British GP Thread (Contains Quali/Race spoilers) - Sponsored by rain

[GSC]

Track: Silverstone. Permanent circuit.

Race start time: 1pm UK time Sunday.

Laps: 52.

Track length: 5.891 km.

Tyre allocation: Hard (orange) and medium (white)

DRS Zones: Two - Wellington Straight and Hanger Straight, with separate detection points.

Driver steward: Nigel Mansell.

Lap record: Mark Webber - 1:33.401 (Red Bull; 2013).

2013 pole: Lewis Hamilton - 1:29.607 (Mercedes).

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Friday 4th July
9:45am - British GP Practice One
1:45pm - British GP Practice Two


Saturday 5th July
9:45am - British GP Practice Three
12pm - British GP Qualifying


Sunday 6th July
12pm - The 2014 British GP

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Silverstone's high average speed should favour the Mercedes-powered cars and Lewis Hamilton will be desperately keen to beat Nico Rosberg and close the gap on home soil.

Williams impressed in Austria and it will be interesting to see if they can carry that form over to the very different test that the Northamptonshire venue presents.

World Champions Red Bull may once again find their lack of straight-line speed an issue, however, their downforce levels through the high-speed turns should allow them to be more competitive than they were two weeks ago.

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Pirelli will bring the orange-marked hard and white-banded medium to Silverstone - the two hardest compounds in their range.

"Silverstone is one of the fastest circuits of the season with high energy loads going through the tyres. Because of this, the two hardest tyres in the range are best-suited to the British track," the Italian firm said.

[GSC]

60% chance of rain on Sunday. RB might fancy it.

[Guest]

Hamilton will fancy it too. Needs Rosberg to have trouble in the wet, like he did in China q3.

[Fernando]

P1

1) Rosberg 2) Hamilton 3) Alonso 4) Ricciardo 5) Raikkonen 6) Vettel 7) Button 8) Kvyat 9) Vergne 10) Magnussen

11) Perez 12) Grosjean 13) Gutierrez 14) Juncadella 15) Van der Garde 16) Bianchi

17) Massa 18) Chilton 19) Ericsson 20) Frijns 21) Wolff 22) Maldonado

[Scrumpy]

At least Wolff went the right way!

[Fernando]

Hamilton has broken down on track.

In other news Rosberg & Ricciardo have been cleared by stewards over overtaking under red flags. Kvyat was doing 37 kph (barely 20mph) and was off line

[Gerry SA]

I'm not Hamilton's biggest fan, but I like to see a fair fight.

All his technical issues are becoming rather ridiculous, surely Mercedes wouldn't be employing a bit of 'home cooking' would they?

[Scrumpy]

Yep.

That’s how it works and was one of the reason why I felt he made a mistake in going to Mercedes.

I wonder what lap his car will mysteriously lose power on?

[Fernando]

Yep.

That’s how it works and was one of the reason why I felt he made a mistake in going to Mercedes.

I wonder what lap his car will mysteriously lose power on?

36

[Guest]

Funny, Rosberg not being given a grid penalty for overtaking under red flag, yet Button got penalised last year for the same offense. Typical.

Hamiltons lost some setup but it shouldn't have too much bearing. Its raining in Silverstone now, forecast is for more over weekend, so should be interesting.

[GSC]

Kvyat was going about 20 mph off line

[GSC]

What an absolute man sausage up.

[GSC]

Top 5 got the luck in the end, why Hamilton pitted at the end I'll never know. Just finish the lap, if its slower you won't use those tyres tomorrow anyway

[Guest]

British hero = Button

Hamilton                                               

OH MY DAYS! What has just happened!

[GSC]

Could be the roll of the dice that gets Vettels season going.

[GSC]

Perez is probably a bit peed off with Hamilton for cutting off his chance at pole now.

[Fernando]

What a mistake by Hamilton - Even if it's raining do the whole lap everyone knew it was Dry in S1/S2 wait til S3 to abort the Frak thing.

