Remember the stick-and-carrot talk? Here we go again. On the eve of the British Grand Prix Luca Montezemolo returns to the assault. And he explains:
"I am concerned, and we all need to be".
In short, the Maranello team is again under indictment, and after the Spanish triumph the pressure returns.
“Yes, I'm worried, because we have three very tough races ahead of us, Silverstone, Hockenheim and Budapest, and because we saw a very strong Red Bull, which gave four tenths in qualifying to everyone and was flying away in the race, at least until the safety car. If we want to achieve our goals, then we have to take a step forward”.
Valencia in short is already far away and it could not be otherwise:
“It is thanks to your work, to an extraordinary driver who not coincidentally races for Ferrari, to the strategies, pit stops and what is done by everyone on the track and at home that we find ourselves leading the championship despite not having the best car. Now we have to make sure that everything is done in the best way because winning depends solely and exclusively on us. We are very wrong if we think that winning Valencia means that what we have is enough: today we have a competitive car but to win we have to do even more”.
Of course, Montezemolo is obviously happy about the success in the European Grand Prix, but it's good not to get carried away:
"I don't want the outside to think that one win is enough for us to have fireworks here, I know how much you are working, how many sacrifices you are making but I am the first to know that all of us, bar none, still have to give something more".
The closing of Montezemolo's short speech is more marked by the occasion:
"Let's remember for a few more minutes that we are leading the championship and then get back to work. First, however, I ask you to dedicate some applause. The first to Fernando, because after a race like that is the least we can do: rarely have I seen so many overtakes like that and such extraordinary determination from the start to the chequered flag. The second to Felipe, this time not of encouragement as we had done at the beginning of the season, but as a sign of confidence so that he knows that we are counting on him: we have to give him a better and more reliable car to allow him to achieve those results that serve his morale and the rankings of the two championships. The third to the pit-stop guys, who have worked so hard this year and have improved to the point where they are the reference for all the teams in a season where pit stops are often decisive: they are our pride. The last applause, and I want to do it first, goes to your boss, Stefano Domenicali, who always assumes his responsibilities, who acts as a lightning rod for all criticism, who protects his men on the outside and who, at the same time, knows how to demand maximum commitment, who knows how to be a team player and who knows how to look to the future with positivity and the right sense of realism. He deserves it".
Speaking of the future, Formula 1 may have a circuit conceived by an exceptional designer, Fernando Alonso. And perhaps even a team founded by him.
"What would I like to do once I stop racing? If Bernie (Ecclestone, ed.) would allow me, I would like to design a circuit just like the kart track I designed in Oviedo that will open soon. If I will make my own team? Why not? It would be a nice adventure".
It is an unprecedented Fernando Alonso answering questions from his fans.
"I try to tell the truth and express my feelings".
And on the emotions of the race, the Spaniard says:
"It's hard to have fun, during a Grand Prix you are focused on too many variables and factors. There are many things that are not easy for me to do, they are not important, but over time I miss doing things like going to the beach, drinking coffee on the terrace, eating ice cream on the street, going to watch a game among other spectators, or going to a concert and dancing without worrying about someone making photos and videos".
Finally, the driver reveals a backstory of his recent victory in Valencia:
"We wanted to dedicate the victory to the earthquake victims of Emilia Romagna. When I looked at everyone's faces, happy for the victory, their joy, all of that was an incredible feeling".
On Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012, during an aerodynamic test carried out by the Marussia team at Duxford Airport near Cambridge, María de Villota is involved in an accident. Her car slams into a team truck located near the track. According to an East of England Ambulance Service worker, who intervened to rescue the Spaniard, De Villota, who was admitted to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, suffered serious, life-threatening injuries in the accident. Marussia confirmed the accident in a statement:
"At around 9:15 this morning, Marussia team test driver Maria De Villota had an accident while driving the single-seater MR-01 on the Duxford aerodrome track where she was testing the car for the first time. The accident occurred at the end of the first installation lap driven by the driver, whose car hit a team support vehicle. Maria was transported to the hospital. A new statement will be issued once her medical condition is established".
Maria De Villota already had a Formula 1 testing engagement with Renault last year and raced in Spanish Formula 3 and the 24 Hours of Daytona. Marussia is contesting the Formula 1 World Championship with two cars driven by the drivers Charles Pic and Timo Glock, without picking up any points so far. BBC reporter Chris Mann, who was present at Marussia's testing at the aerodrome track, reports that the accident happened suddenly and inexplicably.
