British GP Race Report: Home, Sweet Home - Just
What a weekend of sport that was. An FA Cup final on Saturday following by a British Grand Prix on Sunday. We were one Wimbledon final short of a British sporting masterpiece. It is seventy years since the first-ever Grand Prix, which took place in Silverstone. On that day, in 1950, King George VI was in attendance. Since then, British Grand Prix have felt like royal visits, providing a circuit for the brave, moments that will live on for generations and, most importantly, some of the greatest fans of Formula One on the planet.
Of course, I am a biased Brit.
This year's race at Silverstone taking place with no fans felt criminal. Hopefully, it'll be the only time that this race or any other is held behind closed doors because the fans really do make the British Grand Prix special.
2020's race around the former World War II airfields of Silverstone did threaten to be a tame affair. However, this was a slow burner that would explode into life as the race neared the end, just going to show that it's never over until you see the chequered flag.
“With speculation of Perez being dropped increasing, this weekend was an intriguing test of the team without him.”
Racing Point, who's factory sits over the road from Silverstone, have deservedly been given the crown of the greatest pound for pound team in Formula One. This success has resulted mainly from their excellent operations and ability to pounce upon points whenever the superior teams tripped over or got injured. They have always done a tremendous job as the underdogs.
This year, Racing Point are not underdogs. The 'Pink Panthers' have the car to be the third-best team at the very least. However, their performance over the first four races of this season can be characterised as wasteful.
The beginning of the week was less than ideal for Racing Point. Their lead driver, Sergio Perez, tested positive for Coronavirus. Naturally, Sergio couldn't take part in the race and his team needed to replace him - fast. Thursday afternoon, Nico Hulkenberg picked up the phone. He was the chosen replacement. Nico had left Formula One involuntarily at the end of last year. Talented, successful in lower categories and even a Le Mans 24 hour race winner, the German had never entirely done enough for a podium. This weekend, to his surprise, he would be driving a car with the capacity of doing just that.
With speculation of Perez being dropped increasing, this weekend was an intriguing test of the team without him. While the Mexican isolated, he will have watched on as Hulkenberg got to grips with a new car and lack of race fitness and Stroll didn't exactly set the world alight. Sergio's experience, familiarity within the team and speed were dearly missed. This weekend shows precisely why.
It then went from bad to worse for the team. Nico Hulkenberg's engine would fail to turn on to head to the starting grid - the unfortunate kind of niggle that had characterised his Formula One career. At least the UK government's rules mean that he will have another, potentially final, race next weekend. Hopefully, he can be the super sub we all want him to be. On the other side of the garage, Lance Stroll at least finished, but only yielded two points, in ninth position. He couldn't make the tyres of the car work and struggled with pace. It'll be interesting to see if this poor form from the Perezless Racing Point continued into next race.
“If you are tired of hearing about racism, then imagine the tiredness of those who experience it.”
This weekend, Formula One finally got it right, addressing racism in the way they should have done already - clearly and unified. After the past two races have provoked criticism, a little bit of communication meant that our sport could use its platform to send out a message. As a white-dominated sport, there is sometimes a lack of understanding when it comes to racism since we don't see it in our sport. Why don't we see it? Because very few non-white people have ever worked in the sport, making it difficult to know when discrimination takes place. The stance before this weekend's race is a good start as far as education is concerned, but the conversation must continue. If you are tired of hearing about racism, then imagine the tiredness of those who experience it.
“I know I wasn't alone in needing a lie down after that conclusion to the race.”
After leading the organisation of the anti-racism message, Lewis Hamilton also holds the lead in the championship commandingly, following the race. Though the points don't show the full picture. In 2017, Lewis was interviewed on the top step of the podium by Owen Wilson, also known as Lightning McQueen. There was an element of déjà vu as Hamilton finished the race in a similar fashion to McQueen. For those unfamiliar with Cars, it is a Disney film in which the character, Lightning McQueen inexplicably failed to stop for tyres when he should have done, and blew a tyre in the final lap of the race. In McQueen's case, a photo finish revealed a tie, in Lewis' more real situation, he crawled across the line, just about beating Max Verstappen and the rest of the pack bearing down on him. He had made it home - just. I know I wasn't alone in needing a lie down after that conclusion to the race.
