14/07/2019
NEWS STORY
What a difference a year makes...
This time twelve months ago we had a title fight on our hands that involved drivers from different teams, a thrilling Grand Prix at the track where Formula One started, seeing Sebastian Vettel break thousands of British hearts by beating Lewis Hamilton on home ground.
A year on and the German starts sixth on the grid, and despite claims that he'll wait on the 2021 rules package before deciding his future, with every weekend you get the feeling that he's had enough.
Roundly beaten by a new teammate at Red Bull in 2014, it must feel like déjà vu all over again for Sebastian, as Charles Leclerc seems to improve with every race.
However, it isn't just about the arrival of the Monegasque, the rot began to set in just two weeks after last year's brilliant win, when Seb slid off track into the barriers while leading his own home race.
It was the first in a string of errors that have continued into this season, and despite the occasional humorous quip, you can see in his eyes that the passion is no longer there, or certainly not as strong as it was previously.
Whether it can be restored by moving to another team or even taking a sabbatical we don't know, but the fact is that Sebastian Vettel's heart no longer appears to be in it.
Consequently, if we are to see a major shock today, all hopes rest on young Master Charles, who is going for a different tyre strategy to the Mercedes and Red Bull pairs.
Despite this being Lewis Hamilton's home race, would it be awfully un-British to hope that the Stevenage Rocket might once again get beaten on local turf. After all, a win for teammate Valtteri Bottas would rekindle a title race that appears to be following a familiar path at present.
We saw Bottas 2.0 yesterday afternoon, we now wait to see if the Finn has had his porridge this morning or Fruit Loops.
Behind the Silver Arrows and Leclerc we have the Bulls, and still buoyed by his Spielberg win, Max Verstappen is confident he can fight for victory today. Thus far, Pierre Gasly has had a strong weekend, but then again, after finishing a lap down on his teammate in Austria he needs it.
As if Vettel doesn't have enough on his plate, starting from sixth he has the likes of Ricciardo, Norris, Albon, Hulkenberg, Giovinazzi, Raikkonen and Sainz breathing down his neck, who will all regard the Ferrari as an irrelevance as the mighty fight for dominance of the midfield resumes.
While it is a relatively short sprint to T1, the first heavy braking event doesn't actually occur until T3, which means the Ferraris, in particular, could make full use of their softs. Leclerc will be seeking to gain the initiative, hoping that the in-team fight at Mercedes might cause the Silver Arrows pair to take their eye off the ball.
Having had a poor start in Austria, Red Bull and Honda will be keen to see Verstappen get the best possible getaway today, even if thinks didn't work out to badly for the youngster at Spielberg in the end.
This being England, we can expect the weather to play a part, and while there is no rain currently predicted, it remains warmish, while the winds have been causing problems throughout the weekend.
Then there's the new track surface, which has also caused problems, and which, as we have seen, punishes the slightest error. Something to bear in mind when the lights go out and that first lap gets underway.
Indeed, we are almost guaranteed an appearance by the safety car which has been deployed six times in the last five years.
The quickest strategy is a two-stopper, with a one-stopper practically ruled out. The best two-stopper is to start on the soft, after 13 laps take a new set of softs for another 13-lap stint and finally take the hards to the finish. Alternatively, start on the mediums for 15 laps, change to the softs for 13 laps, and finally hards to the end.
A three-stopper is also possible, if wear on the softs is higher than expected. This would work as follows: softs for eight laps, softs for 11 laps, softs for another 11 laps, and then hards to the end.
Theoretically, a two-stopper using the hards for two stints would also work well here, but no driver has more than one set of hards available.
Sadly, one team which will play little more than a walk-on support role today is Williams, George Russell and Robert Kubica unlikely to finish on the same lap as the winners.
A far cry from that day forty years ago when Clay Regazzoni scored the first of the teams many wins, the Grove outfit still, despite its current issues, the most successful British team in terms on constructor titles and second only to McLaren in terms of drivers' titles.
On a weekend that the sport recognises Sir Frank Williams 50th year as a team boss, the longest in the history of the sport, it is unlikely that the British team will have much else to celebrate.
Going back a further ten years to 1969, it was here in 1969, that a certain website editor - at that time an awkward, gangly 15-year-old - managed to drop an ice cream into the lap of his hero, Chris Amon as he asked the kiwi for his autograph. Nowadays there would be a selfie of the incident.
Air temperature is 17.8 degrees C, while the track temperature is 28.1 degrees.
On the grid there's a late scare for Verstappen. "We just found a little issue with the endplate, so got permission to change it," reveals Christian Horner.
Other than the Mercedes and Bulls, also starting on the mediums are Giovinazzi, Raikkonen, Sainz, Perez, Stroll, Russell and Kubica. The rest are on softs.
Bottas is warned that the wind has picked up and there is a headwind going into Turn 1.
