What a race this year's Silverstone was! From start to finish, we saw drama unfold. Lewis Hamilton's superb driving did the job today, with an opportunistic Heidfeld taking second, and in the meantime, the strategic genius of Ross Brawn putting Barrichello on the extreme wets secured Honda's first podium finish of the season! What an outcome...
And what a bleak day this has been for the Ferraris. Massa was unable to control his sliding car. The commentators counted five spins and possibly more unseen.
But also a dismal performance from Kimi Raikkonen, finishing fourth, one lap down.
The grand prix started with Heikki Kovalainen in the pole position, looking all set to go on and win it. Mark Webber was in second, Raikkonen in third, and "yours truly" Hamilton waiting for his moment in fourth.
It was "him" that took a great chance right at the start, taking advantage of Webber trying to hold the iceman, "ice kool" Hamilton saw the gap and went for it, almost nailing teammate Kovalainen, who defended his first place with authority.
However, as the first round of laps would have it, Hamilton was on the pace and Kovalainen just could not hold him off any longer. It made all the more sense not to block a fellow teammate, considering Alonso was lapping one sec faster. Therefore allowing Lewis through, or rather not blocking him any further, was a better strategy.
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The rest of the race saw spectaculars spins. Webber, Massa, Raikkonen, Kovalainen, Glock, and a host of other drivers all felt the sting of the unforgivable wet conditions.
However, the biggest drama today must have been Barrichello's. The only man switching to extreme wet tyres, he came about half-a-minute faster than Lewis Hamilton before the Brit went in his second pit stop. Had it not been for the fuel-hose malfunction at Honda's pit lane, the winner of the British Grand Prix this year could have been Brazilian, not British.
However, this raises an interesting thought experiment—why did McLaren run the risk with another set of intermediate tyres for Lewis, considering a max gain of 12 second a lap on extreme wets. It would only take three laps at this pace, which Lewis is more than capable of achieving without over-cooking it.
As the saying goes, "Luck favours the brave", and it did—although the risk taken towards that extent could have been very costly...
In any event, today's race was a lot more interesting to watch than Magny Cours; Lewis did a fantastic job to get back to business after two jinxed results in both Montreal and France.
The podium was something of an originality, with three different manufacturer's on there, one being Honda, which has not happened since 2006. Ross Brawn is truly a master tactician to have decided on extreme wets for Rubens. If only Ron Dennis had done the same....
Regardless, the bottom line is that we have a threesome at the top of the driver's standing with Raikkonen, Massa, and Hamilton in the No. 1 "bed". Kubica will be watching this one closely, only two points behind this lot, whilst resurging teammate Nick Heidfeld is only 12 points behind that trio, and ten behind the guy that has outpaced, outshone, and outdone him for most of the season.
The German driver has sent the message he's in for a five-way championship decider...How sexy, I mean, how exciting?!
What it all comes down to is that today's GP was emotional, but it also revived a lot in terms of marketability for F1, with regards to the politics. The scandals and all the rubbish that is crippling the sport's image; these drivers are doing a tremendous job entertaining us to level unknown.
Mr. Mosley, how dare you try impose hefty superlicense fees?! I will never understand your reasons behind that!
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2 months ago
First across the line is Mr Levy, well done mate, lightning fingers ... Lets wait for the masses to post theirs ... How many u reckon? ... About another 15 I say.
What about the race? ... BEST DAY EVER ... I HAVENT STOPPED SMILING !
from 2 months ago
That's right my man, I'm still in the game and enjoying it; haha first to take the B/R F1 community chequered flag on race day; that's worth a POTD by all means.. And thanks for that as well... I have to admit there's so much analysis to be taken from this weekend, do expect another related article from me in a few days, waiting for everyone to write how great Lewis was and all the rest of it hahaha. 15 articles extra on that subject alone sounds about right..; Thanks for your support mate!
from 2 months ago
No worries man, you know I aint going nowhere ... I think I am like one of the foundations of this place, just cant get enough !
2 months ago
Oh and POTD for being first, ha ha ha ... Great writing though mate, are you fingers hurting ?
from 2 months ago
My fingers are fine; I use all ten of them on the keyboard so no worries there hahaha:)
Cheers for the POTD I always appreciate it especially when it comes from you despite failing to get us where Michael was this sunday but don't worry plenty of races on the calendar for us to get on board to!!!!
from 2 months ago
Oh yes ... This is only the beginning, its only a matter of time before a big company picks one of us up and gives us a contract and then we start getting paid for articles like these, ha ha ! The Masterplan !
2 months ago
Alex! Great to see you again! Where have you been?
Also, great article and I'll follow in what the great Ben has been doing with your article :)
from 2 months ago
Woo hoo, two out of two mate ... Not bad going ... To be fair though, where have you been, ha ha ... This wont happen on every article, get your finger out, ha ha ha !
from 2 months ago
Hey Sheiban!!! yeah I have started my new job as a self employed real estate agent, been so busy with work and getting new customers on board I.e. getting the ball rolling; but er now I found some time to write which is pretty kool:)
Got a few more analysis coming through, as a fellow academic I take it you understand the great difficulty in all this is being able to pick one point in particular and analyse it thoroughly as oppose to throwing everything on the table hahaa:) but anyways yep lots of writing to do, gotta wait for the storm of new articles from other lead writers to abate so I can put mines in without stepping onto other's toes!!!
2 months ago
Alright Ben!!!
Yes my finger is out of my nose!!!! don't worry, it's out and ready to pull the trigger on some more analysis but let's wait for bleacher to publish this article in the F1 page first then every one else to flood with articles after and then once that's done I'll share some kool analysis later on!!! until then thanks for the POTD guys I appreciate that with all due respect!
from 2 months ago
Anytime wingman !
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