05/07/2015
NEWS STORY
Editor Balfe's first Grand Prix at Silverstone was the 1969 event.
Whilst many will remember it for the epic duel between Jackie Stewart and Jochen Rindt, the Austrian losing out as a result of two pit stops, one for a damaged rear wing, the other for a 'splash 'n' dash, thereby leaving his Scottish rival to lap the entire field, our esteemed editor remembers it for another reason.
Ahead of the race, the gawky schoolkid was able to access the paddock - as fans could do back then - where he spied his hero, Chris Amon, sitting in a small Fiat.
Autograph book in one hand, an ice cream in the other, editor Balfe leaned into to the car to get his hero's autograph. Being Amon's birthday, our editor proudly offered the Kiwi his congratulations, only to be left mortified when his ice cream fell into the driver's lap.
As Balfe made a hasty retreat, apologising profusely, and Amon wiped himself free, Ferrari teammate Pedro Rodriguez, who had been sitting alongside the Kiwi, howled with laughter.
As if to ensure that the date - 20 July 1969 - was never to be forgotten, later the day Balfe watched, along with millions of others, as Neil Armstrong uttered the words... "one small step for man..."
The following year, Balfe was to witness Rodriguez give one of the greatest performances he has ever witnessed in a racing car, driving his Porsche 917 to victory at Brands Hatch. Months later, Rindt was to perish at Monza, but still becoming the sport's only posthumous champion, the Mexican joining him in motorsport heaven the following July.
In an article to be published later this week, Max Noble suggests that we tend to look back at the past with rose-coloured spectacles, convincing ourselves that the 'good old days' were better.
Whilst, on paper, the result of that 1969 race suggests domination of staggering proportions, Balfe argues that it is so many other aspects that have changed for the worse, not least the lack of access to one's heroes, if only to spill ice cream on them.
Then there is the circuit, barely recognisable from the 1969 version, a circuit, which along with Monza, was one of the very fastest, the most demanding. Now, largely emasculated, re-profiled for the demands of TV broadcasters who barely gave the sport lip service 'back then'.
Based on the evidence thus far this weekend, while it is unlikely we are going to see the entire field lapped, Mercedes looks likely to run riot. Third placed Felipe Massa, the only driver to significantly improve on his final run, qualified 0.83s down on pole-man Lewis Hamilton, 0.72 down on Nico Rosberg.
While Hamilton has looked scrappy for much of the weekend, much like he did in Austria, in Q3, when it really mattered, he got it together and took a well-deserved pole.
All that matters now is not to repeat his Red Bull Ring mistake and get his car off the line ahead of his teammate. With that in mind, the Briton is running a 2014-spec clutch spring.
Massa heads an all-Williams second row, and while the Grove outfit is unlikely to be challenging its Brackley rivals, it will be delighted to be ahead of the Ferrari pair who fill row three.
Interestingly, Kimi Raikkonen, the subject of continued, intense speculation, was the quicker of the two, the Finn really needing a good result here.
The next two rows are mostly taken by the Renault-powered Red Bulls and Toro Rossos. Daniel Ricciardo one of several drivers to lose his time after running wide at Copse (T9) yesterday, whilst Carlos Sainz clearly didn't encounter the massive changes between FP3 and qualifying that his teammate did.
A strong, convincing start for the B-spec Force India, Nico Hulkenberg doing a fine job to take ninth, whilst Sergio Perez was another to fall foul of T9, albeit in Q2.
Neither Lotus made it to Q3, the E23 lacking the downforce so vital at this track. Then again, much to his engineer's obvious frustration, Pastor Maldonado's numerous excursions at T9 didn't help.
Whilst three teams dominate the first three rows, so three teams have the infamous honour of filling the three final rows, Sauber, McLaren and Manor.
After two days of bright sunshine and (fairly) intense heat, today the weather is a little more typical, cool and overcast. This, of course, will impact some more than others, Ferrari probably thankful for the slightly cooler conditions.
There is talk of rain later in the day - and the rest of the country has had its fair share in the last 24 hours - which would surely turn the race on its head.
If it remains as it is, we are likely to see another (groan) one stopper, but a lot will depend on track temperature.
Generally, wear and degradation is higher with higher temperatures, but tyres can also be affected by cooler conditions than expected, because they slide more when they are outside their optimal working range.
The ideal one-stopper would be to start on the mediums (option) and change to the hards on lap 23. A two-stopper could be to start on mediums, change to mediums again on lap 17, then hards on lap 34.
As the pitlane opens, Pirelli tweets: "Was cloudy, now warming up" Vettel is the first to head out.
Early problems for Nasr who stops on the approach to Stowe (T15). "Should I go neutral," he asks. "You can try but we don't think it will work," is the weary response.
The cars on the grid, bar Nasr, the drivers assemble for the national anthem, and possibly the most excruciating version of it we've ever heard.
