11/07/2010
NEWS STORY
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If we are to believe some of the gossip coming out of the paddock over the last 24-hours, the only people who really offer a threat to Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber today are Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.
At the culmination of a week which saw Webber point the accusatory finger - in terms of acrimony between teammates - away from Milton Keynes and towards Woking, much is being made of the fact that in taking pole position for today's race, Vettel used a new wing taken from the Australian's car.
Whatever one might think of a media that revels in muckstirring, the fact is that there is something amiss at Red Bull.
In the wake of the incident in Turkey, when Vettel clearly hit Webber, such was his determination to take the lead, team boss Christian Horner sided with the German. In truth, the Englishman didn't look comfortable and one has to suspect that the order came from on high.
Over the next week the Red Bull machine kicked into gear and its two drivers were seen smiling and shaking hands, the team even went so far as to give the Australian an extension to his contract.
However, ignoring Webber's obvious unease in Valencia, and the ludicrous attempt to shift attention to McLaren this week, it was clear yesterday that all is far from well within the Austrian outfit. Speaking of Vettel's pole, Webber sardonically commented that the team had got the result it wanted.
Therefore, as the temperature continues to rise - not only around Silverstone but within the Red Bull garage and motorhome - one has to wonder whether today's race might end in tears.
Barring a shock change in the weather or the appearance of a lunatic former priest, today belongs to Red Bull, with the political infighting hopefully being saved for after the race.
Ferrari has clearly made an improvement here, and the Italian team, which enjoys great support in Britain as it does around the world, is sure to consolidate its third place in the Constructors' Championship.
At McLaren, sadly it's a team of two halve this weekend - much to the delight of much of the crowd - as Button appears to surrender, claiming that his car is "undriveable" and Hamilton drives the lap of his life to take fourth on the grid.
Although Button has given Hamilton a run for his money this year, and certainly not been slaughtered as expected, it's on days like yesterday that the difference between the two drivers is most obvious. Hamilton never gives up.
With the upgrades not working out as planned, the Woking team - in Martin Whitmarsh's own words - is on its back foot. If the team is to challenge Red Bull for the titles it must score serious points here today, no matter the shortcomings of the car on this particular track.
A great performance from Rosberg also, as Ross Brawn insists that his team has taken a major step forward. That's as it maybe, but it runs contrary to everything that we're hearing from very reliable sources. From here on in it's damage limitation, with the German team hoping that it might enjoy a better relationship with Pirelli rubber than it is currently experiencing with Bridgestone.
Another gargantuan effort from Robert Kubica, who remains one of the great untapped talents. Earlier this week the Pole signed a new two-year extension to his contract with Renault, we're amazed that one of the bigger teams didn't try to snap him up.
It was here at Silverstone that Williams enjoyed its maiden F1 win, Clay Regazzoni winning the 1979 event in the Saudia sponsored FW06. In the week that Sir Frank essentially hands over the reigns to Adam Parr - one of the new breed of F1 bosses - it is good to see that Rubens Barrichello gave the old boy something to smile about. It is to be hoped that the Brazilian can convert his grid position into a decent points scoring finish.
After Kamui Kobayashi's tremendous performance in Valencia, Sauber is looking to take a further scalp or two today, and Pedro de la Rosa's ninth position on the grid must give the Swiss team cause for some serious optimism.
Behind the top ten, Sutil looks to be Force India's best hope, especially after the penalty handed to Tonio Liuzzi for impeding Hulkenberg in Q2 yesterday. The Williams driver starts just behind Kobayashi today and what better place to add to his points tally.
Frankly, the Toro Rossos were disappointing yesterday, and it will be interesting to see if they can raise their game today.
Lotus continues to be the best of the newbies, however, the reliability of the T127 continues to give cause for concern.
Silverstone is where Formula One began in 1950 and after the sterility of Valencia what better place to come. Even of Friday there were more fans watching the action than organizers in Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Valencia and a couple of others can muster over an entire weekend. Yet still the powers that be act as though they are doing the fans a favour.
Despite the lack of money, the constant sniping from you know who and the lack of time, Silverstone has done a superb job of completing phase one of its development programme. Admittedly, there are still a few problems to be ironed out - no pun intended - but for the most part the revisions are excellent.
No doubt the TV broadcasters and official F1 website will focus on the 'celebrities' that attend today, however, the real stars - other than those on track - are the many thousands of fans that continue to make the pilgrimage here, no matter what Bernie throws at them.
Tyre options today are hard (prime) and soft (option) with all drivers expected to need just one stop, as opposed to Valencia.
As the cars begin to take their place on the grid, the air temperature is 21 degrees C, while the track temperature is 36 degrees. Once again it is bright and sunny, though not as hot as on previous days, while the strong winds are also sure to continue causing problems.
As the field prepare to head off on the warm-up lap, Martin Whitmarsh has a final word with Jenson Button.
While all eyes are on the Red Bulls, let's not forget that the two drivers behind them have a little history, we refer to Alonso and Hamilton.
As the field gets away on the parade lap, most drivers are on the option tyre. If the drivers had problems previously this weekend, it's going to be interesting to see them with a full fuel load.
