GB GP Race Report

With it being Wimbledon as well, it was raining in Silverstone ahead of the race.  Norris braved the weather to go out and visit his dedicated grand stands, Pinkham took him out, and like a mother, emphasised the positives of it and they enjoyed some special pyrotechnics (or a smoke display?) together.

The theatrics continued with a line-up of minor celebrities on the grid and then a truly awful rendition of the national anthem by Becky Hill.  Bring back Damian Lewis I say.

It was not expected that the Race Director would start the race under the Safety Car for a rolling start, especially as it was now dry and sunny.  LeClerc, Bearman, Bortoleto, Hadjar and Russell decided to come in at the end of the Formation Lap for dry tyres, which meant they would start from the pit lane.  Piastri though thought that the last sector was too wet for slick tyres.  The Safety Car was recalled in the event.

It seemed like a clean start with Verstappen, Piastri and Norris holding their places.  Unseen by the cameras, Lawson went off the track and brought out the Yellow Flags.  There were great plumes of water coming from the back of the cars.  Hamilton fought Norris for third place and they were wobbling around on the tricky track and the drivers that chose slick tyres would be in trouble.  However the Virtual Safety Car was needed to clear Lawson's Racing Bull.  This would help those dry-tyred cars.  It turned out that Lawson and Ocon had come together; apparently all started by Tsunoda, who was later awarded a penalty.

Colapinto had retired in the pit lane with a faulty car before he'd even started, no one really noticed.  

There was an opportunity to pit for new tyres but only Antonelli took it, they would have had information from Russell, who was struggling on his slick tyres, so it seemed an odd choice.

Verstappen got the race going again but Bortoleto couldn't keep his slick tyre car on the track and spun as soon as he tried to speed up.  He was able to get out of the gravel and tried to bring his broken car back to the pits but at least we didn't need a Safety Car and was able to keep racing.  Until he didn't make it and retired it somewhere it could be easily taken off the track side.  A Virtual Safety Car was enacted again.  Stroll pitted for soft, slick tyres.

After a very long time, only eight laps had happened, Piastri was able, with slightly more grip, to get past a shaky Verstappen for the lead, and quickly pulled out a larger-than-DRS gap.  The drivers started racing properly.

Antonelli lost a place to LeClerc down in 13th but Mercedes brought him in for a second stop and onto wet tyres.  The rain did come down and Norris was on the back of Verstappen, whose tyres were so bad he went off the track.  The top three all came into the pit lane, stacking the McLarens, so Norris came out behind Verstappen.

As the rain got heavier, into proper Scottish territory, the Race Director sent out the Safety Car to keep things, well, safe.  LeClerc had a big off, going straight across the grass just before.

There were several laps before we went racing again.  It was Hamilton and Russell who really fought for places immediately.  The spray was still heavy and Hadjar ran into the car in front of him, Antonelli.  And the Safety Car came out again.

Verstappen was too aggressive as the race got underway again but Piastri had braked too hard before him.  He was too confident and the Red Bull spun and was put to the end of the top ten, scooting about, he fought with the Williams'.  Bearman had a big off across the grass even further back.  Piastri received a ten second penalty for his actions.  This could give the race win to Norris after all.

Antontelli had to retire from the damage he sustained during the incident with Hadjar.

A number of dry laps passed by and then, on lap 35, DRS was enabled and drivers were thinking about dry tyres.  Somehow Stroll was in third place, until Hulkenberg and then Hamilton got passed him.  Alonso was the first driver to take dry tyres and came out in last place; Russell was the next and he was in 13th, which by this point, was three places up from last.  You had to go carefully on those slick tyres as Russell went for a fast, uncontrollable spin off across the grass and gravel.   The track was not ready.

Sainz and LeClerc, old team mates had a battle.  Norris ahead was putting in the fastest laps on his intermediate tyres.

Despite all the knowledge gained from watching Russell and Alonso, Stroll, Verstappen, Gasly, Hamilton and Sainz all came in for dry tyres which seemed like madness.  Hamilton was overtaken by his team mate and the Haas cars came together.  

With seven laps to go, Alonso overtook Albon for 8th.  Hulkenberg was somehow back in third with Hamilton behind him.  Norris was in the lead.  Piastri was struggling, going off the track but asking the team to swap the drivers positions if the team felt his penalty wasn't fair.  LeClerc had another off through the gravel and only just made it back onto the track.

The sun stayed out until the end of the race.  It was an emotional victory for Norris, even more so for Hulkenberg as he took his first podium in third place.  Jenson Button had a difficult interview with Piastri, who initially congratulated Hulkenberg if not Norris and refused to speak much about his incident behind the Safety Car.

Norris held it together very well on the podium, receiving two identical trophies, one made from Lego.  What happened afterwards was a shame as the focus was much more on Piastri being upset than Norris winning.  McLaren's PR will not be happy.

