Preamble: Morning all, welcome to lap-by-lap, brrrrm-by-brrrrm, crash-by-etcandsoon coverage of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Mark Webber is on pole, as part of a Red and Bullish front row that includes the reigning champion, current drivers' standings leader and all-round F1 uber-driver, Sebastian Vettel. Chances of a British race winner look on the skinny decaf side, with Jenson Button's McLaren parked fifth on the grid, five places ahead of his team-mate, Anger Management's Lewis Hamilton. Rumours that Hamilton blew his top in the paddock this morning after being charged 85p for a can of coke are as yet unconfirmed. For today's Plucky Brit In With An Outside Chance Of Podium Glory (aka. The Johnny Herbert Award), keep an eye out on Force India's Paul di Resta, who starts in sixth. Now, shall we do this?
The final word on off-throttle blown diffusers, from Mark Webber: "It's nonsense. Nobody really understands it. We don't know what's going on. It's very boring for the fans. I am sure only 0.1 percent of the fans [and journalists] understand what's going on."
I think that settles it, don't you?
Weather report, with Twitter's Giles Richards:
Proper raining at copse now woohoo! #f1 #britishgp #motorsport #silverstone
Good news for the McLarens, that. Like proper Brits, they're only truly comfortable in wet, miserable conditions.
Today's pole sitter/No2 driver (and last year's winner).
BBC shenanigans thus far: Water skiing with Button and Hamilton (Button twisted his knee and almost jeopardised his race); interviewing Prince Harry - who is about eight feet taller than Bernie Ecclestone; talking to Patrick Stewart, who claims if you were going to be run over by anyone "the world champion [Vettel] would be a good place to start". Ah, the glitz and glamour.
Anyway, according to Di Resta and Button, half the track is soaked and the other half isn't - I wonder if anyone will go with two wet tyres and two dry? They're about to play the national anthem, which is my cue to go refuel on the black stuff (nothing like a cup of petrol to open your eyes in the morning). The race starts in 15 minutes. Don't go away!
I'm intimately acquainted with the Silverstone track due to my experience playing TOCA Touring Cars on the PlayStation in the late 1990s - but, they've made some recent alterations, so Heikki Kovalainen's interactive guide is a recommended read.
Right, the entourages are scurrying off the track - we are about to go! go! go!
By which I mean, go! go! go! around for a warm-up lap (or two). Where's your hard-earned today, then? Have you got a monkey riding on Button? Did you stake an Ayrton on Di Resta?
Lap one of 52: Revvity, rev, away they go! And Vettel has gone past Webber through the first turn - he was out in front by Village, I think! Hamilton has gained two or three p laces already, too. As the cars head down the back of the circuit, around Copse and then on through Becketts, the spray is thick in the air. This really is odd, even for British weather - it's raining heavily over part of the track but bone dry around the start.
Lap two of 52: Hamilton is up to sixth and is all over the back of his team-mate Button. Just seeing a replay of that start and Vettel stormed off the start line, past the dawdling Webber.
Lap three of 52: So, as I understand it, we are not officially racing in wet-weather conditions (even though there appears to be a monsoon over the southern part of the track). The teams have all gone out with wet-weather tyres, though, and they're getting chewed up on the dry areas. Car part drama!
Lap four of 52: Hamilton goes wide on Brooklands but gets away with it as what was formerly an area of gravel has be en tarmaced. Current race order (top 10): Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Massa, Hamilton, Button, Di Resta, Kobayashi, Schumacher, Sutil. So, Hamilton has got past Button, though I missed exactly how.
Lap five of 52: On the Mercedes radio, Schumacher is told he'll be coming in to change to slicks from intermediate tyres. It's looking properly grey and mucky out there, like a day at the beach when it rains and the wind blows and you wonder why you bothered packing your bucket and spade.
Lap six of 52: Vettel has opened up a four-second lead. The weather is, I think, actually clearing up, so I fear the Red Bulls may run (or indeed drive) away with this.
Lap seven of 52: Heikki Kovalainen has retired with gearbox problems. Still, Heikki remains with us, in a sense, thanks to his lovely circuit guide.
Lap nine of 52: Lots of discussion about tyres. Is that better than talking diffusers? As Eddie Jordan says in his race preview, it's these unpredictable situations that best suit Jenson Button - though Hamilton appears to have found his mojo today and is running the better of the two McLarens.
Lap 10 of 52: The circuit is still drying out but remains, if I can flagrantly throw in a cricket term, somewhat two-paced. Schumi has had to pit meanwhile, to replace his nose cone - he had an altercation with Kobayashi, I believe.
Lap 11 of 52: Schumacher also went on to slicks during that pitstop and his sector times after coming out have perked everyone up - McLaren are readying themselves to bring their drivers in. Current race order (top 10): Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Massa, Hamilton, Button, Di Resta, Sutil, Kobayashi, Rosberg.
Lap 12 of 52: Massa is sliding about like Bambi on an ice rink but he's going top have to wait to change tyres because Alonso has been called in first by Ferrari. Meanwhile, Hamilton made the charge on Massa only to brake too late and run wide again, allowing the Brazilian to retain fourth.