"Suddenly the car accelerated in an inexplicable way, hitting the back of a team truck. Initially the car driven by De Villota slowed down, as we see during a grand prix when the car has to pull into the pits. Then, suddenly and for no apparent reason, the car accelerated and crashed into the truck at about 70 km/h. It was all very shocking because De Villota's helmet blew off, the Spanish driver was stuck inside the cockpit and showed no signs of life for about ten to fifteen minutes after the impact. After about a quarter of an hour, as the attendants, who immediately intervened, bustled around the single-seater, De Villota moved her hands, but it took at least an hour before the ambulance staff felt confident they could transfer her from the cockpit of the car to the rescue vehicle".
Maria De Villota had been hired by Marussia last March as a test driver, the first woman to perform that task then, followed later by Suzie Wolff, hired by Williams. The Spaniard cannot, however, be employed by Marussia as a reserve driver since she does not have a Formula 1 super-license. The following day it is announced that she has lost the use of her right eye. On Wednesday, July 4th, 2012, the Grand Prix Drivers' Association demands that the dynamics of the accident be clarified. Pedro de la Rosa, when asked if the GPDA would look into the accident, says:
"We will put the facts on the table and see if there is anything we need to change to improve (safety). When an accident happens, it means something has gone wrong. So, we have to make sure that between the FIA, the teams and the GPDA, we make changes for the future because it's probably not good enough".
Currently, straight-line aerodynamic testing is allowed only at FIA-approved sites. Safety standards are therefore already high. But for de la Rosa, although no concrete information about the accident has been revealed for the moment, it is important for F1 to do what is necessary to ensure that it does not happen again.
"The first thing we have to do is to understand what happened, what security measures were taken and how the airport was prepared for Formula 1 testing. We know that the only goal is for it not to happen again. But first we need to know the facts, and right now we don't have any information on that".
On the eve of the British Grand Prix, Felipe Massa prepares for the race, which will take place on a circuit with completely different characteristics than Monte-Carlo, Montreal and Valencia.
"It is difficult to determine how competitive we will be. Silverstone is a very different track from the last ones we've raced on, so we have to be ready for anything and get there as prepared as possible. Who knows, maybe Silverstone might even go better than expected for us".
In Felipe Massa's opinion, this is a rather uncertain season:
"The case of Valencia, where in Q2 thirteen cars were packed within three tenths, shows how difficult it is to make predictions this season. However, we feel that our car does not go too badly in high-speed corners, and my feeling is that we should be comfortable with the F2012 right from the start of Friday's free practice".
The famous circuit that stands on an airfield represents an important stop on the race calendar, and Felipe Massa shares the general enthusiasm for this race:
"I like Silverstone because of the atmosphere and the track, which is a lot of fun to drive on. It is definitely a favorite for 99 percent of the drivers, because it features smooth lines and high-speed corners".
Then the Brazilian goes on to talk about the weather factor:
"Weather conditions are always a key factor there, and the forecast for now gives a 40 percent chance of rain for the entire weekend. To be honest, a rainy day at Silverstone is at the expense of spectators, but I don't mind driving in the rain as most drivers do, because we have been used to these conditions since we started racing karts. Sometimes it can also be fun. However, in some cases it's not easy, like when there is a lot of water on the track and you end up starting a race behind the Safety Car: it's okay if you start in the front, but if you're not in the top three you have to look to the side rather than the front to see where you are, and that's the one kind of condition we all hate, because it's like driving blind".
Negative judgments about Silverstone could not be expected from the Ferrari driver, considering that for the past six years his track engineer has been Englishman Rob Smedley:
"I have been working with Rob since 2006, he has been my track engineer since the Nurburgring race. After all this time Rob knows exactly how I want the car to be and he knows all about my driving style".
Felipe Massa, however, is aware of the constant changes:
"However, every year the car changes, the tires are different as are many other elements, and this makes it so that there is always learning together. This year, for example, it was difficult at first, but then we changed direction in some areas, and now the work in terms of finding the setup on the different tracks has become easier. And all this now makes me feel much stronger".