Sauber however had much to celebrate.  Hulkenberg won the popular vote of Driver of the Day and the team went wilder than McLaren.  With Binotto and Wheatley now in charge, it seems like Sauber might be a force to contend with in the future and the seats in that team may be more hotly pursued following the last two races.  Could this be where Verstappen chooses in the end?

GB GP Qualifying Report

It was inevitable that, with Oasis playing their first concert in many years the previous night, a best of British feeling would be played to the full at Silverstone.  There were lots of Brits to be supported but Bearman might not be getting much.  He would start the race with a ten place grid penalty for crashing in the pit lane entry as he accelerated past Red Flags.

The first Qualifying session went well for eight minutes, with drivers dutifully setting times.  Then Colapinto touched the paint with a tyre and went for a gentle trip through the gravel and into the wall.  Yellow flags came out and it seemed that the session would need to be stopped (it was eventually) but he was able to keep going, dropping gravel as he went along the straight before pulling over.  His car was dusty and the wheels were so chiselled that he bumped along on square tyres.

When they got going again, the track had changed: the wind direction and the spots of rain affected it.  Some drivers chose not to go out for an early push with five minutes to go but most did.  To his annoyance, Hamilton wasn't fuelled to put in a few laps in a row, which put him under pressure and he finished 14th.  Verstappen was fastest followed by Piastri then Bearman (for the Brits).  Out went Lawson (who did so well last race), Bortoleto (who did so well last race), Stroll (never done well at any race since he left Williams), Hulkenberg (who did so well last race) and Colapinto.

It was a fairly standard second session.  The big surprise was that Hamilton was first with LeClerc second.  Both Williams went out in 11th (Sainz) and 14th (Albon, having made a poor choice to change his set-up).  Tsunoda was in 12th, Hadjar 13th and Ocon in 15th.

Again, the final session was nothing spectacular but did go to down to a final quick lap shoot out.  Having found it difficult to get a good set up and handle his car throughout the first two sessions, Verstappen took pole, setting the sectors purple.  He was ahead of Piastri and Norris, the McLarens behind him.  Max was very pleased with that result: "simply lovely".  Piastri had slipped and swerved about and Norris had taken too much kerb, neither driver was in contention in the end.  Behind them was Russell, Hamilton, LeClerc, Antonelli, Bearman, Alonso and Gasly.

All eyes would now be on the weather forecast for the race.  As ever, there was a sense that Verstappen would hold the lead from the start to the end and all those Brits lining up would not get a look in.

GB GP Race Report

There was great enthusiasm for the three Brits in the top three grid places and also for the changeable weather before the race.  Russell came out with platitudes such as: "Teamwork makes the dream work."  And Hamilton spoke about the energy from the crowd.  He brought up England's win at the Euros and he should know how to use the crowd with eight British Grand Prix victories.

Perez decided to start from the pit lane and it appeared that Gasly would too but retired on the first lap.

It was a clean getaway from the grid but Verstappen fought Norris hard to take third place.  Hulkenberg fell back in his Haas; the driver had caused a collision by re-entering the track into Alonso, who moved over and into Albon.  Albon came off the worst, although he would eventually get two points for Williams.

It took sixteen laps but Norris got back past Verstappen, just as the crowd started putting on their rain coats.  Piastri followed suit on the next lap.  There were huge cheers on the next lap, when Hamilton got past Russell for the lead.  The McLarens seemed to be coping with the drizzle better than the Mercedes, as the two leaders followed each other off the track.  Norris was able to overtake Russell from this.  It was an outright overtake with pace from Norris to take the lead from Hamilton; Piastri was able to go round the outside of Russell and Hamilton on the same lap.  DRS had been switched off because of the slipperiness on the straights, so the passes were outright.

LeClerc, Perez, Ocon and Zhou went early for Intermediate tyres.  In a few laps, LeClerc was lapped and then went off.

Halfway through the race when the rain came down heavily enough the drivers for both Mercedes and McLaren were too close to double stack.  Mercedes went for it but Norris came in and Piastri stayed out.  Verstappen also pitted and came out in between the Mercedes.  When Piastri did stop, he came out in sixth behind Sainz.

Before the rain cleared up, Russell had to retire with a water pressure issue.  He would be disappointed there wasn't enough water about on this of all days.

When it did clear up, most drivers came in quickly whilst McLaren and Norris were busy debating which sort of slick would be best and the team then served him a long stop.  He came out behind Hamilton.

With only three laps to go, Verstappen took second place from Norris and flew off to see if he could overtake Hamilton for the win.  It was the wrong tyre for McLaren to use, which was born out by Piastri's better use of the opposite choice, nearly taking the point for Fastest Lap until Sainz stole it at the very end.