The Finn leads the field away on the warm-up lap. Indeed, he appears to be in a hurry to get things underway, while Hamilton takes his time.
They're away. Bottas wastes no time in moving across to cover his teammate, as Leclerc holds off Verstappen. Norris is past Ricciardo and by T3 is alongside Gasly.
Hamilton is all over Bottas, first looking to one side and then the other. Into Copse and Ricciardo and Sainz are side by side in Copse, the pair continuing their scrap through Becketts and Maggotts.
A slight mistake sees Bottas lock-up going into Vale, allowing Hamilton to get that little bit closer
At the end of lap 1, it's: Bottas, Hamilton, Leclerc, Verstappen, Vettel, Gasly, Norris, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg and Albon.
Both Haas drivers pit at the end of the opening lap. Replays shows the two clashed at Aintree and they followed the battling Alfa, both picking up punctures in the process.
Just two laps into the race and Magnussen is about to be lapped.
Hamilton continues to pressure his teammate, the Briton really up for it. He almost pulls alongside Bottas at Stowe but the Finn has the line.
The Silver Arrows go wheel to wheel, Hamilton, with the aid of DRS, is alongside Bottas as they exit Brooklands, the Finn going a little too deep, and the Briton takes the lead. The crowd roars.
On the old pit straight however, Bottas is back alongside Hamilton and going into Copse the Finn snatches the lead back, though in fairness the world champion gives his teammate more room than he would normally. Again the crowd roars its approval at what is a thrilling scrap.
As the Silver Arrows continue to battle, Leclerc and Verstappen keep a watching eye.
Ricciardo continues to harry Norris, as Albon is all over the rear of Hulkenberg.
Bottas and his teammate trade fastest laps, as Leclerc falls 2s behind.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Silverstone, here.
As Sainz is told that some cars are showing signs of rear graining, Hamilton is told that Leclerc's front-left is showing signs of wear.
Magnussen pits at the end of lap 7, and sadly it's terminal. It's his first retirement of the season. The Dane had reported "something loose" around his pedals.
Verstappen is closing on Leclerc as the Ferrari falls 2.9s behind Hamilton.
Hulkenberg appears to have dropped Albon and is now closing on his Renault teammate.
Verstappen prepares to make a move on Leclerc at Stowe but the youngster slams the door.
As the pair battle, Vettel closes in. In moments, Verstappen goes from hunter to hunted.
Grosjean pits at the end of lap 10.
As if this wasn't exciting enough, Gasly closes in on Vettel. Two Red Bulls against two Ferraris.
Gasly nails Vettel, and while the German tries to fight make he is clearly struggling for grip on those worn softs.
However, it is Gasly that pits, the Frenchman stopping at the end of lap 12. He switches to hards as Ricciardo also pits, as does Kvyat. Grosjean, like his teammate, has retired.
At the end of lap 13, Leclerc and Verstappen both pit, as Bottas is told to lean on his tyres.
Leclerc and Verstappen head back down the pitlane side-by-side, but shortly after rejoining the Red Bull runs wide, the Ferrari driver doesn't wait for a written invitation. "No grip," says Verstappen who is still on mediums as is Leclerc.
Norris has also pitted, as have Albon and Hulkenberg.
A string of fastest laps sees Bottas extend his lead to 1.4s.
Verstappen closes on Leclerc as battle resumes.
Bottas pits at the end of lap 16, rejoining in third still on the mediums.
As he goes quickest in S1, Verstappen lunges at Leclerc who looks to have a tough afternoon ahead of him.
Gasly and Albon are under investigation for an incident during their pit stops.
Raikkonen pits at the end of lap 17, as Verstappen is all over Leclerc in Brooklands.
Jeez!! How they didn't collide we will never know, but somehow Leclerc slams the door on Verstappen as he attacks at Stowe. The Dutchman feels the Ferrari driver moved too late. That was heart in mouth stuff.
Out come the yellows as Giovinazzi is off track and in the grave at T4l. The safety car is deployed.
Hamilton pits, as does Vettel. The Briton rejoins still leading and on the hards. Vettel rejoins in third also on hards.
Verstappen pits for a second time, while Sainz and Ricciardo also stop.
Leclerc also pits, but surely it is too late. He rejoins in sixth on the hards.
So, after 21 laps, behind the safety car, it's: Hamilton, Bottas, Vettel, Gasly, Verstappen, Leclerc, Sainz, Norris, Albon and Ricciardo. Ricciardo the big loser there, as are Bottas and Leclerc, while Sainz is the one who gains most.
"How in hell did we lose that place," asks a very frustrated Leclerc. The youngster is essentially told to keep his head down.
The safety car is withdrawn at the end of lap 23.
While most can run to the end, Bottas, on the mediums, has to stop again. As do Norris and Albon.
