British GP Thread- Sponsored by Bernie's burger and bribe stand - contains spoilers of whole race weekend

[Fernando]

First topic message reminder :

Round eight of the FIA Formula One Championship brings the teams and drivers to Britain and Silverstone, one of the few remaining power circuits on the F1 calendar.

Silverstone hosted the first Formula One race in 1950 and has been a permanent fixture on the calendar since. The circuit has been modified several times, most recently in 2010, but despite the facelifts it has retained its character as a high-speed test of nerve. That much is proved by the fact that seven of its 18 corners are taken at over 250 km/h and that the cars are at full throttle for just over 60 per cent of each lap.

The high-speed corners, swift changes of direction and an abrasive surface do, however, mean that tyres take a beating at Silverstone and to cope with the heavy lateral loads Pirelli is bringing its hard and medium tyres to this weekend’s race.

Having taken his third victory of the season by a comfortable margin three weeks ago at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, championship leader Sebastian Vettel would appear to be best placed to tackle Silverstone’s demands. However, it’s the German’s Red Bull Racing team-mate, Mark Webber, who has thrived most obviously here in recent years, the Australian racking up wins in 2010 and last year. However Ferrari cannot be ruled out and 2011 British Grand Prix winner Fernando Alonso will be looking to close the current 36-point gap between himself and Vettel at the top of the Drivers’ Championship.

When it comes to outright single-lap pace, however, few will look further than Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Four of the seven pole positions so far have gone their way and the Silver Arrows look primed to add another here. Vettel, who has the other three poles to his credit, might have other ideas.

Facts

This will be the 64th time Formula One has staged a British Grand Prix and Silverstone will stage its 47th British GP this year. The race has also been held at Aintree (alternating yearly with Silverstone from 1955 to 1960 and in 1961 and 1962) and at Brands Hatch (alternating with Silverstone from 1963 until 1986).

Jim Clark and Alain Prost have the most British GP wins with five apiece. One of Clark’s was scored at Aintree (1962) and one at Brands Hatch (1964). All five of Prost’s were at Silverstone (1983, ’85, ’89, ’90, ’93). Prost’s best finish from attempts at Brands Hatch was third in 1986.

In 63 editions the race has been won by a round dozen Britons: Stirling Moss (1955, ’57), Tony Brooks (’57), Peter Collins (’58), Jim Clark (’62-’65 and ’67), Jackie Stewart (’69 and ’71), James Hunt (’77), John Watson (’81), Nigel Mansell (’86, ’87, ’91-’92), Damon Hill (’94), Johnny Herbert(’95), David Coulthard (’99 and 2000) and Lewis Hamilton in 2008.

Ferrari are the most successful team at the British Grand Prix with 16 wins. The Scuderia’s first F1 win was claimed at this event, with José Froilan Gonzalez, who died on June 15 this year aged 90, driving a Ferrari 375 to victory at Silverstone in 1951. The team’s most successful driver in Britain is, unsurprisingly, Michael Schumacher, who claimed all three of his British Grand Prix wins at the wheel of a Ferrari.

McLaren – in their 50th Anniversary year – are just two wins away from Ferrari’s total, while another British constructor, Williams – at Silverstone celebrating their 600th GP – are third on the list of most successful teams at the event with 10 wins. McLaren’s most recent victory came courtesy of Hamilton in 2008, while Williams have not won here since Jacques Villeneuve stood on the top step in his championship-winning year of 1997.

Of the current drivers, the most successful here are Alonso and Mark Webber. Both drivers have two wins to their credit. Alonso won here with Renault in 2006 and with Ferrari in 2011. Both Webber’s victories have been with Red Bull Racing, in 2010 and last year.

Jenson Button has more British GPs under his belt than any other driver on the grid, with 13. Despite the total he’s never appeared on the F1 podium here. The closest he’s come was fourth place in 2004 for BAR and in 2010 for McLaren. His last Silverstone podium appearance was in 1999 when he won round 15 of the British F3 championship.

Pole position isn’t of great benefit. The race has been won from the front of the grid just three times since the turn of the century (Rubens Barrichello ’03, Alonso in ’06 and Sebastian Vettel in ’09).
It certainly doesn’t hurt to be at the sharp end of the grid however. Since 2000 every winner has started from fourth or better. The last time the race was won from further back was in 1995 when Johnny Herbert started fifth. The race has never been won by anyone starting outside the top 10.

Weather forecast: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2637827

Source: Race Department

[GSC]

Webber up to 2nd, hunting Rosberg

[GSC]

Looking very much like Lotus ballsed up Raikonnens race by not pitting him behind the safety car as he drops to 4th.

[GSC]

Rosberg wins just from Webber as Alonso fills out the podium.