Lap 13 of 52: Fastest laps being set all over the shop now, first by Schumacher and then Button. Hamilton is up to FIFTH, greasing Massa, who is still on the intermediate tyres, I think. Meanwhile Kobayashi is going to be investigated by the race stewards for that nose-cone incident with Schumacher. He may also be collared for an unsafe release in the pitlane that nearly led to a collision with Maldonado.
Lap 15 of 52: Button has also gone past Massa and that was dogged, unrelenting stuff from the Briton, who would not let Massa get way from him after attacking around club. "Shades of Nigel Mansell there," says David Coulthard. Kobayashi, meanwhile, has been given a stop-and-go penalty ... or has he?
Lap 16 of 52: The pack appears to reeling in Vettel. His lead is down to around two second now ... and Hamilton has overtaken Alonso! Looks like the answer to Richard Williams' question this morning is going to be 'no'.
Lap 18 of 52: As you would expect, now the puddles have by-and-large dried up, Vettel and his Red Bull have got their heads down again. He's opened up another second on Webber.
Lap 19 of 52: Hamilton's McLaren seems to be going like the clappers, despite their well-documented problems. He's only about five seconds off the front. Current race order (top 10): Vettel, Webber, Hamilton, Alonso, Button, Massa, Di Resta, Sutil, Rosberg, Perez.
Lap 20 of 52: Kobayashi has been given another 10-second stop and go penalty for clipping Maldonado in the pitlane. They'll have to catch him first, though.
Lap 21 of 52: Is anyone out there? Emails welcome! The cars are still going round and round, so there's plenty else we can talk about.
Lap 23 of 52: There's still just 13 or 14 seconds separating the front five, though Hamilton and Alonso appear to be opening a gap on Button.
Lap 24 of 52: And now Alonso has duked his way back past Hamilton. The Ferrari has cocked a snook at my writing them off a few laps ago and is now the fastest runner out there ... Current race order (top 10): Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Button, Massa, Hamilton, Di Resta, Sutil, Rosberg, Perez.
Lap 25 of 52: McLaren bring in Hamilton for another change - he'll now be running on tyres that have already had some use, so the expectation is that he'll come out flying. Out the front, the Red Bulls quietly chug on towards victory. We're almost halfway through at Silverstone.
Lap 26 of 52: Pete Postelthwaite Takeru Kobayashi has been forced to retire, with his Sauber coughing up smoke like a chain-smoking Glaswegian.
Lap 27 of 52: Some drama out on the track, with Sebastien Buemi engaging in a tussle with Di Resta! The result is Di Resta's Force India loses a front wing but Buemi has blown a tyre, which, I think, is worse. The Torro Rosso is still rolling around, with shredded rubber flapping from the wheel. Di Resta had actually dropped right down the field, due to a pit cock-up that saw him brought Sutil's tyres. Woe for the Scotsman.
Lap 28 of 52: And now Red Bull have made a misstep, which could be just what this race needed. They pitted the leader but someone must have dropped a wrench because Alonso, who was in at the same time, went flying out ahead of the erstwhile race leader!
Lap 29 of 52: Buemi has retired, as driving with three wheels doesn't really work. Current race order (top 10): Alonso, Hamilton, Vettel, Webber, Button, Massa, Perez, Rosberg, Sutil, Petrov.
Lap 30 of 52: "Gotta love F1, where crossthreading a nut is not only the difference between winning and losing, but the most exciting thing that ever happens during a race. Even a flat stage at this year's Tour de France is more thrilling. PS. why were you worried about the horses but not the cows?" Michael Tweed is clearly two-timing me with Evan Fanning on the Tour de France rolling report - at least that's what I'm assuming from the horse/cow reference.
Lap 32 of 52: Vettel, in third, is basically hanging out the back of Hamilton, as Richard Keys would have it. So Alonso is burning rubber out in front and he's beginning to race away from two and three ...
Lap 34 of 52: The gap from Alonso to Hamilton is now nearly 10 seconds. On the radio, Red Bull have been assuring Vettel that their strategy will see him through, although I reckon they might just being flapping thei r gums on that one. Turns out, as Michael Tweed said, there was a problem with a wheel nut gun, which crucially delayed the tyre change a few laps back.
Lap 35 of 52: My, they zip around these laps, don't they? How about we do the standings again. Current race order (top 10): Alonso, Hamilton, Vettel, Webber, Button, Massa, Rosberg, Perez, Sutil, Petrov.
Lap 36 of 52: Vettel, having failed to sneak past Lewis Hamilton, is brought in for another tyre change. More from today's reader, Michael Tweed: "Oops, sorry about that cryptic remark about horses and cows, I didn't mean for that one to go to you, it was in regard to the TdF. I should probably choose one race and just stick with it, but then that sort of defeats the purpose of minute-by-minute coverage though doesn't it." Floozy.