At the re-start, Verstappen almost runs into the rear of his teammate. Further back it's frantic and in the midst of the mightiest of midfield scraps Perez is hit by Hulkenberg, damaging his front wing.
Verstappen, who has been allowed to pass Gasly, makes a move on Leclerc moments after the youngster appeared to catch him napping, the Red Bull driver almost barges his way through. Indeed, the pair take full advantage - and then some - of the track limits as the pair touch.
Perez pits for a new front wing.
Out front Hamilton has a 1.6s lead over Bottas, who has to stop again. Vettel is a further 5.3s behind.
Leclerc closes on Gasly, who remains 1.9s behind the second Red Bull.
Norris, who still has to stop again, and complains about being "screwed over" on strategy, is assured that despite a "poorly timed safety car" there is "still plenty to play for".
Still shadowing Gasly, Leclerc goes quickest in S1, as teammate Vettel falls 7.6 behind Bottas and with 1.2s of Verstappen.
"Keep the pressure on, your battery is in a healthy state," Verstappen is told. As the Red Bull driver shadows Vettel, the situation is reversed not too far behind where Leclerc is continuing to hunt down Gasly.
Lap 34 sees a new fastest lap from Hamilton (29.160).
"I heard something strange in Turn 7 on pick-up," reports Verstappen.
Leclerc finally nails Gasly in the Arena, the Frenchman attempts to take the position back, but all is lost.
Bottas now posts a new fastest lap (29.127), which is a new lap record.
Verstappen nails Vettel into Stowe, but subsequently under braking the German runs into the rear of the Red Bull in Vale following a massive lock-up, causing both cars to spin, the Dutchman briefly taking to the air.
"What the..." says Verstappen. "What was he doing," asks Vettel.
Vettel pits for a new front wing, the German rejoining in 16th (of 17) on hards.
Needless to say, the incident is under investigation.
All of which leaves Leclerc third and Verstappen fifth, behind his Red Bull teammate. Furthermore, with a 19s gap to Leclerc this would allow Bottas to make his second stop and hold position.
"We're as happy as we can be," Verstappen is told, "the suspension's fine, it's all to play for". However, the youngster fears there is damage to his car.
Out front, the Mercedes pair continue to trade fastest laps.
As Vettel is given a 10s time penalty for "causing a collision", Norris has made his second stop, and has rejoined in 12th on hards.
As Ricciardo continues to hunt Sainz, that wily old fox, Raikkonen, is back in the points, currently running 9th.
On lap 43, Hulkenberg runs wide at Becketts, losing several positions in the process..
"Box, box, box, box," Hamilton is told. But he doesn't.
No sooner has Bottas complained of a "vibration at the front" than he is told to pit. He rejoins still in second on the softs, 22.7s down on his teammate.
Ricciardo is all over Sainz, as the pair battle for sixth, both on hard tyres that have done 26 laps.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Silverstone, here.
Once again the pit crew head out for Hamilton, but again he opts to stay out.
Behind Ricciardo, it appears fairly evenly spread out, with Raikkonen leading the Toro Rossos.
"Where's Lewis?" asks Leclerc, who is 26.8s down on the race leader. Meanwhile "Lewis" is asking how many laps remain.
Meanwhile, Vettel has passed Perez, who has pitted for a third time, for 16th. The German subsequently passes Kubica also, but still has that 10s time penalty.
Hamilton begins his final lap, as Kvyat mounts a late challenge on Raikkonen.
As if to rub their noses in it, Hamilton takes the flag by posting the fastest lap of the race, that's on 32 lap old hard tyres.
Sainz holds off Ricciardo, while Raikkonen holds off Kvyat. However, for reasons unknown, Albon is passed by both Hulkenberg and Norris on the last lap, meaning that both Renaults finished in the points.
While the safety car really played into Hamilton's hands, it was still a masterclass performance from the Briton, who is now the most successful driver in the history of the event.
Within the team motorhomes there are sure to be a number of post-mortems, and while Bottas and Leclerc both 'regained' their podium positions, it was more luck than judgement, with both benefitting from Vettel's clash with Verstappen.
Although the record books will show yet another 1-2 for Mercedes, another win for Lewis Hamilton, this doesn't begin to do justice to what was a thoroughly entertaining race, that genuinely featured a number of heart in mouth moments.
And while we salivate at the thought of the many exciting afternoons still to come courtesy of the likes of Leclerc and Verstappen, sadly it was another hugely disappointing day for Vettel, who, in the moments after race, goes to Verstappen, who is still in his car, to apologise. The pair shake hands.
All that aside, an emphatic win for Lewis, who despite, according to The Grauniad, lacks 'Britishness', raise the flag ever higher as he races on to further wins, further records and further titles.
A thoroughly entertaining afternoon.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Silverstone, here.