[NickisBHAFC]

Class Race!

Hamilton did well to recover from the big mistake and to finish in 4th. Shame though in-front of the superb crowd at Silverstone.

Webber did class after his start and to finish 2nd was great.

[GSC]

Good win from Rosberg, lady luck favoring him, but you still have to finish.

[harryspiv]

Also now almost midway through the season and Mclaren are a laughing stock

[GSC]

Alonso doesnt look a happy bunny at all

[NickisBHAFC]

Good win from Rosberg, lady luck favoring him, but you still have to finish.

 Yeah i agree with that, sums up the race tbh.

[dyrewolfe]

Punctures notwithstanding (unlucky Perez becoming the 4th victim with just a few laps to go) this was the race of the season so far. Some fantastic wheel-to-wheel racing.

Congrats Nico - his 2nd win of the season. Largely untroubled drive, he kept within touching distance of Vettel until his retirement and was able to hold off a late charge from Webber.

Joint drives of the day for me are Webber, Hamilton and Alonso. The former suffering a horrendous start, coupled with wing damage and a tyre blowout respectively, putting them well down the grid (stone dead last in the cases of Lewis) to finish on the podium and well up in the points. Good aggressive drive from Alonso to make up for a poor qualifying session, to finish 3rd.

Brilliant for Webber to be on the podium at his last appearance at Silverstone in F1.  

Good drives from Massa and Raikkonen (Felipe in particular, since he suffered the same fate as Hamilton). Kimi yet again seemed to be the victim of poor tyre strategy and ended up being easy pickings for Webber, Alonso and Hamilton.

Still think some serious thought needs to be given as to whether Pirelli can continue to be the tyre supplier. Not just for the incidents today, but they've had issues pretty much all season for one reason or another.

[harryspiv]

Good job Pirelli don't make condoms

[SteveG]

Brilliant end to the race with drivers on fresher tyres all able to push.

Have Merc made a big step forward in race pace with Hamilton looking mighty both at the start and at the end? - was even bearing down on Alonso in the final lap on older tyres (UPDATE: and a damaged car)- could sense a quiet confidence in Hami before the race and now know why. Shame as think he would've had the race in the bag.

However this race will now be overshadowed by the inevitable inquest into tyres.

[dyrewolfe]

Just seen the replay of Perez's tyre failure from Alonso's perspective...bloody scary!  

[GSC]

Ross Brawn really wasnt made for TV was he?

[GSC]

The summer of German dominance on british soil continues

[GSC]

What odds a German wimbledon winner?

[SteveG]

"So Ross did you encounter any similar problems with tyres exploding during your (illegal) test in Barcelona"?
Eddie Jordan you are such a bad man!!

[Bull]

Good race felt bad for Massa who was doing really well at the start and also for Hamilton ( i dont like him but man that sucked he was really impressive this race), Happy with 3rd for Fernando better than nothing tbh.

Loved it when Vettel's gearbox failed and the crowd cheered haha, as for the tyre exploding it was like they decided to hide land mines on the track and the four unlucky drivers set them off.

Well done to Nico and nice drive by Webber

overall a good race probs one of the best this season tbh.

[dyrewolfe]

Good job Pirelli don't make condoms

     

Brilliant end to the race with drivers on fresher tyres all able to push.

Have Merc made a big step forward in race pace with Hamilton looking mighty both at the start and at the end? - was even bearing down on Alonso in the final lap on older tyres (UPDATE: and a damaged car)- could sense a quiet confidence in Hami before the race and now know why. Shame as think he would've had the race in the bag.

However this race will now be overshadowed by the inevitable inquest into tyres.

I think Hamilton's improved performances are as much down to his mental state as anything. Remember when he was having personal issues at McLaren and his form suffered? It was mentioned before the race today that he seems a lot happier with his life and it seems to be showing in his driving.

[GSC]

He was having a proper whinge on friday though. Bit bipolar is Lewis at times.

[dyrewolfe]

"So Ross did you encounter any similar problems with tyres exploding during your (illegal) test in Barcelona"?
Eddie Jordan you are such a bad man!!

That's what I love about EJ...never afraid to ask awkward questions.  

[GSC]

Jordan needs a slap sometimes

[Fernando]

I don't think many are surprised to see that happen with the tyres we all knew something eventually would go seriously wrong. At this point most would usually blame Pirelli but they've given the teams every chance to change the tyres with the development tyres used in Canada with the kevlar inside to stop exactly what happened today but the teams said no so now the teams only have their selves to blame

[GSC]

It was a little bit of damage control from Brawn, but the point was valid. Pirelli are meant to develop tyres for cars they can't actually test them on. And then have no point of reference to develop them as teams arent giving data away.