They're away, Webber has the into Copse as Vettel runs wide, the German then going off at Maggotts. He's able to continue be he's dropped a whole load of places. "Puncture, puncture," he screams over the radio. Indeed, he has a puncture to his right-rear.
At the end of lap 1, it's Webber, Hamilton, Kubica, Rosberg, Alonso, Barrichello, Schumacher, Button, Kobayashi and Sutil. At the end of lap 1, Massa pits with a puncture as Vettel is still making his way back to the pits. As the German leaves the pits, Webber is already charging towards to start/finish line.
Hamilton is all over Webber as Rosberg is told that there's no need to worry about his tyres. The German is under intense pressure from Alonso.
Replay shows that Massa touched his Ferrari teammate, hence the puncture. The battle between the Red Bull duo was hard, very hard, but fair. However, it appears that the German's puncture came from a light clash with Hamilton. Good starts from Kubica, Schumacher and Button.
De la Rosa is down in eleventh, ahead of Petrov, Hulkenberg, Buemi, Alguersuari, Trulli, Kovalainen and Liuzzi. Massa is twenty third, 20s behind Yamamoto while Vettel is 32s behind the Brazilian.
In third, Kubica is losing ground to Hamilton as he is shadowed by Rosberg and Alonso.
"Your pace is good," Vettel is told, "you can still pick up a lot of points here". Meanwhile, Webber posts a new fastest lap (36.617) as Vettel is lapping around a second a lap slower.
After 8 laps, Webber leads Hamilton by 2.4s with Kubica now 11s adrift. Alonso continues to harry Rosberg while Schumacher is all over Barrichello. That said, the German is under pressure from Button and Kobayashi.
At the end of lap 9, di Grassi is the first driver to make a regular pit stop, at least it looks like a regular pit stop, for it is very, very leisurely.
With Webber lapping in the low 1:36s, Vettel is now 1:28s behind the Australian.
At the end of lap 11, Schumacher pits swapping to the prime tyre. He rejoins in fifteenth behind his old mate Alguersuari.
Next time around, Alonso, Barrichello and Kobayashi all pit as Webber posts another fastest lap (35.900).
On lap 13, Hamilton hits back with a new fastest lap (35.598) as Kubica and de la Rosa pit. Therefore, Rosberg is now third, albeit 17.7s behind the second-placed McLaren which is 3s behind the leader.
As Alonso makes a mistake at Copse, Button goes quickest in the first sector. However, it is Rosberg who posts the new fastest lap (35.574) as the race enters a critical phase.
The gap between Vettel and Webber is now visible and the Australian closes in on his teammate remorselessly.
Rosberg, Sutil and Petrov all pit at the end of lap 15, leaving Webber, Hamilton, Button, Hulkenberg and Buemi, Alguersuari, Liuzzi and Trulli as the only other drivers yet to stop.
At the end of lap 16 Hamilton pits, rejoining just ahead of his McLaren teammate who has still to pit. Buemi also pits as Massa runs wide at Aintree.
Kubica and Alonso having a great battle, the Spaniard running wide in an incident which is sure to give the stewards some work. "He pushed me on to the grass," shouts Alonso.
Webber pits at the end of lap 17, rejoining after a 4.5s stop still leading, albeit by 3.6s.
Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (35.560) as Rosberg makes a great move on Alguersuari to take fifth. Button is now up to third though he has yet to stop, as have Hulkenberg and Alguersuari.
At the end of lap 19, Kubica slows and heads to the pits, the Pole driving straight into his garage. It would appear that he damaged his car in that clash with Alonso, thereby giving the Renault driver his first retirement of the year.
Though Button has still to stop, the fans are cheering him on, the Englishman doing well to post competitive lap times on well worn option tyres.
At the end of lap 21, the McLaren dives into the pits. After a 5.3s stop he rejoins in sixth, behind Alonso but ahead of Alguersuari, Barrichello, Kobayashi and Schumacher.
A piece of bodywork appears to fall from Rosberg's Mercedes, the German still running in fourth - though third-placed Hulkenberg has yet to pit.
On lap 24, Webber posts another fastest lap (34.619) as he extends his lead over Hamilton to 5.9s. Third placed Hulkenberg is now 20.7s behind the McLaren and falling into the clutches of Rosberg. Button is up to sixth and closing on Alonso.
Massa looks frustrated in sixteenth, the Brazilian unable to get past Liuzzi and Buemi. Meanwhile, Mercedes confirms that a bargeboard has fallen from Rosberg's car.
The stewards announce that they are investigating the Kubica/Alonso incident, the Pole is already out of the race. Replay shows a piece of wing falling from de la Rosa's car as he battles with Sutil.
The stewards hand Alonso a drive through for cutting the corner in the incident with Kubica.
As Hulkenberg finally pits at the end of lap 27 - just after half distance - the safety car is brought out as the debris from de la Rosa's rear wing is removed from the track.
Webber leads, ahead of Hamilton, Rosberg, Alonso, Button, Barrichello, Kobayashi, Schumacher, Sutil and Hulkenberg.
