06/07/2014
NEWS STORY
If we're honest, everyone enjoys the occasional fairy tale ending, even the battle hardened cynics of the media.
Of course, in the world of Formula One, where only this week one dream - that of tony Fernandes - came to its obvious sad conclusion - fairy tales are rare, but not impossible.
For us, a fairy tale conclusion to today's British Grand Prix would be for Jenson Button to be standing atop the podium proudly wearing his 'Pink for Papa' T-shirt, a fitting result for the sport's elder statesman and his Dad.
Whether that will really happen or not is very much I the hands of the gods - the weather gods - for in normal conditions the MP4-29 doesn't have a hope today, not compared to the Mercedes and Rec Bull.
Yesterday's mixed conditions have given way to bright sunshine however, there is still a twenty percent chance of rain. And it is that 20 percent that Jenson and a few others will have to rely on.
Almost twenty-four hours after yesterday's crazy qualifying session we are still recovering, still trying to figure out what went so right for some and so wrong for others.
Yes, Lewis Hamilton has admitted that he misread the situation and didn't realise there was room for (so much) improvement, but what about Williams and Ferrari. To foul up to such a massive degree is totally unforgivable.
Of course, their loss is our gain, as we are left with a grid that in some ways appears as though it was decided by lottery, the order further mixed up courtesy of the Stewards here and in Austria.
Consequently, starting from 11th, Jules Bianchi will be another of those praying for some typical British weather today... and lots of it.
Rather than a dry race or wet race, mixed conditions would be ideal for Button, while Sebastian Vettel would probably be grateful for a little bit of both.
Not only do Hamilton have to make a great start today, as he did in Austria, he is going to have to be mighty careful in Turns 3 and 4 on the first lap, for he simply cannot afford to give any more points away to teammate Nico Rosberg. Indeed, those first few corners should witness some real fun and games what with the Ferraris and Williams charging from the back.
All in all this appears to be Rosberg's to lose, however, first lap silliness and reliability issues aside only a fool would write off Hamilton.
Today is a day when Raikkonen can really prove himself though we cannot help but feel that the sparkle has gone, a feeling compounded by his comments about retirement on Thursday. On the other hand expect another bravura performance from Fernando.
Of course, the Williams duo will also be chomping at the bit following yesterday's shenanigans but somehow Felipe - starting his 200th Grand Prix today - and Valtteri (sorry) don't inspire in the saw way as Fernando and the Iceman.
If it had a Mercedes engine in the back - and assuming Adrian Newey could package it - the RB10 would be the class of the field, the Austrian car enjoying a massive aero advantage over its rivals. Therefore assume decent points hauls from Sebastian and Daniel.
Other than Jenson, McLaren can rely on Kevin Magnussen, and the Woking team needs a good result not only in terms of keeping rivals at bay and remaining at the right end of the pitlane next season but to keep the team from switching attention to 2015 and Honda.
We feel the ones to watch today will be Force India and Toro Rosso, Kvyat looking as strong as ever - still hard to believe he's in his rookie year- whilst Hulkenberg had pole for a tantalising few seconds yesterday.
And then there's Marussia... should the planets align Bianchi could add a couple more points to the team's tally, maybe even Max could score a couple.
A two-stop strategy is theoretically fastest, although some drivers might even try a one-stopper, if they want to do something different from lower down the grid.
The quickest strategy is medium-medium-hard, stopping on laps 23 and 45. A three-stop sprint strategy could also work (medium-medium-medium-hard) with stops on laps 18, 34 and 51. This however would leave drivers vulnerable of feeding into traffic during the closing stages of the race.
The pitlane opens and the drivers begin making their way to the grid.
As a reminder, following the various penalties, including Maldonado's exclusion, they line up as follows: Rosberg, Vettel, Button, Hulkenberg, Magnussen, Hamilton, Perez, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Vergne, Grosjean, Bianchi, Sutil, Bottas, Massa, Alonso, Chilton, Raikkonen, Gutierrez, Maldonado, Ericsson and Kobayashi.
Just moments before the pitlane is closed, Hamilton reports an issue with his right-rear brake, feeling that it is overheating. Subsequent radio replay reveals the Briton claiming there is a "small fire" however, Paddy Lowe dismisses his fears.
Despite the sunshine it is still cool, the air temperature just 17 degrees C, and the track temperature 31 degrees. It is quite blustery again.