[Bull]

Interesting stuff for tomorrow eh?
Oh and well- done to Marussia hopefully some points for them again.

[Guest]

Interesting stuff for tomorrow eh?
Oh and well- done to Marussia hopefully some points for them again.

I fear the damage has been done, if it's dry. Hamilton can't afford these errors. By the time he's got past four cars, I'd expect Rosberg to have a comfortable lead. Even with DRS, doubt Hamilton will get close. I'd expect Rosberg to win this & just keeping Hamilton at arms length again.

[Bull]

Well still will be interesting to see what happens with second and third. If Nico wins then good for him and if Ham then good for him. Doesn't matter to me. Just personally prefer Nico.

[Fernando]

Interesting stuff for tomorrow eh?
Oh and well- done to Marussia hopefully some points for them again.

I fear the damage has been done, if it's dry. Hamilton can't afford these errors. By the time he's got past four cars, I'd expect Rosberg to have a comfortable lead. Even with DRS, doubt Hamilton will get close. I'd expect Rosberg to win this & just keeping Hamilton at arms length again.

Lewis is making this title race much easier for Nico, Should get through from 6th pretty easily though just a matter of how far up the road Nico is by then.

This is why German efficiency always wins   

[Gerry SA]

Anyone watch the BBC coverage of qualifying?

Eddie Jordan claimed that Alonso and Hamilton will swap seat in 2015.

Anyway hoping for a wet race, as it will give Sebastian the best chance of getting a long overdue win.

Sorry to say it but Hamilton is starting to crumble, championship winning car plus a teammate who he should be beating(Hamilton is faster) but these own goals are crushing Hamilton's spirits.

[GSC]

Eddie Jordan is the controversy mouthpiece on the beeb.

[Fernando]

He's not often wrong though strangely enough. Personally i could see it happening, Alonso wants a winning car & Lewis doesn't seem that happy at Mercedes was always going to be the case against a German teammate in a German team.

[Guest]

EJ is living off the 'Hamilton to Mercedes' story he got right. He's got alot wrong since, he just shouts his mouth off & hopes one story is right. He just got the big story right two years ago & that's all people remember. It's easy to say Hamilton will leave now, when results have gone wrong, EJ was saying what a excellent move it was, when Hamilton clinched his fourth win in a row.

[Bull]

He didn't say that. He said Alonso would leave Ferrari thats what he believes. When did he say anything about Lewis changing seats?

[Guest]

I watch SKY coverage, not EJ & Tom that shocking commentator, who has no idea what's happening.

Bull, Lewis won't be going anywhere, not while Mercedes are dominant. It's just a phase of the season he is going through & people are jumping on the bandwagon of ridiculous 'not backed up' rumours. Alonso, if he goes anywhere, is more likely back to McLaren.

[bogbrush]

Yep.

That’s how it works and was one of the reason why I felt he made a mistake in going to Mercedes.

I wonder what lap his car will mysteriously lose power on?

God, the rubbish some people come out with.

[Guest]

Yep.

That’s how it works and was one of the reason why I felt he made a mistake in going to Mercedes.

I wonder what lap his car will mysteriously lose power on?

God, the rubbish some people come out with.

Your right. Lewis is the one making the mistakes & he's making them all over the place. Just gifting Rosberg points here & eventually a Championship at this rate.

Hopefully the hero from today, Sir Jenson, can pull over & let Hammy through easily tomorrow.

[Fernando]

Yep.

That’s how it works and was one of the reason why I felt he made a mistake in going to Mercedes.

I wonder what lap his car will mysteriously lose power on?

God, the rubbish some people come out with.

Your right. Lewis is the one making the mistakes & he's making them all over the place. Just gifting Rosberg points here & eventually a Championship at this rate.

Hopefully the hero from today, Sir Jenson, can pull over & let Hammy through easily tomorrow.

Are you trying to attract Alessandro out of his hole John?

*Insert Hamilton needing Glock to move over joke here*

#Wumming101

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

If its not obvious Hamilton made the right choice going to Mercedes (they have the fastest car by a mile ffs) then I dunno

He's crumbling like Gerry said. This should be his title, but he is making mistakes and quite frankly is doing a poor job at this moment.

