The magic of Silverstone provide the most enthralling spectacle in a weekend which included all the pulsating highs, lows and unpredictability associated with Formula 1 racing.
Thanks mostly in part to the the Blackberry sponsored Mercedes AMG Petronas team who put on a stunning show for partisan crowd. After qualifying with a relatively large leading fastest lap on Saturday, all eyes were the darling of British racing, Lewis Hamilton. That atmostphere across Silverstone was one of jubilation as the early morning fog and clouds parted ways for the beating sunshine and many spectators were hopeful that Hamilton could pull off a stylish home victory.
However, despite beginning the race pole position and getting a blistering great start, Lewis Hamilton’s race was hampered after his rear left tyre blew out in the eighth of the race’s 52 laps sending rubber, debris and sparks flying into the air and allowing fierce rival Sebastian Vettel to pass him with ease – along with the rest of the chasing pack – as Lewis fought to keep the car moving without suffering further damage trying to return to the pit stop.
Miraculously Hamilton made it back to the pits and had the failed tyre replaced, but he was left to join the back of the race with everything to do and an absolute mountain to climb if he was to recover anything from the disastrous incident. Fans was were visibly and audibly devastated after seeing the British number one‘s tyre blowout with him leading the field and the mood across Silverstone became somewhat subdued, only rousing with excitement as the crowd roared Hamilton on each time he passed, willing him to regain ground on the other drivers.
And regain ground he did! Within two laps, Hamilton had managed to claw his way back from last to 14th position and despite challenges from Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen, Alonso who eventually took third place for Ferrari, and a fascinating mid-race contest with Force India‘s rising star Di Resta, Lewis Hamilton somehow managed to finish the race fourth, only just missing out on a well-deserved podium position.
First place went to Hamilton’s Mercedes AMG Petronas team-mate Nico Rosberg who took the top spot by just 0.7 seconds after current Championship leader Sebastian Vettel‘s car mysteriously failed in the final stages of the race. RedBull’s Mark Webber took second place in his final British Grandprix and Fernando Alonso took third place after a monstrously determined performance.
However, much of the post-race talk has been about tyres, after Felipe Massa, Sergio Perez and Jean-Eric Vergne also suffered similar tyre issues to Lewis Hamilton with all-four experiencing disastrous rear-left tyre failures at various stages during the race, prompting the safety car to come out twice as race marshals scrambled to try and clear the track of debris.
In the post-race aftermath the Pirelli boss has been “summoned for talks” with the FIA this week and a number of drivers including Jensen Button, Hamilton, Webber Perez and Massa coming out to express fears for drivers’ safety with some even suggesting that the drivers may boycott the next race at Germany’s Nurburgring unless serious action is taken.
However, despite it’s controversies, the British Grandprix at Silverstone was a wonderfully intense and exciting race and sees Sebastian Vettel’s lead at the top of the F1 driver’s Championship cut to only 21 points.
Cracking stuff!!!
