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]

Confirmed that Di Resta will start 24th or from the pitlane.

[Fernando]

Id expect the pitlane like Vettel at Abu Dhabi the car is clearly fast around here so should make his way through the back 10 comfortably

[GSC]

Yeah, allows you to put a full race setup on the car as well

[SteveG]

As with Abu Dhabi last year the ability to change the setup kind of makes a mockery of parc ferme - it also makes me wonder why anyone who has been sent to the back of the grid (Hamilton at Barcelona last year springs to mind) have not always done the same thing.

[Bull]

I think De Resta will leave FI at the end of the season after all this madness there.

could see him replace Grosjean at Lotus if he does not do well enough (I think Kimi will stay), i expect also Massa to leave and go to Sauber or Lotus(depending on what happens) as for the other Ferrari seat (not too sure maybe the Hulk)

[GSC]

I imagine its more likely Kimi goes to RB, Massa replaces him at Lotus and Di Resta or Bianchi go to Ferrari.

[SteveG]

Would love to see the Hulk in a better car - think he would do the business - unlucky to lose his seat at Williams to a pay driver after a decent rookie season and his beating of Di Resta last year came as no surprise. Never really understood why he went to Sauber which even without the benefit of hindsight always looked a sideways move at best.

[Bull]

I imagine its more likely Kimi goes to RB, Massa replaces him at Lotus and Di Resta or Bianchi go to Ferrari.

I Dont agree, i reckon Kimi wont go, he will hate playing second fiddle to Vettel , so i see him staying at Lotus.

[Bull]

Would love to see the Hulk in a better car - think he would do the business - unlucky to lose his seat at Williams to a pay driver after a decent rookie season and his beating of Di Resta last year came as no surprise. Never really understood why he went to Sauber which even without the benefit of hindsight always looked a sideways move at best.

I think he want to Sauber because its like a platform for Ferrari like Torro Rosso is for Red Bull?

[GSC]

Kimi doesn't have a championship car at Lotus. Even #2 to Vettel offers a better chance

[SteveG]

I think he want to Sauber because its like a platform for Ferrari like Torro Rosso is for Red Bull?

Well its probable that Massas seat will become available so hope it works out - would be a good battle with Alonso.

[GSC]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/23114886

McLaren moving onto the 2014 car. Thought this might happen sooner or later. Wouldn't back against them being much more competitive tbf.

[dyrewolfe]

Kimi doesn't have a championship car at Lotus. Even #2 to Vettel offers a better chance

How so, when he'd only be allowed free reign if Vettel goes off, or has issues?

If they tried operating an equal driver policy I can only imagine it would work out the same way Hamilton and Alonso did at McLaren.

its also telling that Vettel has openly said he'd like to be consulted about who takes over as his team mate.


As to the race today, no major surprises in qualifying, so it looks like being another Red Bull win with Mercedes getting at least 1 podium, assuming no accidents or technical problems.

Raikkonen is far enough down that he probably won't trouble the front runners. You can never write off Alonso but he's got his work cut out for him.

[GSC]

FI to start from the pit lane

[Fernando]

Pirelli expect a 3 stop race with FI/Lotus doing 2 stops

Sutil could be a good punt for a podium if can disperse Ricciardo quickly

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

GO ON DI RESTA!!

[NickisBHAFC]

Hamilton going out  Christ all mighty, what the hell happened there???

[GSC]

Hamilton tyre explodes

[NickisBHAFC]

Massa tyres next to explode!!!

[harryspiv]

Just goes to show how much of a joke The tyre specifications are. Now no doubt the finger will just cruise it

[SteveG]

Lewis Hamilton the fastest and unlukiest driver in F1.

And there goes Massas tyre.

An utter farce.

[GSC]

Massa out at Silverstone. It was going to happen sooner or later

[NickisBHAFC]

Another one bites the dust!!!!!!

[harryspiv]

The race should be stopped before someone gets hurt, that's a prime tyre gone

[GSC]

Vergne next to implode

[GSC]

Same as Massa in P2, kerb cutting the side of the tyre. Time to avoid the kerb a bit.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

This is obviously a conspiracy to make sure Vettel wins and Hamilton doesnt...

[GSC]

Safety car time. Backing up Vettel and Rosberg

[GSC]

RB confirming that. The kerbs are damaging the tyres.

[dyrewolfe]

This is a joke...

Pirelli are a joke...

Whatever tinkering they did last time around, they just appear to have made things worse.

3 tyres blowing inside the first 15 laps is a disgrace...completely unacceptable.

Pirelli seem incapable of producing tyres fit for F1 and they need to be ditched at the end of this season.

Bring back Michelin or even Bridgestone (with an agreement not to meake them indestructible).

Why not consider bringing a new manufacturer like Continental, Firestone or Hankook on board?

This farce cannot be allowed to continue.

[GSC]

To be brutally fair to Pirelli, this appears to be an extreme circumstance.

[dyrewolfe]

RB confirming that. The kerbs are damaging the tyres.

Funny how we never saw this many blow-outs with other tyre manufacturers.

Maybe part of the Silverstone overhaul included new, sharp kerbs? If so, maybe they need to send work crews out with angle grinders to smooth them down a bit?

[GSC]

Its a tricky line to cross tbf. Tyres too sensitive that drivers have to manage them and don't push, or indestructible tyres that everyone does 1 mandatory stop, theres no room for strategy and its dull.

[GSC]

Gary Anderson making a good point tbf. Its not an issue limited to cars that have been typically hard on their tyres.

[bogbrush]

To be brutally fair to Pirelli, this appears to be an extreme circumstance.

To be even more fair, they want to develop the tyres but are being stopped by teams who want handicaps on other teams.

[NickisBHAFC]

Don't rule Hamilton out yet.

[GSC]

Of the win? Yes hes out. Still has to make a fresh pit stop and already behind Kimi, Alonso and Webber who have pitted.

Barring some very good fortune

[GSC]

Kimi, Webber and Alonso for the last podium place likely.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

And taking on the fact he couldnt overtake Di Resta he's not gonna win

[GSC]

He'll take him sooner or later with the superior machinery.

[GSC]

There you go.

[GSC]

Vettel out with a gear problem, Rosberg leads

[harryspiv]

Bye bye finger

[dyrewolfe]

Oh dear. bad luck Seb. But then I suppose he was due some. If nothing else it helps keep the title race interesting.

Fingers crossed for Rosberg! Lets hope Lewis can make up a few more places too.

[GSC]

Unfortunate, very good drive up to then.

[NickisBHAFC]

hahahahaha Vetell!!!

[dyrewolfe]

To be brutally fair to Pirelli, this appears to be an extreme circumstance.

To be even more fair, they want to develop the tyres but are being stopped by teams who want handicaps on other teams.

In that case, to be even more fair, there should be some ruling that means the teams have to keep their noses out of the tyre manufacturer's business.

And if the manufacturer wants to do any in-season testing, they should have their own in-house test facilities, meaning they don't need to call on the services of the competitors.

[GSC]

Rosberg going to cruise home on fresh tyres in a quick car. Can Kimi hold off a charging Webber for 2nd on old tyres?

[GSC]

At this point Alonso needs 6 massive laps for his title hopes.

[GSC]

Perez the 4th tyre implosion

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