As the field prepares to head off on the warm-up lap, ahead of a very good crowd, officials reveal there is a 30% chance of rain.
Nasr, who is back in the pits with his car, will start from the pitlane says Sauber, though it doesn't reveal what his "issue" is.
As the field heads off on the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 19 degrees C while the track temperature is 32 degrees. Wind is blustery but not as bad as yesterday.
Another update from Sauber. "Felipe will not be able to race today due to a mechanical issue related to the gearbox," says the Swiss team.
As they head off, everyone bar Verstappen is on the option rubber.
"Grip was really poor," complains Hamilton of his practice start.
They're away. A brilliant start from Massa who slips between the two Mercedes and leads the field into the first corner. A great start from Bottas also who follows his teammate and passes Hamilton but the Briton re-takes the position. Further back there's are incidents involving the Lotus and McLaren duos.
Sainz and Kvyat are battling for position, while behind Ricciardo and Grosjean are ‘up close and personal’. The Frenchman, caught out by the Australian veers into his Lotus teammate, knocking him off track, whilst, in an effort to avoid the melees, Alonso clouts his McLaren teammate Button. The Briton and Grosjean are both out on the spot.
At the end of lap 1, it's Massa, Hamilton, Bottas, Rosberg, Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Vettel, Perez, Kvyat and Sainz.
The Safety Car is deployed, Alonso and Maldonado both pit. However, the Venezuelan subsequently stops as he leaves the pits.
After 3 laps, the Safety Car about to pull off, Hamilton is all over Massa, he makes a moves but runs wide which allows Bottas through. The error also allows Rosberg to close in as Raikkonen challenges Hulkenberg, Further back, Verstappen's race is over, the youngster spinning off at T2.
A great move sees Kvyat pass Vettel for seventh, as Hamilton rues his over enthusiasm at the re-start.
The incidents involving Button and Grosjean at the start is to be investigated, say the stewards.
After 5 laps, it's: Massa, Bottas, Hamilton, Rosberg, Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Kvyat, Perez, Vettel and Sainz.
Out front, Massa posts a new fastest lap (39.515) as he builds a 1s lead, Bottas a similar distance ahead of Hamilton. Both Grove cars lapping faster than the Mercedes pair.
Asked to cool his brakes, Raikkonen snaps that he can't whilst battling for sixth and trying to hold off Kvyat.
As Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (39.293), Bottas closes in on Masa with the aid of DRS.
Next time around Rosberg goes quickest (39.198) as he enjoys a 5s cushion over Hulkenberg.
"No racing your teammate for now," Bottas is told, Massa subsequently given similar instructions. The Grove outfit is aware that the battle is with Mercedes not in-team. Bottas isn't entirely happy, feeling he has more pace than his teammate.
Indeed, on the run to Stowe he makes another challenge as if to prove his point that he is quicker.
Told again not to race his teammate, Bottas says he is not racing him.
"It has to be a very clean move and you have to pull away," the Finn is now told, the team having had a change of heart, aware of the Finn's plight.
Ricciardo pits at the end of lap 11, switching from options to primes, ejoining in 13th as Rosberg posts a new fastest lap (39.197).
Hulkenberg now under pressure from Raikkonen, Kvyat and Vettel.
Sainz pits at the end of lap 12.
The leading four covered by just 2.1s.
Raikkonen pits at the end of lap 13, no doubt to get him out of the traffic jam behind Hulkenberg.
As Hamilton complains of his car being "oversteery," Bottas closes on Massa again.
Possibly following Raikkonen's example, Mercedes appears to be ready for a pit stop, but neither driver pits. Vettel, on the other hand, does. The Ferraris now ninth and tenth.
On fresh rubber, Raikkonen goes quickest (38.954) as he hunts down Ericsson who is 4.6s up the road.
Ricciardo complains of a loss of power as Bottas continues to harry his Brazilian teammate. Elsewhere, Vettel goes quickest, crossing the line at 38.520.
Bottas almost gets around the outside of Massa at Stowe, but no dice.
Alonso, currently twelfth, pits at the end of lap 17. Next time around it is Kvyat who stops for fresh rubber.
"Keep doing what you're doing," Massa is told, the Brazilian admitting concern at his car's balance.
"Box, box, box" Hamilton is told on lap 19, he obeys the call. Hulkenberg also pits, as Hamilton rejoins in fourth ahead of Perez.
Next time around Massa and Rosberg both pit, they head back down the pitlane side-by-side, rejoining in third (Massa) and fourth (Rosberg) behind Hamilton.
Bottas pits at the end of lap 21 as Ricciardo also pits. The Finn rejoins in third behind Hamilton and his teammate. However, he is under immediate attack from Rosberg, who fails to nail the Finn.
Out front, Hamilton has a 2.9s lead, much to the crowd's delight, whilst Williams is left to contemplate what might have been.
"Nico, we're going to go to Plan B," Rosberg is told.
In the pits, Ricciardo's race appears to be over as he is wheeled into his garage.
