosjean to take sixth, as the TV camera picks up a large piece of (carbon fibre) debris on the track.
As Webber battles Grosjean, Gutierrez appears to have hit one of the polystyrene markers hence the track debris.
Raikkonen pits from fourth at the end of lap 29, the Finn taking on another set of primes. Gutierrez gets a new nose.
Next time around Alonso pits, as does Grosjean, while Raikkonen goes quickest in sectors two and three.
Rosberg is told that he’s half-a-second a lap quicker than Vettel, the Mercedes driver currently 3.4s down on the Red Bull. Elsewhere, Webber pits.
Di Resta and Hamilton having a titanic battle for eighth, both drivers suffering more than their fair share of frustration this weekend.
Ricciardo and Button both pit at the end of lap 32, as Alonso posts a new fastest lap (36.204).
Behind Hamilton, who is all over di Resta, Alonso and Webber keep a watchfuls eye.
On fresh rubber, Raikkonen and Alonso pass Hamilton as Sutil, Perez and di Resta all pit, Force India taking a big gamble in bringing in both its drivers.
Rosberg pits at the end of lap 34 with Hamilton sure to stop next time around. The German, on primes, rejoins still in second.
Next time around it is the race leader who pits, while Hamilton, now up to sixth, stays out. Elsewhere, di Resta and Hulkenberg touch, the Scot losing his front wing endplate.
As Hamilton and Massa pit at the end of lap 36, Vergne becomes the first retirement of the day.
Back on track Hamilton is immediately involved in a fierce battle with di Resta for twelfth. The Scot uses DRS to pass the Mercedes however, a lap later the Englishman repays the compliment. Great stuff while it lasted.
After 38 laps, it’s: Vettel, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Webber, Alonso, Sutil, Ricciardo, Perez, Button and Grosjean. Having passed Grosjean, who has damage following his first lap clash with Webber, Button looks likely to give McLaren a double points finish here.
Shortly after, Hamilton passes Grosjean to take tenth and a place in the points. Elsewhere, Gutierrez makes his fourth stop of the day.
As Vettel suddenly slows, the crowd roars its delight. “I lost the drive and gearbox”.
With the Red Bull stranded on the pit straight, the Safety Car is deployed.
The crowd’s reaction seems strange given that the chief driver to benefit from Vettel’s demise is a German in a German car. Talking of whom, Rosberg immediately pits, as do Alonso, Webber, Grosjean, di Resta and Massa.
Raikkonen wanted to pit but he is told to “stick to the plan”. Meanwhile, Vettel, helmet still firmly in place, walks down the pitlane.
Behind the Safety Car, with eight laps remaining, it’s: Rosberg, Raikkonen, Sutil, Ricciardo, Webber, Perez, Button, Alonso, Hamilton and Grosjean. Massa is eleventh, ahead of Maldonado, Hulkenberg and di Resta.
Webber is told that his tyres are fine and that he should “do his best to pass these cars”.
Raikkonen, on his old rubber, is under serious pressure if he is to hold on to second.
At the start of lap 46 the Safety Car pulls off, Alonso appearing to be caught totally off guard. Webber passes Ricciardo and Hamilton passes Grosjean.
Guess what? It’s another tyre failure, Perez suffering his second of the weekend. Nonetheless his rivals continue battling, indeed, Webber passes Sutil to take third and a podium result.
As Perez returns to the pits his car is badly damaged by that failure.
As Alonso and Ricciardo battle for fifth, Hamilton joins in the scrap, the Australian losing out to both his rivals. Raikkonen is also a sitting duck, the Finn nailed by Webber who immediately sets off after Rosberg.
As Webber chases the race leader, Hamilton is all over Sutil. The Englishman nails the German as the Australian closes to 1.5s of the leader.
Raikkonen is under serious threat from Alonso as Rosberg posts a new fastest lap (33.738).
Sutil is now being hounded by Massa, Ricciardo, Grosjean and di Resta. The German deserves more from this race, as does Raikkonen.
Alonso nails Raikkonen at Stowe using DRS as Hamilton also closes in.
Webber goes fastest (33.426) as he closes to within 1.3s of Rosberg.
Hamilton’s pursuit of Raikkonen is remorseless, the Mercedes driver nailing the Finn courtesy of DRS.
As Massa passes Sutil for sixth, Webber is unable to make any further progress on Rosberg and Hamilton runs out of time in terms of Alonso.
Rosberg takes the win, ahead of Webber, Alonso, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Massa, Sutil, Ricciardo, di Resta and Hulkenberg.
Maldonado is eleventh, ahead of Bottas, Button, Gutierrez, Pic, Bianchi, Chilton, Van der Garde, Grosjean and Perez.
This is a race that had a bit of everything and will be talked about for some time, and not in terms of the weather.
A British driver starting the British Grand Prix from pole and losing the lead due to a tyre failure is the worst possible scenario as far as Pirelli is concerned, and in the wake of the subsequent failures, not to mention the Testgate scandal, is going to put increasing pressure on the beleaguered tyre supplier.
There is more to this than meets the eye, however, trial-by-media, certainly in terms of the mainstream media, is likely to be savage in the days that follow and it’s hard to see how the Italian company will weather the coming storm.
Pirelli’s total silence since the International Tribunal was already worrying, its absence from two official press conferences suggests that the company is biding its time before responding. In the meantime, the FIA president keeps silent, as does Michelin.
Despite the failures, or is that in spite of the failure, we actually got quite an exciting race. However, one cannot help but feel that the real battle is still to come. Indeed, this looks likely to be a bitter battle that will cause the sport further damage.
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