All three drivers are interviewed, for some reason, by Frankie Dettori. “For once, I made the perfect choice” says Hamilton on the decision to switch tyres early in the rain, and Rosberg reluctantly agrees. Vettel says without the rain, he wouldn’t be on the podium. Hard to argue with that, but he’ll be happy enough.
That’s about it from me – here’s the full race report from a dramatic day at Silverstone. Thanks for reading. Bye!
Hamilton gives the home fans the full treatment, thanking them over the team radio, then pulling doughnuts in front of the grandstand. Nico Rosberg, who may settle for second after a topsy-turvy race, offers muted congratulations alongside Sebastian Vettel.
After all that, it’s Hamilton who holds the trophy aloft, after Silverstone enjoys an Alesha-free rendering of the national anthem. He’s added seven points to his lead over Rosberg, and has joined Jack Brabham, Niki Lauda and Michael Schumacher in winning three British Grands Prix.
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“I’m so happy with that!” says Hamilton over the team radio – and who can blame him? He’s the first British driver to win his home grand prix from pole since Damon Hill in 1994 – and he did it quite brilliantly, keeping calm after a slow start to overhaul both Williams, before a perfectly timed tyre change gave him the edge over Rosberg in the frantic, rain-soaked final stages of the race.
Lewis Hamilton wins the British Grand Prix!
It’s a third victory at Silverstone for the defending champion, as he beats team-mate Nico Rosberg into second after an intelligent, perfectly executed drive, with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel third.
Lap 51: A gentle pace for the final two laps, as the drizzle returns. Williams, who held the top two places early on, and held two podium spots for 80% of the race, will surely be disappointed to finish with Massa and Bottas fourth and fifth. Hamilton begins his final lap to rapturous applause from the grandstand – he’s moments away now...
Lap 50: Poor Kimi Raikkonen, who switched to intermediates a touch early, has had to pit again with his tyres shredded. With the top ten all a good distance from each other, it’s looking like a Hamilton, Rosberg, Vettel podium.
Lap 49: Will Stevens has had a decent afternoon, keeping his Manor on track while those around him have crashed out – but he goes wide, and destroys the nose of his car! It’ll be a struggle to get to the line from here.
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Lap 48: Four laps to go. Here’s the current top ten, which really doesn’t tell the whole story. Fernando Alonso is set to pick up his first points of the season, after edging past Marcus Ericsson and into the top ten.
1. Hamilton 2. Rosberg 3. Vettel 4. Massa 5. Bottas 6. Kvyat 7. Hülkenberg 8. Raikkonen 9. Pérez 10. Alonso.
Lap 47: “It’s getting heavier” exclaims Massa, down in fourth. “Easing off in the pit lane” says the team radio, which probably won’t make him feel much better. Rosberg is eight seconds behind Hamilton; it’s looking like a hard-earned British GP hat-trick for the British driver.
Lap 46: That second burst of rain has led to a madcap couple of laps, with the two Williams pitting, but returning behind Vettel, who has leapt up to third.
Lap 45: Rosberg is forced to pit, as Hamilton roars past Massa and into second. This could be crucial – and Hamilton is well clear of his team-mate, with a lead of nine seconds. A very canny move from Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes crew.
Lap 43: With a second bout of rain about to fall, and with Rosberg breathing down his neck, Hamilton pits – and switches to intermediate tyres! While the crowd question his sanity, the heavens open. That could prove to be an inspired move...
Lap 42: From fourth place, Rosberg has stormed back – and he’s cut the gap on Hamilton to just a couple of seconds! Hamilton doesn’t sound happy, describing the damp corners as “incredibly dangerous”.
Lap 41: Williams have been undone by that rain shower, and Rosberg quickly gains on Massa, overtaking to go second! It’s taken 41 laps, but the Mercedes one-two is back on. Raikkonen must be rueing that pit stop – the intermediates aren’t working, and he’s dropped behind Kvyat, Hulkenberg and Perez and down to ninth.