With such a long wait since his last win, Hamilton was in tears in his helmet on the cool down lap.  Russell was right there in Parc Ferme, to be the first to stick his hand into the cockpit to congratulate his team mate.

The crowd seemed to enjoy the race and Silverstone brought what it usually brings, changeable conditions and the drivers that can make good decisions in a timely fashion benefited from that.  Let's hope Hungary does the same.

GB GP Qualifying Report

Sky TV's coverage opened with George Russell relaying how he has memorised the Silverstone circuit.  I'm not sure if this is supposed to be impressive but I can do the same for my trip to work.

The first Qualifying session started on Intermediate tyres as it had been raining however, because that would be too interesting for F1 (F2 had a wet race), it dried up and people put on the Slick tyres.  Perez was caught out and beached his Red Bull in the gravel, which brought out a Red Flag.

When the drivers were allowed back out on the circuit, it started to rain, which was unexpected.  Verstappen and Magnussen were caught out and went over the gravel but managed to keep going.  Drivers put in lap after lap.  Then it started to dry up again.  I don't know what Incy Wincy Spider would have made of the situation.  Piastri had held the fastest lap but as the seconds ticked by, each car that crossed the line was quicker than the last.  Those who had chosen to stay in the pits, like Norris, could have been in danger.  Gasly was last but was going to be starting from the pits anyway.  Ahead of him was Perez, Ocon, Magnussen and Bottas.

It was a more straight forward second session, the excitement coming from Verstappen waiting until the very end before putting in a time that got him through to the final session. LeClerc pitted too soon, with other drivers still putting in quick laps.  Through went the Aston Martins, Albon and Hulkenberg.  Out went the Ferrari with Sargeant, Tsunoda, Zhou and Ricciardo.

Verstappen was carrying some damage from his off early in Qualifying.  With a minute to go, all ten drivers went out to put in their final push lap for pole.  Albon crossed the line first.  As the Mercedes went first with Russell and second with Hamilton, Norris went into the pits.  Several drivers couldn't find any more time.  Norris was third to make it a British top three at their home track.  Behind them was Verstappen, Piastri, Hulkenberg, Sainz (a poor showing all round for Ferrari), Stroll, Albon and Alonso.

GB GP Race Report

As it is our home race, the coverage had so many extra pieces...McLaren playing cricket, Russell taking a ride in a jet fighter and Brundle interviewing Brad Pitt about his new film.  The filming of which involves the car being immersed in the grid, so it was at the back of the grid being filmed being at the back of the grid.

The actual grid hadn't been hit by lots of penalties, so Qualifying actually counted.  Only Bottas was sent to the back as he didn't have sufficient fuel in his car.  Speaking of caras, Cara Delavigne was the celebrity who refused to talk to Martin on his walk.   A better line was "I'll just squeeze by Ralf Schumacher...".  Summing up his F1 career. Then Damian Lewis delivered a never-heard-before jazz version of the national anthem accompanied by a saxophonist.  We usually forward through the anthem but this was so terrible we were gripped and unable to extricate ourselves.

It was a dry start and Norris pointed his car with clear intent towards pole-sitter Verstappen's path.  It was a great start by the Brit  who led the race with his team mate Piastri battling with the Dutchman for second.  Max looked a little rattled or wary, would the rookie take him out?  By Lap 2, Norris had pulled a second clear of Verstappen which was critical for DRS.  The tracker system was so confused by Verstappen not leading that it failed to function for a while.   By Lap 5, the Red Bull was past.  Piastri was told not to overtake Norris, which was a good plan for the team.

LeClerc took an early pit stop and it wasn't long until the race settled down and the action lessened.  Even the pit stops didn't really liven things up.  The Haas of Hulkenberg had been tapped by Perez early doors and he had to stop for a new nose, leaving him running last.  Then on Lap 33, Magnussen's engine caught fire, solidifying a poor race for the American outfit.  The drivers who could, dived for the pit lane for new boots as a Virtual Safety Car was declared.  LeClerc was released into the path of Albon.  Then the Virtual Safety Car became a Real one.  Norris and Verstappen came in from second and first, taking the Hard and Soft tyres respectively.  Norris was happy about this decision.

There were only 13 laps left when the Safety Car went in.  Norris drove very defensively from Hamilton.  Verstappen, as always in the closing laps when he is in the lead, started to worry over the radio, this time about his tyres.  Perez overtook Sainz (on the hard tyre), then Albon powered his Williams past, then LeClerc took his team mate.  Whilst the mid-field battled, Norris was able to stretch to a one second plus gap to Hamilton using his hard tyre, leaving his older countryman behind him.

