This time last year after finishing 14th, Fernando Alonso declared that he would still win the world championship. This year, he stormed to victory at Silverstone for his first win the of the season. A tyre blunder may have robbed Sebastian Vettel of his second Silverstone success but that does not tell the whole story: Alonso was devastatingly quick, not to mention consistent, and duly took his 27th career victory.
There was drama before the race had even started, both on and off the track. A unanimous decision has now been reached between the teams regarding blown diffusers. From Germany in two weeks time, the teams will revert to their previous settings but from next season they will be banned altogether. The decision to alter them today certainly benefitted Ferrari, and it was clear that in the latter part of the race they could hold their own against the Red Bulls.
On track, a rain shower 45 minutes before the start of the race dampened the track, with some areas wetter than others. Speaking of dampened, Mark Webber's spirits must have been slightly lowered after just 200m of the race. Webber, who beat Vettel to pole, bogged down immediately and was relegated to second.
Alonso immediately began to pressure him while Jenson Button jumped Felipe Massa into fourth. Further back, Lewis Hamilton, revelling in the conditions, was up to seventh by the end of lap one. On lap two he dispatched of Paul di Resta down the Hangar Straight into Stowe and passed Button down the Wellington Straight into the complex to rectify his team's qualifying error.
With one part of the track damp and the other bone dry, drivers began to burn out their intermediate tyres and Michael Schumacher, who collided with Kamui Kobayashi, was the first to pit for slicks. Although somewhat forced due to a broken front wing, which would later result in a ten second stop and go penalty, it provided a barometer for the teams. Once he had set the fastest lap of the race, slicks were the way to go. On lap 13 Hamilton decided to pit, as did Webber and Alonso in front of him, while Vettel stayed out for another lap; with a six second lead he had the luxury of a cushion.
Button, who else, was much quicker on the slick tyres having pitted earlier than the leaders. He attempted to pass Massa around the outside at Stowe and although initially foiled, kept his foot hard in it so he would be on the inside for Club to snatch fifth. It was a very brave move.
Up ahead, Hamilton was flying on his new slicks and replicated Button's bravery by passing Alonso into Copse for third.He made seven places in just 15 laps: who was going to criticise his overtaking this time? Hamilton's style is undoubtedly high risk, but at Silverstone it was paying significant dividends. In contrast, Vettel was initially cautious after switching to slicks and Webber smelled blood. Webber revels in adversity and after losing his initiative instantly, sensed a slightly hesitant race leader.
The track was still drying and Hamilton and Alonso began to seriously press the Red Bulls in front. However, the Brits' charge was briefly curtailed due to heavily worn tyres and Alonso looked to pounce. Seeing two giants of the sport go head-to-head was a mesmerising sight for the Silverstone crowd and with DRS Alonso made his move down the Wellington Straight. No quarter was given either away, but the Ferrari surged past into third. Hamilton defended rigorously from a similarly aggressive Alonso but it was in vain. On the very next lap the 2008 champion pitted in a bid to gain the undercut from new soft tyres.
Paul Di Resta had been running comfortably in seventh when he pitted for a second time on lap 26. However, a botched pit stop left him way down the order and he then made a rookie by crashing into Sebastien Buemi as he attempted to regain position. It was a disappointing end to such a promising day for the young British driver.
Hamilton may have had success from the undercut in getting past Webber after his pit stop on lap 26, but Alonso was flying on older rubber, cutting the gap to Vettel down to a mere five seconds. The two pitted in unison the next lap and it was Alonso who surprisingly emerged ahead. The Red Bull mechanics were unable to change Vettel's left rear tyre, causing a huge delay, and Alonso snatched the lead. Vettel re-ememerged from the chaos in third behind Hamilton, but crucially maintained his advantage over Webber.
This was the first test of Vettel's race-winning abilities. We know how comfortable the 2010 champion is when he is cruising at the front of the field, but now his overtaking attributes would be scrutinised. He quickly closed on Hamilton, but could not find a way through. Maybe he was thinking of the championship, maybe he was thinking strategically, but Vettel seemed ill-equipped to overhaul him. Even in the DRS zone, his Red Bull did not have the legs on the Mclaren in front and evidently Vettel was not daring enough to send one up the inside. Had it been the other way round, I'm certain Hamilton would have been through.
Vettel decided to pit early to gain from the undercut of fresh tyres. Hamilton pitted the next lap but it was too late. Race leader Alonso, who was almost two seconds a lap faster out with Hamilton fending off Vettel, pitted from the lead on lap 40 and retained his advantage. Button also pitted but a disastrous decision from the chief mechanic meant the 2009 champion left the pits without a secure right front tyre, and retired immediately. He had been catching Webber tremendously and may have secured that elusive Silverstone podium.
Trouble was continuous at Mclaren. Hamilton was told to go into fuel saving mode, and was a major casualty of the new engine mapping rules, which altered fuel consumption. He was easy prey for Webber, whom like Alonso, sailed past in the DRS zone down the Wellington straight. Such was Hamilton's plight that he was now vulnerable to Massa in fifth.
Webber was on a charge and determined to catch Vettel in front. Vettel, unusually, was suffering from tyre problems and they were neck and neck going into the final laps. As Webber sensed second place, he was told over the radio by Team Principal Christian Horner to 'maintain the gap'. We all knew what that meant but it was met with more than a hint of irony given Horner's complaints following Hockenheim last season.
With their battle now curtailed, the crowd were now focused on the fight for fourth between Hamilton and Massa. As they reached Club for the final time, the Brazilian boldly dived to the outside and they touched. Hamilton went for the switchback and bullied Massa off the road to snatch back fourth. The adulation from the crowd was enormous. Hamilton had been heroic all race and if he was auditioning for the Red Bull drive, particularly by holding back Vettel, he's surely turned a few heads there.
Alonso demonstrated Froilan Gonzalez's 1951 British GP-winning Ferrari prior to the race and today demonstrated he has lost none of his race craft. Alonso is, however, 92 points behind Vettel in the title race. Cautious he may sound, but the steely Spaniard will always believe he has half chance. The Prancing Horse may not challenge at the final furlong this year, but it was good to see it still in contention.
British GP result
1 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Ferrari 1hr 28mins 41.196secs
2 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Red Bull + 16.511
3 Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull + 16.947
4 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) McLaren + 28.986
5 Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari + 29.010
6 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes + 1:00.665
7 Sergio Perez (Mex) Sauber + 1:05.590
8 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) Renault + 1:15.542
9 Michael Schumacher (Ger) Mercedes + 1:17.912
10 Jaime Alguersuari (Spa) Toro Rosso + 1:19.108
11 Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India + 1:19.712
12 Vitaly Petrov (Rus) Renault + 1:20.600
13 Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Williams +1 Lap
14 Pastor Maldonado (Ven) Williams +1 Lap
15 Paul di Resta (Gbr) Force India +1 Lap
16 Timo Glock (Ger) Virgin +2 Laps
17 Jerome d'Ambrosio (Bel) Virgin +2 Laps
18 Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) HRT +2 Laps
19 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) HRT +3 Laps
Not Classified
20 Jenson Button (Gbr) McLaren 39 Laps completed
21 Sebastien Buemi (Swi) Toro Rosso 25 Laps completed
22 Kamui Kobayashi (Jpn) Sauber 23 Laps completed
23 Jarno Trulli (Ita) Lotus 10 Laps completed
24 Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Lotus 2 Laps completed
Josh.
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