Lap 40: Hamilton struggles through Copse Corner, but is a full seven seconds ahead of Massa, and won’t switch tyres just yet, with that downpour coming to a swift end. There will be more rain to come, though.
Lap 39: Vettel powers past team-mate Raikkonen and into fifth place. In turn, Raikkonen heads to the pits to switch to intermediate tyres. Rosberg, meanwhile, recovers from that rick at Woodcote, and he overtakes Bottas to go third! From likely winner after ten laps, Bottas now looks set to miss the podium altogether.
Lap 38: New rules are set to hand more big decisions to drivers, and we’re getting an early taste of it here, with the pit crews unable to judge racing conditions. At the moment, rain is affecting only a handful of corners – including Woodcote, where Rosberg has run wide!
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Lap 37: Is it raining or not? Results are inconclusive, with Vettel struggling through Copse Corner, umbrellas in the stands, but a dry pit lane and Hamilton, like Blind Melon, denying the presence of precipitation.
The current top ten: 1. Hamilton 2. Massa 3. Bottas 4. Rosberg 5. Raikkonen 6. Vettel 7. Kvyat 8. Hülkenberg 9. Pérez 10. Ericsson.
Lap 36: The virtual safety car is no more, and here comes the rain! Hold on to your hats, everyone. Bottas is struggling to hold off Rosberg, and suggests an early second stop to his team, who don’t seem that keen.
Lap 34: It might sound like something from Total Recall, but the virtual safety car is not all that exciting in reality: the drivers are simply told to stick to a given speed, while the now stationary Sainz is hauled back to the pits.
So, Sainz is out, and joins team-mate Verstappen, the Lotuses of Grosjean and Maldonado, Jenson Button, Felipe Nasr and Danny Ricciardo in dropping out today.
Lap 33: Sainz and Pérez have been fighting gamely for ninth place, but the Toro Rosso driver has dramatically lost speed, and his race looks over. Alonso now 11th – and, in a move that won’t go down well with the purists, we have a virtual safety car.
Lap 32: Rosberg has been told to “give it everything” over the radio – there have been a few mind games between Mercedes and Williams, so who knows if that’s the real plan. Rosberg has twenty laps to fight his way onto the podium.
Lap 31: Speaking of Alonso, the former champion has a chance to get in the points today, despite almost going out on the first lap. He’s 12th, but wet weather could play to his strengths in the latter stages.
Lap 30: Heavy rain around fifteen minutes away, with dark clouds now looming over the circuit. Hamilton is told to put his foot down, and opens up a five-second advantage over Massa.
Lap 29: Ricciardo is planning “a few weeks off” after another difficult day, retiring due to an unspecified electrical problem. Next up, it’s Hungary – last year, the Australian won ahead of Fernando Alonso. That was the last time Mercedes missed out on a top-two finish.
Lap 27: This graphic neatly demonstrates Nico Rosberg’s problem – a second stop would put him in sight of the Ferraris, but at the moment, he can’t find the pace to get beyond Massa and Bottas.
Lap 26 of 52: We’re halfway through a breakneck British Grand Prix, with Hamilton leading, and team-mate Rosberg wedged behind the two Williams. This could be a pivotal day in the title race – and there remains a threat of rain in the race’s latter stages. Never have the words “it’s raining in Oxford!” been said with such gravitas.
Lap 25: Hamilton has roared away, and leads Massa by four seconds. The new race leader has been told to race to the end, with Williams likely to follow suit. That scorcher of a pit stop from Hamilton has made the difference – his stop was over a second quicker than Massa’s.
Lap 23: Rosberg told to go to Plan B – a two-stop strategy, rather than any Wacky Races–style shenanigans. It’s all over for Ricciardo, who has had to retire.
The current top ten: 1. Hamilton 2. Massa 3. Bottas 4. Rosberg 5. Raikkonen 6. Vettel 7. Kvyat 8. Hülkenberg 9. Sainz 10. Pérez.