After 22 laps, it's: Hamilton, Massa, Bottas, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Vettel, Kvyat, Hulkenberg, Ericsson and Sainz. The Swede has yet to stop, as have Stevens and Merhi.
Masa is told that he is now "racing to the end". "It's a straight fight to the end, we're racing everybody including Valtteri," he is advised.
Out front, 4.2s clear of Massa, Hamilton is told that there is a threat of rain in thirty minutes. Raikkonen is given a similar warning, but that it will be in twenty minutes, arriving at T15.
Rosberg, in fourth, must deal with the Williams if he is to keep in touch with his teammate in terms of the title fight.
Unseen, Ericsson has pitted and is now down in eleventh, promoting Perez to tenth and in the points.
Rosberg is now told that rain is expected in fifteen minutes. Indeed, there are some very dark clouds in the distance.
Perez is warned of "light rain" in fifteen minutes and "harder rain" in thirty minutes.
Rosberg is all over Bottas but is unable to make an impression. The Finn has now slipped 1.3s behind his Williams teammate.
Perez is warned to keep within the track limits at T9.
"Give it everything," Rosberg is told, "give it everything."
A big lock-up for Sainz, causes Perez to run wide in an effort to avoid him. Shortly after the Spaniard slows to a halt at Club (T17), thereby leading to the Virtual Safety Car to be deployed.
This, of course, will help bunch up the field a little ahead of the rain's arrival.
As the Toro Rosso is lifted to safety, the VSC ends, at which point the rain arrives, witness the scrambled search for umbrellas and raincoats in the stands.
It's light rain, but Bottas feels he needs to stop. His team says it is too early. "Your feedback could make or break this race," he is told.
A few minor wobbles but nobody is pitting to change tyres.
Rosberg closes in on Bottas, as Stevens pit. Rosberg and Bottas both wobble, the German running wide in T8. Ericsson and Alonso pit.
"We need to pit," urges Bottas, but he is told to sit it out as Vettel passes Raikkonen. Raikkonen subsequently pits.
Rosberg passes Bottas on the run from Copse, the Finn clearly unhappy to still be out there on slicks.
"We thinks that shower has passed," Hamilton is told, "the next shower will be in five minutes but it will be light."
Replay shows a problem with Raikkonen's front-right during his stop.
Rosberg is now right up the exhaust of Massa, indeed the German passes the Brazilian who is clearly struggling.
On the Inters, Raikkonen is tippy-toeing his way around the track lapping several seconds off the pace. No such problems for Vettel who is now hunting down the Williams duo.
Raikkonen drops to ninth as he is passed by Perez. Elsewhere, Rosberg has closed to within 3.7s of his Mercedes teammate.
"Keep us advised on the tyres Nico," Rosberg is told, "may yet have to go to Inters."
Hamilton pits, unhappy with his tyres, thereby handing the lead to Rosberg. As he fits Inters it is clear the rain has returned and it increasing in intensity.
Vettel and Ericsson pit, as Rosberg advises that he will stop at the end of the lap.
Confident on his Inters, Hamilton ups his pace. Elsewhere, Rosberg pits. The Williams duo also stop, the drivers 'stacked', as does Kvyat.
Hamilton, who timed his stop absolutely perfectly, leads Rosberg as Bottas runs wide, Vettel now up to third. The Ferrari driver also made a perfect call in terms of switching to the green banded tyres.
Seemingly one part of the track is very wet, another, not so. Hamilton leads Rosberg by 9.1s with Vettel a further 15.2s down the road. Massa is fourth, ahead of Bottas, Kvyat, Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Perez and Alonso.
After 46 laps, all are on Inters, all up to ninth placed Perez having been lapped.
Stevens runs wide at T7, re-emerging minus his front wing having clouted the barriers. Elsewhere, Raikkonen pits from eighth to take on another set of Inters.
The laps count down, Hamilton now 11.36s clear of his teammate who is 15.3s clear of third-placed Vettel. Nobody taking any unnecessary chances.
If nothing else, Alonso looks set to take his first points of the year.
Hamilton begins his final lap, and whilst the track looks dry it is still clearly slippery, the situation not helped by being on Inters.
As the crowd cheers, anticipating his victory, the sun breaks through the clouds.
He takes the flag, followed by Rosberg, Vettel, Massa and Bottas, who fends off a late surge from Kvyat. Hulkenberg is seventh, ahead of Raikkonen, Perez, Alonso, Ericsson, Merhi and Stevens.
Thanks to great starts from the Williams duo, a few questionable decision in terms of strategy and the weather gods, we got a half-decent race today, hopefully the media will agree... if only to appease Matthew Carter.
Hopefully, there will be a few teenagers who will look back on this race in forty-odds years time with great affection, boring all and sundry with tales of the good old days, even if ice cream wasn't involved.
Not a classic, but a lot better than some of the races we've witnessed recently.
Check out our Sunday gallery, here.