All are starting on the option rubber bar the Ferrari duo who will race the first stint on the hard (prime) tyres.
They head off on the parade lap. Air temperature is still 17 degrees C, track temperature 33 degrees. It is now claimed that there is a 30 percent chance of rain.
They're away. Strong starts from Rosberg, Button and Hamilton who appears to bang wheels with Vettel. Perez runs wide after tripping up over Vergne. However, following a poor start Raikkonen crashes on the Wellington Straight, the Finn spearing into the barriers. Out comes the Safety Car.
Thankfully, the Finn is out of the car as Massa, who has incurred substantial damage, makes his way back to the pits.
Out comes the red flag, the race will be re-started.
Replay shows Raikkonen running wide in T5 than losing control as he hits the barriers, bounces back across the track and collects a hapless Massa who turns sideways as he approaches the stricken Ferrari which is in the middle of the track.
Kobayashi was also caught up in the incident but somehow managed to come out of it unscathed, doing magnificently to avoid the Ferrari as it bounced back across the track. Somehow in the middle of it all Chilton picked up damage to his nose.
The grid reforms : Rosberg, Button, Magnussen, Hamilton, Vettel, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Bottas, Chilton, Bianchi, Sutil, Gutierrez, Alonso, Maldonado, Ericsson, Grosjean, Vergne, Perez and Kobayashi.
Massa has been pushed off the grid back to the pits, his race over, whilst Chilton, who pitted at the end of lap one to replace his nose, will start from the pitlane.
Hulkenberg is advised that the race will re-start behind the Safety Car. As a bitterly disappointed Massa stares at his car, the TV cameras pick up on the damage to the barriers where Raikkonen crashed.
Starting from the pitlane, Chilton advises his team to keep an eye on the weather, as the later the race gets underway the more chance of rain. He advises them to monitor the situation and change strategy accordingly.
Race Stewards subsequently announce that the barriers need to be repaired and consequently there will be another update at 13:30.
"Tyres may be changed and cars worked on during a red flag period," tweets Pirelli. Indeed, Grosjean swaps to primes as does Perez. Alonso switches from the primes to the options.
Massa reveals that reason for his poor start, which dropped him to last, was due to the fact that his clutch wasn't working.
Talk about cool. Rosberg is having a quick snack on the grid as he chats to a mechanic.
Stewards announce that Chilton is under investigation for entering the pitlane after the race was suspended.
Having announced that there will be another update at 13:45, the Stewards reveal that they are investigating the Vergne/Perez incident.
While Chilton gets a drive through, the Stewards decide not to take any further action regarding Vergne and Perez. Talking of Vergne, he has also swapped to primes now.
Worryingly, Marussia confirms that it was a flying wheel from Raikkonen's Ferrari that damaged Chilton's car.
As we await the latest update the drivers pass the time in different ways, Magnussen a forlorn figure alone in the McLaren garage.
At 13:55 officials announce that the race will resume at 14:05 following a delay of around an hour. Sterling work by the Silverstone track workers.
As the grid clears, it becomes apparent that Vettel and Ricciardo have both made late swaps to the prime rubber.
The field heads off behind the Safety Car which should pull of at the end of the lap.
Vettel advised not to drop more than ten car lengths behind the car ahead (Hamilton).
The Safety Car pulls off and Rosberg leads the way. No incidents as the field is quite strung out.
Hamilton makes a move on Magnussen as Bottas passes Kvyat further back.
Hamilton eventually passes the Dane, the Briton setting off after his former teammate and fellow Briton, Button. Out front Rosberg posts a fastest lap (38.609).
As Chilton serves his drive-through, Hamilton makes short work of Button and sets off after his teammate, much to the crowd's delight.
Bottas passes Ricciardo to take seventh and soon after nails Hulkenberg to go sixth. Next up is Vettel.
Out front, Rosberg is lapping quicker than his teammate and currently enjoys a5.5s lead. Vettel, slow on the primes, heads a train of cars.
Having passed Bianchi, Alonso is now all over Kvyat as they battle for ninth, the Spaniard eventually nailing the Russian at Woodcote.
Great battle between Hulkenberg and Ricciardo but from out of nowhere along comes Alonso to take the Red Bull totally by surprise.
As Alonso lines up Hulkenberg, Hamilton goes quickest in S1. The Mercedes duo around 2.5s a lap quicker than their nearest rivals.