Ocon retired without explanation early in the race and Gasly followed him with four laps to go.  Williams really need Alpine and Haas to do badly at the moment and they are delivering.  Battling to the end was LeClerc, Albon and Alonso. The Williams needed all his Mercedes power to defend.  With McLaren finishing second and fourth, the long drought (apart from Ricciardo's Monza victory but no one discusses that) is over.  The second Brit on the podium was Hamilton.  He said he didn't have the grunt in the car to overtake the McLaren, which is surprising as they have the same engine and he is in the works car.  Three different teams represented on the podium and not an Aston Martin, so the rest of the season could be interesting.

GB GP Qualifying Report

I don't know if it's global warming but there seem to have been more wet periods of racing this season.  This session was another will it/won't it rain.  Drivers went out on a range of wet and dry tyres and the cars were queued up at the pit lane exit to get out and get a lap in quick.  DRS was also unavailable because of the conditions, which could take away the Red Bull advantage over other teams.

The first casualty of the weather was Hamilton, spinning into the gravel.  Ferrari were one of the teams that went out on wet tyres but then switched to soft, dry tyres, just not quick enough as it started raining again.  The cars became twitchy on the track and now was the time to put in that amazing lap.

Whilst drivers battled the elements the Haas of Magnussen came to a complete stop on the track, with the session was Red Flagged.  There was 3 minutes and 11 seconds left, enough time to put in one more fast lap.

As Verstappen was preparing to go out, he managed to clip the pit lane wall, requiring a new nose.  The last lap was quick with soft tyres all round.  The cheer for Norris taking the first spot was deafening.  Bottas spun off to bring out the double Yellow Flag at the side of the track, anyone who waited 'till last had their time scuppered.  So out went Perez (who was first out but couldn't take advantage of the track conditions improving, collateral in the Bottas stop), Tsunoda, Zhou, De Vries and Magnussen.  Red Bull reserve driver, Ricciardo must be sniffing a seat.  Sainz was unhappy that he had to give up some tyre temperature to help LeClerc. 

In the second session, track limits came in to play with lap times being deleted.  The Brits continued to hear roars from the crowd as they crossed the line each time.  I think the last thing LeClerc needed as he was pushing for a lap to get him through was team radio telling him to push.  As the laps got quicker and quicker, it was Hulkenberg, Stroll (still not able to match his team mate), Ocon, Sargeant (does he have the upgraded parts yet?) and Bottas out.  With a strong showing from McLaren with Piastri ahead of Norris in second and third.

The third session was fairly straightforward.  With DRS available, it was an easy pole for Verstappen, even though he had a yellow sector on his last lap.  It looked like Norris was going to take pole briefly but the McLarens start second and third.   The both Ferraris, then both Mercedes, Albon, Alonso and Gasly.  All the British drivers and even the Thai one, were in the top 10.  

Are the Aston Martins going backwards from their early promise?  Afterwards, Verstappen explained that he didn't need to push full out as the car is so quick.  That's promising.  Piastri definitely has the look of those 45 year old men who still look particularly baby-faced.  See also David Cameron.  Zak Brown was celebrating more than anyone else.  I expect this result saves his bacon somewhat.  Perez didn't seem too disappointed; whether he sees it as a fault by the team or he feels that it's outside conditions.  There has been lots of personnel moving between teams, I wonder if we will see driver line-ups changing too.  Who can continue to bring upgrades this season and who needs to work on next years car?

GB GP Race Report

The grid was celeb-packed and the grandstands were filled; the sky had been taken over by heavy, dark clouds.  This despite being promised a dry race, absolutely, for sure.

A thrilling start.  Verstappen easily took Sainz off the start and Hamilton (my prediction for race winner) also got a great start.  Behind them though, it all went wrong.  We saw a car fly upside down across the gravel trap.  Russell was out of his battered Mercedes first and running over to Albon in his Williams who was also there.  Ocon was damaged and limping back to the pits as was Tsunoda.  However, Zhou was trapped in his Alfa Romeo in a barrier.  With improved morals of TV coverage, we didn't see him at all.

As the race had been Red Flagged, the drivers lined their cars up in the pit lane, Latifi was up to 8th.  As the race continued to be paused, the Alpine mechanics struggled to fix Ocon's car and got the gaffer tape out.  It became apparent that Russell had stopped his car of his own volition to see if his fellow drivers were okay but because the marshals bought it back to the pit lane on a truck, he wasn't going to be allowed to restart the race.  He had been running to and from the car out on the track and kept his helmet on, maintaining that he was going to restart the race.  The "Extraction Team" had been out at Zhou's car as it had flipped over the tire barrier and eventually he was pulled out of the car and put on a stretcher and into an ambulance.  At this point, we were shown the incidents off the grid.  Gasly had gone into the back of Russell who spins into Zhou, who flips up, travels upside down across the whole gravel trip and is turned up and over the tire barrier.  Meanwhile, Vettel runs into the back of Albon and spins him.  In positive news, Latifi had overtaken both Zhou and Russell off the grid and is in 8th on his own merit.