Lap 38 of 52: Hamilton also goes in, I think. Vettel rejoins in sixth, having made his final stop. The leader, Fernando Alonso, will have to pit one more time and Vettel is now tearing around the Silverstone circuit, making his tilt to make up the gap and win this.
Lap 39 of 52: Vettel goes past Massa. Button moves up to second as those ahead of him pit but the lead is up to aaround 12 seconds for Alonso, who is also about to go in for his third stop ...
Lap 40 of 52: Oh, that's a bad mistake from McLaren! Someone failed to screw on a wheel nut and he's pulled over near the exit from the pitlane. A mechanic is shown on camera forlornly holding up the missing piece of kit. He's for the high jump, oh yes.
Lap 41 of 52: Alonso's pit went smoothly and this is now all about whether Vettel can catch him ...
Lap 42 of 52: Button has OFFICIALLY RETIRED. Let the effing and jeffing begi n back in the McLaren team trailer. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, is being told he'll have to conserve fuel. Does that mean he might come spluttering to a halt on the final lap with an empty tank?! Current race order (top 10) with 10 LAPS TO GO: Alsono, Vettel, Hamilton, Webber, Massa, Rosberg, Perez, Heidfeld, Schumacher, Alguersuari.
Lap 44 of 52: So Button's chances of a first podium appearance at Silverstone have been wrecked - and he has been called for an unsafe release as well (which seems fair enough, as one of his wheels wasn't properly screwed on). That will be investigated by the stewards. Alonso is sitting pretty out in front still, 60 years after Ferrari won their first ever grand prix at this very track.
Lap 45 of 52: "Being prescient and all, there's just been a big crash in the TdF with blood and broken bones. Exciting no doubt, but really not what one wants to see." Yes, that is the best of the emails in my inbox. Michael Tweed talking about the Tour de France. This is the BRITISH GRAND PRIX, people!!
Lap 46 of 52: Hamilton is wheedling his way around, nervously eyeing the fuel tank indicator. Surely this is monumental bad planning? Petrol is, like, top of the list of things you need to make a car run. Bad day at the office for McLaren, at their home GP.
Lap 47 of 52: Webber hits the DRS button and blasts past Hamilton, who winds down his window for a chat, so slowly is he driving is doubtless in a royal funk. We're being told he might not actually have enough in the tank to finish the race. He is [Jamie Redknapp alert] literally running on empty.
Lap 49 of 52: Now Massa is eyeing Hamilton's rear and he like what he sees. The Brazilian is on the charge for fourth. Current race order (top 10) with THREE LAPS TO GO: Alsono, Vettel, Webber, Hamilton, Massa, Rosberg, Perez, Heidfeld, Schumacher, Alguersuari.
Lap 50 of 52: Webber is closing hard on Vettel and - clearly no team orders here - the Aussie wants second spot. Meanwhile, disastrous news: we've lost Michael Tweed: "Sorry Alan but one can only feign interest in wheel nuts for so long." It's been a big day for wheel nuts, for sure.
Lap 51 of 52: Alonso is basically home and hosed but Webber attacks Vettel through Woodcote! The German hangs on but this is going to be a real tussle going into the final lap. Hamilton, meanwhile, continues to fend off Massa.
Lap 52 of 52: FERNANDO ALONSO WINS THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX The Ferrari driver costs home for his 27th F1 victory. That was an immaculate drive from the Sp aniard. And Webber has now been told to maintain the gap from Vettel ... Boo! In the battle for fourth, Massa has gone past Hamilton!! But wait, there's contact - Massa runs wide and Hamilton REGAINS FOURTH! It looked as though Massa had taken Hamilton at Vale but as they both turned left, with the British driver on the inside, their wheels touched, with Massa then losing the racing line and running well wide at club.
So, Alonso claws back some ground in the championship, securing Ferrari their first win of the season in the process. Here's the final top 10: Alonso (Ferrari), Vettel (Red Bull), Webber (Red Bull), Hamilton, Massa (Ferrari), Rosberg (Mercedes), Perez (Sauber), Heidfeld (Renault), Schumacher (Mercedes), Alguersuari (Toro Rosso).
It's anthem time, with the jaunty Spanish number bobbing along. There'll be no singing for Liz, with Hamilton's gutsy fourth the best British return of the day. Nick di Resta, who I rather lost track of, finished 15th. Sebastian Vettel is now 80 points clear in the drivers' championship, but Alonso is up to third, moving above the two McLaren boys. Check out the standings with our interactive guide.
We'll have a full report up on the site soon, so I'll leave you with the thoughts of Jon Morrow, who has has belatedly got involved: "I thought it was only battery powered cars that ran out of juice? That is always presented by 'those in the know' as the reason that fossil fuel cars are superior. I assumed it was the fact that you needed to employ an army of people to service the millions of highly stressed moving parts that gave them their advantage, rather than the EV which would need only brake pads and tyres every few years ..."
Battery-p owered F1, anyone? Thanks for your emails, cheerio!
Article Source KBG Test Blog (http://rc.kbg.me)