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Lap 22: Now Bottas pits – it’s an efficient stop, but Hamilton delivers a fastest lap at the crucial time, and sails past the Finnish driver. Hamilton leads, with Bottas out behind Massa!
Lap 21: Silverstone holds its breath as Massa and Rosberg pit simultaneously, and engage in a nervous battle down the pit lane. Massa edges ahead – but both exit behind Hamilton! Bottas leads, but is yet to pit. Looking good for the home favourite, all of a sudden.
Lap 20: Hamilton is the first of the leading quartet to pit – and a combination of a smooth stop and a speedy exit get him back out, still in fourth place. Impressive. Further down the field, the Ferraris are charging, with Raikkonen and Vettel both cruising past Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson and into the top seven.
Lap 18: Bottas weaves behind Massa, looking for an opening – but the Brazilian holds him off smartly. It’s a strange, tentative battle at the front, with the Williams team-mates loath to take a risk and hand an advantage to the two waiting Mercedes.
Lap 17: Fernando Alonso is still racing, despite the damage done in the first lap, while Danny Ricciardo, down in 12th, is suffering power problems. A grim year for both drivers, neatly summed up.
Lap 16: Despite his best efforts, Bottas remains behind Massa – but he’s closer to his team-mate than Hamilton in third. Bottas, who is yet to win a Grand Prix, has beaten his team-mate for pace in every stage of the weekend – apart from qualifying.
Lap 14: Raikkonen pits and changes to hard compound tyres, followed by team-mate Vettel. Ferrari have been practicing their pit stops this week, and it’s paid off with two quick efforts there, as they plump for a two-stop strategy. You’ve got to nail the basics.
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Lap 13: Ricciardo and Sainz both pit early, while at the front, we continue with a rare treat – four cars, all fighting for the lead. Massa, Bottas, Hamilton, Rosberg remains the way of things.
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Lap 11: Bottas has now been given the go ahead to take Massa on – it’s not a case of Massa letting the Finn through, but both will be encouraged to race. Getting the go-ahead surely suggests that Williams fancy Bottas’ chances better than Massa’s...
Lap 10: A mixed day for British constructors, with Lotus out, McLaren suffering more misery, but Williams out in front. There’s a bit of tension over the radio, though, with Bottas being told not to race Massa. “But I have pace!” whines Bottas over the team radio. It’s not just Mercedes with the team dynamics issues, you know.
Lap 9: Vettel fights back, scooting past Pérez to take eighth. Jenson Button is keeping his chin up, after he was taken out of the race by team-mate Fernando Alonso. Button says his colleague lost the rear of his car in the midst of the incident which saw both Lotuses exit the race.
Lap 8: Hamilton sets a new fastest lap, and both he and Bottas are bearing down on leader Massa, who’s struggling a touch for pace. There’s also a decent battle developing behind the fifth-placed Force India car of Nico Hülkenberg.
Lap 6: Massa sets the fastest lap, at 1:39.515. Not so hot for Ferrari, with Raikkonen down in sixth and Vettel slumping to ninth.
Here’s the top ten: 1. Massa (Williams), 2. Bottas (Williams), 3. Hamilton (Mercedes), 4. Rosberg (Mercedes), 5. Hülkenberg (Force India), 6. Raikkonen (Ferrari), 7. Kvyat (Red Bull), 8. Pérez (Force India), 9. Vettel (Ferrari), 10. Sainz (Toro Rosso).
Lap 5: Plenty of drama already, and Max Verstappen becomes the fifth driver to retire, spinning into the gravel and being told over the radio to switch the engine off and walk away.
Lap 3: The safety car trundles off the track – and Hamilton immediately attacks Massa, but runs wide, and lets Bottas in! Not a great start from the defending champion. It’s Williams in first and second...
Lap 2: The safety car is out after a helter-skelter start, with both Lotuses, and both McLarens, colliding in the mad dash through the first corners. Jenson Button is forced out, and both Grosjean and Maldonado join him! Alonso is still running, but is into the pits for running repairs. Poor Jenson Button.