Hamilton wasn't the only one to have a tyre failure. In fact, he was lucky that the tyre only gave up half a lap from home. Bottas, his teammate, dropped out of the points from second and so too did Carlos Sainz from forth. Even so, while Formula One fans around the world were shaken to the core, Hamilton kept driving his limping car, at remarkable speeds, showing incredible skill to take his seventh win at home and eighty-seventh win of his career.
“I don't see Max making a move any time soon. However, I sense that his patience will begin to degrade.”
Thrilling though it was, some asked questions of Red Bull's decision to pit Max Verstappen in the final laps in a bid to get the extra point for the fastest lap of the race. To those people, I remind you of the utter beauty that is hindsight. Red Bull didn't know that Hamilton would have an issue, they were happy to accept a surprise second-place finish and the tyres that they took off Max's car were heavily damaged too. Who is to say that Max wasn't going to also encounter a failure?
A comment that took me aback came from Max Verstappen. He said that he was 'happy to finish second'. I don't know him well, but I do know that it is unlike him. If Bottas' tyre hadn't given up, he'd have finished third. He is outperforming his Red Bull, as evidenced by his boredom in the race. His team will fear that Max will not only become bored with being beaten by Hamilton and Mercedes but also by his car not being quick enough to do anything about it. I don't see Max making a move any time soon. However, I sense that his patience will begin to degrade.
Verstappen's teammate, Alex Albon, did well to fight back to eighth after a torrid weekend. He was second quickest in Friday's practice, but also crashed heavily, which knocked his confidence. Further struggles would follow in qualifying. On Sunday, Alex was fighting back through the field and stuck his nose inside Kevin Magnussen after the Dane ran wide in the final corner. The result - Magnussen ended his race early in the barrier. Luckily for Alex, his car remained in good condition. Unluckily, he received a five-second penalty. I agree with the general consensus that he didn't deserve punishment. However, I understand and commend the decision that remains consistent with action taken on the two clashes that Alex has been on the receiving end of, with Lewis Hamilton.
“It would be good to see him get a podium before the end of 2020 - a Danial Ricciardo podium is always a treat.”
Joining Lewis and Max on the podium was a future champion driving what is now a midfield car. Charles Leclerc had a solid qualifying and race, outperforming his teammate and probably his car. Nevertheless, with two podiums this season, he is clearly showing his worth in a Ferrari, which won't be fighting for wins for the next couple of years according to their chairman, John Elkann. Once again, Charles was lucky to get this podium. Even so, you make your own luck, and he took the spoils when Bottas was removed from the picture.
Leclerc was followed closely home by the ever-consistent Danial Ricciardo and Lando Norris. Both drove brilliantly, along with their teammates, Ocon and Sainz, as they battled hard. This was Danny's best finish for Renault and it would be good to see him get a podium before the end of 2020 - a Danial Ricciardo podium is always a treat. Once again, this demonstrates the brilliant position McLaren are in with their drivers next year, as they look to rise back to the top, where they belong.
McLaren and Renault were held up by Romain Grosjean, who's Haas team once again did something a bit different with their strategy, leaving him out while others pitted. The Frenchman's defensive driving was 'sketchy' to quote Ricciardo, as he jerked late to block overtaking cars. It was borderline dangerous from the chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers Association. To put it mildly, Verstappen wasn't particularly impressed with Grosjean's sight earlier in the weekend. It is these sorts of moments that add to his unfortunate reputation as a driver who has more incidents than most.
The British Grand Prix was a slow burner, but boy did we enjoy the bang. Happily, there is another race coming up at Silverstone, and it's in just a week. With softer tyres and higher temperatures on the cards, I wouldn't go anywhere. After all, there's no place like home.