For some reason, the cars started in their original grid position. This time, Sainz put on the softest tires and went for a very aggressive start and managed to hold his position with Verstappen, LeClerc and Perez all holding their positions, Norris taking Hamilton behind them.

Sainz and Verstappen resumed their battle from Canada but on Lap 10, Sainz went wide and ran parallel to the track, handing Verstappen an easy lead of the race.  Two laps later, Verstappen ran over the  a bit of carbon and got a puncture, giving Sainz back the lead to a huge cheer/jeer from the crowd.   Further back down the track, the mechanically-mended Alpha Tauri of Tsunoda tangled with his team mate Gasly, sending them both spinning.   Glancing at the race order, I see that Latifi is back in 8th.

Out of the pits, Verstappen declares his car 100% broken and undrivable.  His team report that his car is a little broken at the back but perfectly safe to drive so suck it up.  The Ferraris were now right together and battling for the lead with Hamilton (my prediction for the race win) creeping up behind them.  With both Ferraris pitting, Hamilton took the lead.  Verstappen also pitted and was given the hardest tires that were proving hard to get warmed up and working well.  

By Lap 30, Sainz had been told that unless his lap times match Hamilton's, LeClerc will get a shot of being the leading Ferrari.  Also, Zhou was released from the medical centre as fit but Albon had been transferred to hospital for precautionary checks.

Sainz couldn't make it and LeClerc took second place to Hamilton (my prediction for the race win).  After a slow pit stop from Mercedes though he was behind both Ferraris.  He was warned that the hard tires take a while to get into the zone.  I could see some whinging over the radio coming.

The cars kept dropping out of the race.  After a nice wee battle with Verstappen, Ocon pulled over with a mechanical failure.  He chose a spot that brought a Safety Car straight out.  With 6 cars out of the race, there were two lapped cars, Ricciardo and Tsunoda.  We've barely seen DannyRic this weekend other than when he hit smacked Norris in the race with a space hopper.

With 10 laps to go, the Safety Car period was finishing, Sainz was asked to give LeClerc 10 car lengths breathing space.  With Hamilton right behind him though, how could he do this?  The Ferraris battled hard, with Perez trying to take Hamilton right behind them.  One lap later, the order was Sainz, LeClerc, Perez, Hamilton.  The crowd were on the edge of their seats.  Latifi was in 11th, which is such as shame as he really had earnt a point today.  LeClerc was on hard tires, the others soft.  DRS was enabled.  Could the Red Bull Number 2 overtake the Ferrari Number 1?  Yes, no, yes, no, yes and they let Hamilton through into second.  The tussle continued, places continually switching, Perez pushing drivers off the track left, right and centre.  Alonso, with Norris behind him, arrive on the scene.  No driver was happy to sit back and give up a place, positions switching and switching back and switching back again.

Once again, Ferrari Ferraried things up for LeClerc by not having him on the soft tires after the Safety Car.  Everyone was happy for Sainz to get his maiden victory and for Hamilton to be on the podium (and Fastest Lap).  Schumacher gained his first points in Formula 1.

GB GP Qualifying Report

Being patriotic, we tuned into the Channel 4 coverage.  Well that was a poor choice, I'd forgotten about Eddie Jordan.

The first session started with rain, which slowly cleared away during the session although drivers were able to chase down a quick lap beyond the chequered flag.  Latifi put in a lap to take him 12th momentarily and still made it through to Q2 in 15th, beating his team mate who had the "improvements" on his car.  Mick Schumacher followed him around and wasn't able to even sneak a peek at Q2 (neither was his team mate).  It shows that Schumacher probably isn't the driver his father was and Mazepin must have been truly dreadful to flatter him.  The Aston Martins continue not to benefit from recruiting Red Bull staff by completing the Out in Q1 Line Up.

There were no surprises in the second Qualifying session: Gasly, Bottas, Tsunoda, Ricciardo and Ocon out.  Hold on...where's Latifi?  Didn't he get through to Q2?  He got through to Q3 too!  There's a surprise.  It should be big news for Ricciardo to be out but not these days.  I'm predicting he drives for Williams next year.

The final Qualifying session looked like it was going to be a question of who crossed the finishing line of the drying track last.  Even Alonso and Hamilton were in the mix.  Sainz was first to seem to take pole; Verstappen and LeClerc were unable to beat his time and we waited for the other cars to complete their laps.  Perez 4th, Hamilton 5th, Norris 6th, Alonso 7th then Russell, Zhou and Latifi unable to push higher than 10th.

The crowd were very happy for Sainz to get that pole but then booed Verstappen.  He took it well, like the pantomime villain he is.