He needs to limit his losses tomorrow

[GSC]

If Hamilton doesn't win this Championship he can't go into the top tier of drivers. Vettel or Alonso would win this title in the Merc vs Rosberg I suspect.

[monty junior]

But he is da fastast drivaaa over one lap evaaaa!

[Gerry SA]

Massive accident for Kimi, looks to have hurt himself. But walked into the medical car.

[Gerry SA]

Red flag after 1 lap

[Guest]

Barrier changing taking way too long. Kimi has a sore ankle, should be alright. Hamilton just needs to take the McLaren`s & then its showtime!

[Guest]

Rosberg gearbox issues. Believe it when I see it!

[sportform]

Is Hamilton on a one stop strategy?

[Guest]

Usual shocking pitstop by Mercedes for LH. No, he's on a two stop apparently.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

*HAMILTON SLOWER STOP CONSPIRACY KLAXON*

[Guest]

Yesssssssss!!!!!!! Rosberg in trouble

[sportform]

Usual shocking pitstop by Mercedes for LH. No, he's on a two stop apparently.

2.7 for Rosberg, 4.1 for Hamilton... German manufacturer, German driver for World Champion?

[Guest]

DNF Rosberg. Hamilton back in business, just needs to win now.

[sportform]

Rosberg gearbox issues. Believe it when I see it!

I think we've seen it now. A sight no British Formula 1 fan wanted to see

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Usual shocking pitstop by Mercedes for LH. No, he's on a two stop apparently.

2.7 for Rosberg, 4.1 for Hamilton... German manufacturer, German driver for World Champion?

*HAMILTON SLOWER STOP CONSPIRACY KLAXON*

[Guest]

Alonso`s been great entertainment today, cracking duel with Vettel. Hopefully Hamilton can wrap this up & blows the Championship wide open again.

[sportform]

Good:- Rosberg's retirement means that Hamilton is back, smack bang, in the Drivers Championship.

Bad:- Although Rosberg's retirement is good in the long term it has denied us a grandstand finale to the British Grand Prix.

[Bull]

Not a bad race will say 7/10 but well done to Lewis, shame for Nico who couldn't do much about it after the GB problem. Well done to both RIC and BOT as well.

[dyrewolfe]

I don't like to see any driver gifted a win by another's misfortune, but Hamilton did everything that could be expected and put himself in a position to profit from Nico's troubles, so he deserved the win in that sense.

Even better, Rosberg's DNF throws the title race wide open. A little disappointed though as I was looking forward to another duel.

Driver of the day for me was Bottas - an incredible charge from way back down the grid to finish 2nd, just pipping Ricciardo, Vettel and Alonso. Forget Kimi Raikkonen - this is the new Flying Finn! Gutted for Massa who showed excellent reflexes to avoid a heavier collision with Kimi (glad the Iceman is okay - probably minor injuries but was able to limp away).

Another calm, unfussy performance from Ricciardo to collect yet another podium - he must be starting to feel quite at home up there now. Poor start from Vettel, but made up for it with an aggressive recovery drive, including an amazing duel with Alonso...some of the best wheel-to-wheel racing I've ever seen!

Awesome drive from Fernando to drag his car from 16th to 5th, which he held for some time, only losing out to Vettel with 5 laps to go. 6th place still quite some achievement.

Good race for McLaren...can't remember the last time I said that. Both Button and Magnussen only dropping a position or two from their grid slots to be 4th and 7th respectively. If only JB had started his charge a couple of laps sooner, he might've nicked 3rd from Ricciardo - only 0.8 seconds behind at the finish.

Probably the best race of the season so far. Hockenheim has its work cut out to match this.

Also, glad the stewards decided to ignore the radio bickering between Vettel and Alonso and just let them get on with it.

[Bull]

Personally wouldn't say its the best race of the season but I can understand why you would go with it being the best race though.

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