Thrilling End to British Grand Prix

Oliver Graham

Fernando Alonso claimed a brilliant victory at Silverstone today to hold off the two Red Bull drivers who filled the rest of the podium.

Alonso had superior pace for a long time in the race and was closing rapidly on Vettel in an exciting middle part of the race with a rapidly drying track. When Vettel and Alonso both came in for a Pitstop on the same lap, Vettel’s rear jack mechanic made an error and cost him precious seconds. Alonso snaked by and didn’t relinquish the lead for the remaining laps.

He slightly ran away with it and so the excitement shifted to the two remaining battles at the end of the race. With the last lap approaching two battles reigned supreme and took all the camera time.

The Red Bull’s battled for 2nd, with Vettel not finishing outside the top 2 all season, it seemed he was destined to be caught by a flying Mark Webber. Christian Horner, the Red Bull Team Boss, stepped in with a couple of remaining laps and gave the team orders, keep Vettel in front. Webber ignored them and continued to push right up to the last couple of corners at which point it seemed he remember who his employers were and dropped slightly back although after race interviews with both Horner and Webber revealed neither seemed particularly happy with the way things had turned out.

However, the highlight of the day was without question the battle for 4th in the last lap. Hamilton was being caught by Massa because he was in fuel saving mode . Massa finally got on his tail with half a lap left, with two corners to go Massa went round the outside and there was immediate contact. Massa however appeared to be in front as the finally corner of the race loomed but Lewis had the inside line. Hamilton and Massa touched again and Massa ended up pushed wide onto the run off area to finish the race with Hamilton through to claim an amazingly tight 4th position. Although surely another trip to the stewards looms to discuss the incident.

Hamilton said “I have a platinum card to the Stewards so I’ll just head there now.” Although Ferrari team bosses admitted that it was probably “just wheel to wheel racing.”

McLaren team mate Jensen Button was flying and looking to mix up the top 3 when a mistake in the pits meant he had to retire as his front right tire had not been properly attached.

The race was a return to the brilliance that the sport has seen over recent years but the leader board still looks like the season is already done and dusted, even though it’s just half way through.

The Constructor’s Championship has Red Bull with 328 points and they lead by 110 points to McLaren on 218 and then Ferrari bring up 3rd with 164 points.

The Driver’s Championship looks equally as complete with Vettel clearly leading on 204 and his team mate Webber in 2nd with 123. Alonso is still quite a long way back but is the nearest contender not from Red Bull with 112 points and his unnerving confidence will mean he will always still believe he has a chance, however slim. Both McLaren’s are left on 109 points after today and with their off pace racing, it looks like they may have to start looking towards next season.

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