GB Race Report

It's well known that Hamilton always collides with anyone who challenges him for the world championship.  Today it was Verstappen's day to feel the wrath.  Lewis is beginning to look more and more like one of his idols, Michael Schumacher, who frequently relied on a little tap to anyone who gave him a serious race.  With the red flag brought out after the incident, pausing the race, there was no cost to him repairing his car.  His radio footage made it clear that he felt Max did not give him space.  Verstappen looked very shaken and spacey as he got out of the car and into the medical vehicle.  All the pundits came out on the side of Verstappen, which is unusual not to be supporting the Brit.  In 2021 revamped F1, we also got to hear Horner speaking to Michael Massey on his new Sunday afternoon radio show (MMFM).   Whilst Horner claimed that Hamilton was never ahead of Verstappen, Wolff called (long time listener, first time caller, arf arf) to say that he was "significantly alongside" the car). Wolff then sent a special mystery email to Massey (race director), pointing out something in the rules.  He kept patiently telling the angry team representatives that the race stewards were investigating the incident.  Also, footage of Hamilton watching the replays and seeing the full extent of the damage to the Red Bull (and Verstappen).  I think Verstappen's visit to the medical centre prevented us from seeing some good old-fashioned pit land fisticuffs.

It had been a thrilling start to the race with Hamilton and Verstappen battling back and forth for the lead, showing real skill and race craft.  LeClerc had a great start, getting past Bottas and then taking the lead into the pit lane rolling start.

After the break in the pit lane, when Merecedes gaffer-taped up Hamilton's car, it was round the track for a standing start.  LeClerc reminded us all what an excellent driver he is by making an excellent start and retaining the lead.  Vettel spun his car and ended up behind the Haas.

All calmed down then suddenly on Lap 15, LeClerc's engine cut out and returned to life.  They gave him a new setting, but the driver was still closer to Hamilton and the dreaded DRS window.  He held on.

Lap 20 showed Raikkonen battling with the beleaguered Perez and proving why he continues to be paid the big bucks to drive in F1, holding off the faster car where skill counts in the corners and only conceding the position on the straight where money talks with engine performance.

From 3rd position Norris came into the pits and McLaren failed the home track hero with a 6 second stop.  I remember going to Silverstone in the Noughties and everyone was wearing Mercedes colours and supporting Hamilton, despite other Brits on the grid.  Now Norris and his papaya army are growing - is this a backlash against Hamilton?

It was a day of doomed pitstops, with Sainz taking a 12 second stop.  Hamilton took 4.2 seconds, on top of his 10 second penalty.

Another long period of calm, with Hamilton chasing LeClerc.  With less than 5 laps to go, Gasly gets a puncture and makes it into his pit in time.  Raikkonen spins off when battling with Perez.  Then the Mexican made the ultimate sacrifice by going in to the pits for soft tires to get the fastest lap - only he didn't get the point for it because he was not in the top ten (I still dispute this clause) - he did it to stop Hamilton getting the point.  Then LeClerc just couldn't hold off the Mercedes left with so few laps to go.

I don't think anyone would have predicted that LeClerc would come second this race.  It really shows why Ferrari picked him, making almost the absolute best of a golden opportunity.  His team mate finished 6th.  He maintained the lead for pretty much all of the race, losing out to the superior car with 3 laps to go.  I think only the staunchest Hamilton fans would think that he deserved victory today and until we hear how Verstappen is in hospital, there's no reason to celebrate.  LeClerc claimed Driver of the Day.  Still no points for Williams.

Hamilton put in a very slow lap, collecting a flag on the way to thank the fans and then ran around with said flag.  Obviously emotions were running high with the sudden victory but over-the-top celebrations are not respectful when the driver you ran off the track is in hospital.  As Verstappen pointed out himself on Twitter.

Looking at the crowd in light of the Hamilton Commission, you wonder whether you also need to change the fan base and grass roots engagement of the sport too.  You can only watch one full race for free on council TV every year and tickets for the race are well out the reach of most people.

Should also mention Tom Cruise.

GP Qualifying & Sprint Race Report

With only soft tires an option for Qualifying, I was worried that there wouldn't be any surprises as there would be no opportunities to play a different card.  Ultimately it was good one though.  With a capacity crowd. it was great to hear the cheers for Russell and Hamilton.  With Russell straight through Q1 and P7 in Q2, will he go backwards during the sprint race?  In Q3 he finished P8 ahead of Sainz and Vettel, not too bad.  Like most Williams fans, I think this format does not seem to be a winner for us.

It seems unlikely that I would write this but it was quite a nice surprise for Hamilton to take pole position in Qualifying.  It bodes well that possibly he can keep the championship race ticking along.  With the new format, this is his chance to score much-needed bonus points for the sprint race.