As Alonso passes a feisty Hulkenberg, the Stewards announce that they are investigating
The fact that the Ferrari was out of position on the grid for the original start. To which we can only say WTF!!! Over an hour later?
Button is already 10.7s down on Hamilton but 2.5s clear of his McLaren teammate who has Vettel and Bottas all over his rear and Alonso closing in.
Despite his best efforts Hulkenberg is unable to hold of Ricciardo, the German running wide in the process. Elsewhere, Gutierrez and Maldonado touch, launching the Venezuelan into the air, the Mexican subsequently goes off at T2 having clearly suffered damage. His race is over. Surely one for the Stewards.
Vettel pits at the end of lap 10, swapping to option, he rejoins in 11th.
Ericsson is limping back to the pits his car leaning worryingly to the left his front suspension clearly damaged.
"Be aware, fuel is target but you do not have excess," Rosberg is told. "You are OK at the moment."
Meanwhile, Alonso is handed a 5s stop and go for being out of position on the original grid. We say again WTF!
Bottas passes Magnussen to take fourth, another superb move around the outside, setting off to close the 2.2s gap to Button.
Kvyat pits at the end of lap 14, as Rosberg is told that his team may go one more lap depending on the state of his tyres. Told they are OK, he is told to extend his run accordingly.
Alonso sweeps by Magnussen heading into Stowe as Vettel subsequently taking Hulkenberg in the same corner. Ricciardo pits.
The Stewards will investigate the Gutierrez/Maldonado incident after the race.
On lap 16 Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (38.554) as Bottas goes around the outside of Button at Stowe. The Finn now up to third. Great stuff from the rookie.
As Hamilton is told he is the fastest man on track, teammate Rosberg is told to "push hard!"
Ricciardo passes Sutil to take ninth.
As Rosberg pits - at the end of lap 18 - Hamilton is told "it's Hammer time".
Rosberg rejoins in 2nd following a 2.7s stop.
The hammer down, Hamilton goes quickest in S2, as Bottas is told he needs to run his current tyre until the end of its life. Rosberg posts a PB in S2.
As Alonso closes on fourth-placed Button, the gap between the Mercedes duo is 16.224s.
"Gearbox problem on the downshift," complains Rosberg as Alonso locks-up in his efforts to pass Button. "We're continuing to look at the problem," Rosberg is told.
Ricciardo is all over the back of Hulkenberg as they battle for 8th, the Red Bull driver passing the Force India at Brooklands on lap 22.
Downshift problem or not, Rosberg posts a new fastest lap (38.309) as he reduces the gap to 15.363. Alonso has still not passed Button.
Rosberg is told that his tyres are great front and rear, but 50 percent worn. Still no sign of Hamilton stopping though.
That said, the Briton warns: "My tyres are beginning to drop off".
As Hamilton pits at the end of lap 24, Alonso and Button continue their cat and mouse battle. Hamilton rejoins 5.575 behind his teammate following a 4.1s stop.
"The last few laps Alonso has gone off the circuit at Copse," Button complains. Elsewhere, Vettel makes short work of Magnussen to take sixth. Great opportunistic driving from the world champion.
As Alonso pits, Hamilton voice his frustration following his own pit stop. The Spaniard, who also serves his 5s penalty, rejoins in 9th.
On the harder tyre, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (37.176) which will leave rivals scratching their heads. He is currently 4.551s down on his teammate.
As Perez and Maldonado both pit, Alonso is shown the black and white flag a warning regarding his constant over use of the track limits.
After 28 laps, it's: Rosberg, Hamilton, Bottas, Button, Vettel, Magnussen, Ricciardo, Alonso, Hulkenberg and Kvyat.
Magnussen pits and switches to the harder rubber. Vergne also.
Hamilton passes Rosberg as the German complains that he has no upshift, the German seemingly stuck in fifth gear. The crowd reacts accordingly.
As Hamilton heads off into the distance Rosberg crawls to a halt, even taking to the grass. As he is given a list of instructions it's like being at the end of the line to a foreign call centre as you stare at the dreaded blue screen.
Hulkenberg and Bianchi both pit as Rosberg removes his steering wheel and prepares to climb from his car. It's the German's first DNF of the year. Thing is, will Hamilton's car last the distance.
Meanwhile, Grosjean and Kobayashi have pitted.