Lap 1 of 52: An extraordinary start, as Massa and Bottas both get a jump on the Mercedes, with Massa squeezing beyond the front row to take the lead! Hamilton holds off Bottas to stay second, with Rosberg fourth!
Lights out
Here we go... Hamilton needs only look back at last year’s race, where he won from sixth on the grid, to know this is by no means a foregone conclusion. The start will be vital – will it be Rosberg or Hamilton leading into the first corner? It’s... Felipe Massa!
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Nasr won’t start the race at all, which means both McLarens, and indeed both Manors, move up a place. Maybe Jenson was onto something.
It’s Lewis Hamilton on pole – the British driver is now third on the all-time pole list, behind only Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna. Not bad going – but that won’t help him over the first few corners, when Rosberg will be gunning for him. A matter of moments until race time.
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This from our very own Richard Williams will give you the nostalgic feels. If you want more, be sure to check out Giles Richards’ excellent look back at that very race.
My first GP, 50 years ago. Cost of paddock pass: 30/- (£1.50). pic.twitter.com/DSsvorcBjc
— Richard Williams (@rwilliams1947) July 5, 2015
A mysterious incident involving Sauber’s Felipe Nasr, who came to a stop during the warm-up and has been hauled back to the garage. Nobody, including Nasr’s team-mate Marcus Ericsson, is saying exactly what’s happened, but the Brazilian will likely start from the pit lane, at best.
A few words from the drivers: “We’re going to have a good day” claims Jenson Button, not entirely convincingly. Nico Rosberg suspects the track may lack grip, and Daniil Kvyat thinks Red Bull are moving in the right direction – he is at least further up the field than the Toro Rossos today.
And now the national anthem, sung by Alesha Dixon. Britain at its best.
The grid
Here’s how they’ll line up at the start in around half an hour’s time, with Hamilton starting on pole, and Williams edging out Ferrari to take both spots on the second row. Both McLaren drivers failed to make it out of the first qualifying session, as their season continues to plumb ever greater depths.
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
- Felipe Massa (Williams)
- Valtteri Bottas (Williams)
- Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
- Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
- Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull)
- Carlos Sainz (Toro Rosso)
- Nico Hülkenberg (Force India)
- Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
- Sergio Pérez (Force India)
- Romain Grosjean (Lotus)
- Max Verstappen (Toro Rosso)
- Pastor Maldonado (Lotus)
- Marcus Ericsson (Sauber)
- Felipe Nasr (Sauber)
- Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
- Jenson Button (McLaren)
- Will Stevens (Manor)
- Roberto Merhi (Manor)
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History lesson
A fired-up home favourite against an ice-cool German, on a drizzly day at Silverstone? Why, it’s 1995 all over again. Twenty years ago, the two title rivals collided on their way into Priory corner, crashing out and handing a first-ever GP win to Johnny Herbert.
Preamble
Hello. These are strange days for Formula One. The latest edition of the British Grand Prix takes place against a backdrop of growing uncertainty, with everyone from fans to former drivers, to Bernie Ecclestone himself, lining up to give the sport a shoeing.
While Bernie was busy doing a Gerald Ratner, Operation Uncrap has clicked into gear, with a raft of changes set to come in before the season is out – perhaps at Spa, in just two races’ time. One man who thinks it’s not all bad is Mercedes’ Toto Wolff – and given his team’s total superiority, why would he?
That said, it befits the anachronistic nature of the sport that in the midst of much turmoil, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have turned their team’s unsustainable dominance into a terrific title rivalry – Formula One’s own Barça and Real, if you will.
Hamilton had appeared all set to cruise into the distance this season after last year’s brutal battle – but misfortune in Monaco and a slow start in Austria have let Rosberg back in. The German is perched keenly on Hamilton’s shoulder, both on the grid and in the drivers’ standings, but will have a bumper crowd baying for his failure today.
Will we see a classic to defy the naysayers? We’ll find out from 1pm BST.