The start of the sprint (not a race, note) was electric, with Verstappen pulling away and Hamilton fighting hard to retake the position.  Alonso went from 11th to 5th.  No one was expecting the drivers to push to hard.  Russell gave everyone a tow off the grid and went backwards, tapping Sainz as he went.

Third of the way through, Perez spun the car (drive error), saved by the gravel trap, he didn't hit the wall and managed to rejoin the track, somewhat dangerously.  He was still ahead of Mazepin though, until he retired the car.

What did the sprint change about the grid?  Latifi started 17th in Williams, which is perhaps one place ahead of normal.  Verstappen took to the front of pack a day earlier than he would have.  LeClerc managed to jump ahead of the two McLarens.  Russell starts 9th instead of 8th.

How did Verstappen find the sprint?  "Nice".  The best move of the race/sprint was Alonso's start by far.

Have to say 17 laps seems like quite a long sprint.  The laurel wreaths are fun though.  The truck they went round in was like an Acme designed Securicor van that escorts prisoners to court.

I wonder how the free tire choice for the whole starting grid will play out...

GB GP - "That's the home win mate"

First thing to note....Channel 4 appeared to have dropped The Chain.

Bottas gave us a surprise pole, which was very welcome.  The first half of the race was a classic; the second half was boring.  On Lap 1, Haas took out Haas, which was a prelude to a much more interesting smash later.  There was a great bit of overtaking without injury between the Mercedes, Hamilton on Bottas and straight away, Bottas on Hamilton.  I continue to maintain that Vettel will retire at the end of the season, which I wrote when he was overtaken by Gasly on Lap 12...

I haven't missed Bedward, watching on Sky as we do, his shrieking every time something happens is off-putting, see Verstappen and LeClerc's battle on Lap 14.

Giovannizi's (sorry if I've spelt that wrong, this is his first mention on the blog) retirement triggered a safety car, which gave Hamilton a free pit stop and the race win.

Further confirmation of my Vettel retirement prediction came on Lap 38 when he shunted Verstappen.  I was very pleased there was an escape road for Verstappen to return to the race track.

The tale of the first half ends here.

I have one further note and that is that Hamilton made a nice speech thanking his team post-race.

GB GP - Results

1. The Hope Fulls - 560*
2. Evel Marque - 549*
3. BottHaas - 519
4. PickedInAHurry - 486
5. Je suis Charlie - 460
6. Jack the Lad - 384
7= Hippy F1 - 361*
7= The Pitstop Princess - 361
9. Ferrari Rocher - 282
10. Francesco Bernoulli - 247*

* Home track played

British GP - "Lovely job"

It's July, it's the British Grand Prix, it's time to find the keys to the crypt and drag out Murray Walker.  Talking of "blast from the past": Louise Goodman!

Qualifying for this race was just as interesting as the race really.  Red Bull's problem with reliability continues to dog them; they can't even get both cars through Q1 (it says a lot when Horner predicts Vettel or Hamilton to win).  The huge cheer from the crowd as Alonso made pole in Q1 was brilliant too.

There was much excitement as Cars 3 was trailed in the paddock, although it had petered out by the time Owen Wilson took to the podium.

There were other disappointments.  Bedward said: "You have to feel for Palmer.  He doesn't have all the upgrades Hulkenberg has." or the skills.  Both Toro Rosso cars went out on lap 2.  I'm sure this would have been big news if they were further up the pit lane and excited montages about "The Rivalry" compiled but who gets worked up about Kvyat these days?

One of the enjoyable parts of the race isn't what you saw but what you heard.  The crowd cheering is great and there was some good radio too.  From Bottas': "minimal talking" to Grosjean's "so stupid, unbelievable" at his own mistake.

It got more confusing towards the end.  Raikkonen's tyre shredding three laps from the end avoided any awkwardness when he would have been asked to move over for Vettel.  Then Vettel punctured his tyre, just as he passed the pit lane entrance.  Still, it's tight at the top and I think we're set for some more close racing this season...

British GP - Results

1. No Vices Now - 661*
2. Evel Marque - 584*
3. Bernie is a hobbit - 583*
4. Two World Champions, two future World Champions and, um, two other guys - 564
5. Moneyball - 537
6. The Pitstop Princess - 535
7= Hoping for an Indian Summer - 533
7= Torque of the Devil - 533
9. Even more hopeful - 532*
10. Jenson's Whinging Legacy - 486
11. Burn After Racing - 427
12. BOT-RAI-PER - 414*
13. Beauty & the F1 Geek - 397
14. Hippy F1 - 361*
15. Slightly Slower Racing - 343

* Home track played

Britain GP - "Thank you so much for your continued support"