Bottas, up to second, now pits, the Finn rejoining in third, the Williams driver looking good for his second successive podium finish.
Depp breath. So, after 32 laps, Hamilton leads Vettel by 41s with Bottas a further 1.2s behind. Ricciardo is fourth, 6.5s down on the Williams, ahead of Button, Alonso, Magnussen, Kvyat, Hulkenberg and Vergne.
"With twenty laps to go you should be abler to push these all the way to the end," Hulkenberg is told.
Bottas passes Vettel to take second, the German subsequently diving into the pits where he fits another set of options. He rejoins in 5th ahead of the Alonso/Magnussen battle. A tremendous battle ensues with Alonso making a bold, brilliant move on the German at Copse. That was real heart in mouth stuff.
Kvyat pits from 8th at the end of lap 39, as Perez complains about Sutil exceeding the track limits in his efforts to hold off the Mexican.
Vettel all over the back of Alonso as he prepares to re-take 5th following the Spaniard's earlier move. The Red Bull driver makes a move and takes fifth but the Spaniard is having none of it and re-passes the German. Vettel complains to his team "I almost crashed into him". From where we are sitting, it all seemed very fair. Hard yes, but fair.
Sutil complains that his brakes are playing up.
Of course, as Alonso and Vettel battle for fifth this is playing into the hands of fourth-placed Button who is 4.6s up the road.
On-board replay shows a mighty wobble for Vettel in Becketts.
As Perez passes the struggling Sutil for 11th, Hamilton says his tyres are "pretty good".
Button is told that Ricciardo, 8.84s ahead, might try and get to the end so he needs to close the gap.
At the end of lap 41, despite the fact that he's happy with his tyres, Hamilton makes another stop. He rejoins, on primes, 20.880s ahead of Bottas.
Elsewhere, Ferrari reports that Raikkonen is leaving the track and "seems OK". The Italian team revealed earlier that his earlier crash involved an impact of a mighty frightening 47G.
Vettel continues to complain that Alonso is not leaving him a space, the battle between the two world champions one of the real highlights of the day.
Alonso is told that his team is reporting Vettel for exceeding the track limits.
Not only is the Alonso/Vettel squabble helping Button, it's also helping his McLaren teammate who is closing on the pair. Indeed, he's just 1.8s behind.
After 44 laps, it's: Hamilton, Bottas, Ricciardo, Button, Alonso, Vettel, Magnussen, Hulkenberg, Kvyat and Vergne.
On board footage reveals the mother of all betel between Vettel and Alonso, the two side-by-side, wheels almost touching, it's terrifying to watch. Finally however, the German gets the job done. Real heart-in-mouth stuff but what makes this sport so great and the drivers so special.
As Vettel heads off into the distance, Alonso is still complaining. They are already 2.5s apart.
Almost unseen, Button has closed to within 5.7s of Ricciardo, the Australian still doing a superb job on his prime rubber. Vettel and Alonso are also on the harder rubber.
"I can smell something," says Vettel, "I think it's the brakes". After that battle, we'd check your underpants Seb.
Meanwhile, Maldonado becomes the sixth retirement of the day, the Lotus driving off at T1 smoke pouring from the back of the Lotus.
As Hamilton begins his final lap, Button is 1.3s adrift of Ricciardo.
Hamilton takes the flag and along with it a 25 point bite out of Rosberg's 29 point lead. Bottas takes a well-deserved second whilst Ricciardo holds on to third, no fairy tales for Button.
Vettel takes fifth, with Alonso sixth, ahead of Magnussen, Hulkenberg, Kvyat, Vergne, Perez, Grosjean, Sutil, Bianchi, Kobayashi, Chilton and Maldonado.
Whilst one has every sympathy for Rosberg, surely it is only fair that for once he has a little bit of bad luck, after all, if nothing else, it opens up the championship ahead of his (and his team's) home race.
Whilst Button might have missed out on his own fairy tale, who would deny Bottas his result today or Ricciardo? Great performances from both.
As for Vettel and Alonso, whilst both are sure to complain for the next few days, for us it was fantastic, epic driving from two great champions.
Even the final point scoring positions were filled by drivers who really deserved something following their efforts.
Drama from start to finish... so apt from the nation that gave the world Shakespeare, Dickens and so many more. Even if this weekend, was more in the style of Agatha Christie.
Check out our Race Day gallery, here.
Chris Balfe