[GSC]

Good recovery from Di Resta to finish 9th. Could've had a sniff of a podium.

Shame for Kimi that Lotus ballsed up and cost him a podium.

[SteveG]

What you say is very true DW but the difference between Barcelona and Silverstone - two high loading tracks is what's got me really upbeat. Merc need to come good because Ferrari and Lotus have gone off the boil and someone needs to take it to Red Bull.

[GSC]

We'll see in the nurburgring I guess. Pirelli brought some very conservative tyres and the 2 SCs helped. Encouraging signs, but whether they're good enough yet we'll see.

Anyone know if Pirelli are using the medium and hard tyres at Nurburgring again?

[Fernando]

They using soft/medium in Germany

[GSC]

Should be a better litmus test as to how much those days in Barcelona development has solved Mercedes tyre wear issues.

[GSC]

Twas the result of kerbs.

[Fernando]

Who said that GSC

[GSC]

Gary Anderson went to turn 4, and theres a fairly sharp back to the kerb.

[GSC]

"We have heard a lot today about Turn 4 and we have come to have look at what could be causing these punctures. Looking at the part inside the kerb, it is green to match the grass but it is actually concrete. The cars go over the section and the sidewall of the tyre could be getting caught on a sharp part of the kerb, it is about the height we saw the tyre getting cut and coming off."

Pirelli have work to do, but this was an extreme circumstance.

[Fernando]

Fair enough, I suspect those who've lambasted Pirelli for today will now refuse to apologize for being mistaken and claim it's still their fault.

The teams were offered a kevlar belt to stop these things happening they said no. Only got themselves to blame this week if they've lost points through a blowout

[GSC]

Kimi beats Schumachers record of 25 consecutive points finishes.

[GSC]

I suspect those that were quick to lambast Pirelli were waiting for the opportunity rather than reacting so you're probably correct.

Not that they are exempt from blame.

[Bull]

Well done to Kimi, though he should of pitted team cost him 2nd/3rd

[SteveG]

Tell you what - a shout for the drivers who had blowouts at 200mph+, changed tyres and did it all again. Nads of steel - all of them.

[GSC]

I'm pretty sure all the drivers are nutters anyway  

[Fernando]

Yeah pretty much im surprised Vergne didn't crap himself doing 190mph at the end of the straight just as your tyre goes bang

[Bull]

yeah felt bad for Vergne i think his better than Riccardo tbh even though he was better this race.

Im surprised Alonso did not crap himself when Sergio's tire went bang.

[dyrewolfe]

It was a little bit of damage control from Brawn, but the point was valid. Pirelli are meant to develop tyres for cars they can't actually test them on. And then have no point of reference to develop them as teams arent giving data away.

I'm sure Michelin and Bridgestone worked under the same restrictions and they seemed to do a pretty good job (that one farcical US GP at Indianapolis being very much the exception).

If those two companies could do it...why are Pirelli having such a hard time?


@Fernando & Bull: must be that combination of being nuts and having nads of steel (as neatly summed up by Steve and GSC).

[Bull]

If Pirelli was to leave who would take over as the Tyre supplier?

Michelin return?
Firestone?

[Fernando]

It was a little bit of damage control from Brawn, but the point was valid. Pirelli are meant to develop tyres for cars they can't actually test them on. And then have no point of reference to develop them as teams arent giving data away.

I'm sure Michelin and Bridgestone worked under the same restrictions and they seemed to do a pretty good job (that one farcical US GP at Indianapolis being very much the exception).

If those two companies could do it...why are Pirelli having such a hard time?


@Fernando & Bull: must be that combination of being nuts and having nads of steel (as neatly summed up by Steve and GSC).

That's a fairly simple answer really DW. Pirelli joined in 2010 the in season testing stopped in 2008. so before they the suppliers would follow teams around to tests and supply them which means teams could try them before/during after season to make sure they were suitable for racing. Plus the difference in shape effects the tyres in a different way back then as they were grooved not plain as they are now.

[GSC]

Pirelli wont leave.

I think Pirelli should be applauded for trying to make a tyre that actually makes racing interesting, they've just pushed it too far into the sensitive scale.

[SteveG]

Im surprised Alonso did not crap himself when Sergio's tire went bang.

Suppose when you've had the plank of an airborne F1 car brush the top of your helmet the odd tyre going bang in front of you is childsplay

[Bull]

  Good point steve hah

[GSC]

Dunno about all this talk of Vettel being favored in RB, Webber gets the much hotter press officer  

[Fernando]

Cheers for that reminder Steve knew there was something i forgot to add in

[GSC]

Time must be running out for Massa at Ferrari. Going out with a wimper

[SteveG]

Jeez that's bad. The lower formulas can often be mental.

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