Theresa May

Lap 5 pit lane chaos - how was no-one awarded an unsafe release?
Williams pit crew helmet-cam - they appear to nod and the wheel is changed
Verstappen's overtake on Rosberg - confirming that my decision to back Verstappen this year will pay off
Crowds - if the other circuits can't match this, they shouldn't get a race
Big spins - Sainz and Alonso in particular
Raikkonen's contract renewal - he's doing okay but...
Most radio we've heard all year - although it was "Chassis default setting 1...Avoid 7th gear".  Which isn't riveting
Boos for Rosberg - bit embarrassing

Boris Johnson

Squeezing Chris Hoy's thighs - !
Spice Girls - raising so many questions
Yay for rain - boo for safety car starts
Nearly crashing into the safety car - Hamilton
Three wheels on his wagon - Palmer.  I notice he's not being hailed as the next Great British Driver.
McLaren overtaking Williams - oh no!

Britain GP - Results

1. Weak End of Bernie - 628*
2. The Pitstop Princess - 593
3. Merc-redible Hulk - 585*
4. Hippy F1 - 576*
5. Beauty & the F1 Geek - 549*
6. Halo, it's me - 534
7. Claire has to type out this sentence each time as my team name - 528*
8. BogOffBernie - 519*
9. Three teams, one dream - 514*
10. The Hopefuls - 466*
11. No Vices Now - 397
12. British Racing Green - 365* (and congrats for what I suspect is the lowest Home Track score to date!)
13. The Maranello Marvels - 357
14. Marian's Marvels - 323
15. Indiana Walker and the Tyres of Doom - 273
16. Put out to Pastor - 171

GB GP - "Thank you to the fans...this one's for you"

Yes

Flying starts - yes, Williams!
Fighting Talk - Bottas on the radio
Neck and neck down the pit lane - Massa and Rosberg

No

Wearing an IQ Reducer, backwards - Alonso, looking at you.  Briatore still motivates him.
Gary Rhodes hair - on Will Stevens?
Spice Girls - continuing the nineties throw back theme
M&S trailer - oh...
Out on L1 - poor Button...let alone never making the podium at Silverstone
Go Fast and Prosper - told me who won the race before I saw it, ruined all the hope I would have had after the Safety Car on Lap 2
Choice Bedward - "There's a chance here today for Alonso to score some points" [not been heard for many a year].  "At last Mercedes are back where they should be." - because the BBC would rather Hamilton won than we saw a good race.  Validated by DC, when talking about Rosberg catching Hamilton: "Don't panic everybody".
Wet races - everyone has been wanting one for ages and we get some rain and then it completely ruins it for Williams
Frankie Dettori - why not Emma Bunton?  Finally though, some real comparison to see how short the drivers are.

GB GP - Results

1. Teutonic Titans, Titanic Twits - 859
2. DC's Tighty Whiteys - 849
3. HamBerg from McCedes drive through please - 848
4. Sharks have no bones :) - 758
5. Double Mercedes is Boring! - 664
6. The F1 Flumps - 637
7. Baby on Board - 616
8. Mike and the Mechanics - 608
9. Lots of Trouble Usually Serious - 606
10. Go Fast and Prosper - 580
11. Muppet Racing - 549
12. Hippy F1 - 516*
13. The Hopefuls - 468*
14. I blame Clarkson - 449*
15. The Pitstop Princess - 442
16. The Very Good Value - 419
17. Beauty & the F1 Geek - 415
18. No Vices Now - 403
19. Baby Pitstop's Change Crew - 351
20. I Monza Brink of Insanity - 349
21. Juan Angus Fangio C.I. - 321
22. 10CC - 274

* Home track

GB GP - "You cannot touch this"

Hooray

Qualifying 12th - congrats Marussia
107% rule - it's been a while old friend, brought out for Caterham
Overtaking - Alonso and Bottos enlivening the race
Fighting - Alonso, Vettel and Button all put in a good show

Disappointed

Slebs - Osborne (surprised that Coulthard recognised him given that  none of his money goes that way), Vorderman, Niomi Campbell, Fassbender, boring
Q1 - Williams and Ferrari out, poor show
Slebs - Eric Clapton is Massa's biggest fan - clearly doesn't watch much F1
Schoolboy errors - overshooting the grid slot, Alonso
Snitching - Button, Alonso and Vettel
Hamilton's hair

British GP Results

1. Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes! - 862
2. The Pitstop Princess - 595*
3. The Mercs - 581
4. The Hopefuls - 576*
5. No Vices Now - 573*
6. Mercrari Hulkenassa - 570
7. Hippy F1 - 548*
8. The View from the Back of the Grid - 463
9. League of Extraordinary Pay Drivers - 440
10. Red Bull goes Brazil nuts!! - 402
11. The Baldy Biker - 361
12. Magnussen Benz Over Button - 325
13. Beauty & the F1 Geek - 230
14. Hopefully Prancing Horses no Donkeys - 193

* Home track