Alonso is told that not only does he have to serve a drive-through but that he has to serve it once the safety car has pulled off. This has destroyed his race, and he aint going to be happy.
The safety car pulls off at the end of lap 29, Webber keeping the field tightly bunched.
At the line the Australian is just 0.4s ahead of Hamilton as Alonso dives into the pits. Rosberg holds on to third ahead of Button and Barrichello.
Webber immediately posts a new fastest lap (34.555) as he build up a 1.3s comfort cushion. Meanwhile Hulkenberg and Petrov are having a great battle for ninth, Renault's hopes now resting entirely with the Russian.
The safety car period, short as it was, has seen Vettel move up to fourteenth., 0.6s behind Massa. Elsewhere, Sutil makes short work of Schumacher to take seventh, the two touching lightly in the process.
Massa is unable to do much about the Red Bull when Vettel makes his challenge, while Alonso has his hands full as he attempts to pass Buemi for fifteenth.
Alonso makes his move on Buemi at Village, immediately telling his team that he doesn't want any more radio messages for the remainder of the race.
As he extends his lead to 3.8s, Webber posts another fastest lap (33.365). Meanwhile, Button continues to hound Rosberg, the Englishman sensing that a podium finish is still possible. The partisan crowd wills him on.
Alonso makes a charge on Liuzzi for fourteenth but carries to much speed and gets it wrong at the next corner giving the Italian some breathing space. Meanwhile, Webber posts a 32.990.
Vettel passes Petrov to take tenth, the German now just 24.5s behind the race leader, his teammate. The Red Bull driver immediately sets about Hulkenberg, making quick work of the Williams driver. A great performance but let's not forget that he was greatly aided by the safety car.
At the end of lap 39 Massa pits as Ferrari's day goes from bad to worse. Not a British GP to remember for the Maranello outfit. Replay shows him having wrecked his tyres at Stowe.
At the end of lap 40, it's: Webber, Hamilton, Rosberg, Button, Barrichello, Kobayashi, Sutil, Vettel, Schumacher and Hulkenberg. Schumacher tried to keep Vettel at bay, but in reality there was little the German veteran could do.
In fifth place, Barrichello now heads a train of three cars - Kobayashi, Sutil and the charging Vettel.
Another fastest lap (32.906) for Webber on lap 42, however, Hamilton responds with a 32.793. With the gap now at 5.2s, the Englishman's only hope rests on a mistake by the Red Bull driver or a technical issue.
As Vettel attempts to get past Sutil the Red Bull's grip is simply awesome, however, the German cannot make it stick and get by.
On lap 45, Webber posts another fastest lap (32.364), now enjoying a 6.7s lead over Hamilton. Elsewhere, Alguersuari is in the kitty-litter at Woodcote.
As Vettel hassles Sutil and Alonso gives similar treatment to Liuzzi, Button continues to shadow Rosberg who is now 19.4s down on Hamilton.
At the end of lap 49, Alonso heads into the pitlane his left-rear sporting a puncture. Replay shows a clash with Liuzzi. Ho Hum. Elsewhere, in his desperation to pass Sutil, Vettel runs very wide kicking up great clods of dust and allows Schumacher to close in.
Massa - currently running in fifteenth, 1:14s behind the leader - posts a new fastest lap (32.116).
Vettel finally gets past Sutil, almost barging his way by the Force India. Indeed, Schumacher almost get past the stunned Sutil. Elsewhere, Alonso posts a new fastest lap (31.044) and another (30.874) on the final lap.
Webber crosses the line to take a well earned win, and twenty-five valuable points. "Well done, you've won the British Grand Prix," says Christian Horner, "you can smile now." "Not bad for a number two," responds the Australian caustically.
So now there's no mistaking, there is an atmosphere within the team, and only time will tell whether it will spill over or whether it can be contained. How Vettel and the team hierarchy respond to that first corner incident remains to be seen but the fact is that Webber took a well deserved win.
A tremendous performance also from Lewis Hamilton, who gives the crowd something to cheer about, and keeps his team very much in the title hunt(s). Sadly, not for the first time this season, his teammate was unable to match Lewis' derring-do, had he been able to we might have seen two British drivers on the podium. That said, he made a fantastic start, it's just that it would have been nice to see him actually try and nail Rosberg.
A great performance from Rosberg, which signals that maybe Mercedes has taken a step forward and that the doom and gloom warning pouring out of Brackley are a little premature.
Another strong showing from Rubens Barrichello and Williams while Kamui Kobayashi and Sauber demonstrate that Valencia was no fluke.
Vettel did well to finish seventh, however, despite a strong drive he was very much aided by the appearance of the safety car. What will be interesting to see is how Vettel handles things on home turf in two weeks time.
Sutil, Schumacher and Hulkenberg takes the remaining points, as German drivers take five of the top ten positions.
The media is sure to whip this up over the coming weeks, and in the wake of today's post victory comments why shouldn't they? However, there was no mistaking the deep sense of satisfaction - dare we say schadenfreude - on Mark Webber's face as he stood atop the podium.
Never mind raging bull, this was the smile of a man on a mission, a man who made his mark.