It is an optimistic Fernando Alonso who comes to the appointment with the British Grand Prix. Ferrari's Spaniard, winner at Silverstone last year, arrives in England on the strength of his success in Valencia and first place in the drivers' standings. The Spaniard, however, avoids making proclamations:
"I think the characteristics of the track match the F2012. Silverstone should therefore be a little better for us. We have seen that these fast tracks suit our car better. So, I expect to see a competitive Ferrari this weekend, both with me and Felipe".
As is often the case at Silverstone, much will depend on the weather conditions: the forecast shows a greater chance of rain than dry conditions.
"We have to be ready for anything. The hope is to have a smooth qualifying session, where we will choose the right time to go out on the track, and then, in the race, to bring home as many points as possible".
Regarding the current situation in the championship, the Spanish driver has mixed feelings:
"Obviously we are happy with our position in terms of points collected, but not yet in terms of the performance level of our car. The team has done an incredible job to make up that 1.5 second gap we were accusing in Australia, but there are still some cars that are faster than us. There are still many changes planned on the car in the next two races and also in the coming months".
Ferrari's priority goal, however, is to reduce the gap from the other teams:
"We need to narrow the performance gap now because if we don't, teams with faster cars will overtake us since we have only run eight of the 20 races on the calendar".
About the bad weather, Felipe Massa also returns to talk:
"Last year we started with rain, then the track dried up and I finished in fifth place. So, the goal this year is to fight for a podium. I really enjoy racing on this track anyway, and I'm looking forward to a good race, whatever the conditions are".
The Brazilian also takes stock of his future:
"The only thing I know and care about is getting results, seizing that final position within my reach".
On Friday, July 6th, 2012, the first day of free practice is characterized by rain, which limits the number of laps completed by the drivers. In the first session the best time is that of Romain Grosjean. Some drivers decide not to make any attempt, such as Fernando Alonso and the two Force India drivers, Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta. The rain floods some parts of the track so much so that there is no shortage of off-track runs. This situation prevents the teams from testing the new Hard compound brought by Pirelli. During the first practice session Spaniard Dani Clos takes the place of Narain Karthikeyan at HRT, Valtteri Bottas that of Bruno Senna at Williams and Jules Bianchi that of Nico Hülkenberg at Force India. During the second practice session, track conditions deteriorate, so much so that for half of the time made available to the drivers no one scores a valid chrono. Bruno Senna goes out at Chapel due to aquaplaning, ruining the left suspension of his car. The best time is set by Lewis Hamilton, followed by Kamui Kobayashi and Michael Schumacher. Braking Alonso also attempts to use the intermediate tires in the final part of the session, but without success. The Spaniard is the protagonist of a track exit at Stowe: the car impacts against the protections damaging the nose. This brings us to the day of Saturday, July 7th, 2012. In the third and final free practice session, the drivers find the track completely dry and Fernando Alonso (on Soft tires), sets the fastest lap, ahead of Jenson Button and Romain Grosjean. The top 10 drivers are packed within one second. Nico Rosberg suffers hydraulic problems on his car, so much so that mechanics are forced to intervene quickly to allow him to take part in qualifying. The session is suspended after twenty minutes to allow the removal of the car of Charles Pic, author of a run off track. Qualifying begins with light rain, prompting all drivers to use intermediate tires; the use of DRS is also prohibited. Lewis Hamilton initially sets the best time: then the track tends to improve as the rainfall weakens, so much so that the Sauber drivers decide to fit slick tires, although, later, the Swiss team opts again to use wet tires.
Jenson Button is eliminated in Q1 as he is penalized, in the last attempt, by a spin by Timo Glock at the last corner, which forces the marshals to show yellow flags. Along with the McLaren driver are excluded the two Caterham drivers, Heikki Kovalainen and Vitalij Petrov, the two HRT drivers, Pedro de la Rosa and Narain Kartikeyan, and the two Marussia drivers, Charles Pic and Timo Glock. Sebastian Vettel is the author of the best time at the end of Q1. The rain intensifies during Q2, so much so that all drivers come out of the pits and continue to lap to try to set a valid time. The Ferrari drivers and Williams drivers use intermediate tires, and not extreme wet, but are forced to change tires. Michael Schumacher is the author of several excursions, and Fernando Alonso also risks impact against a wall. 6 minutes and 19 seconds before the end of the session the red flag is shown, which interrupts the session, due to the intensity of the rain and the state of the track, which cannot drain the water. Before the interruption, the best time is that of Sergio Pérez, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. The session resumes after about an hour and a half of waiting. Lewis Hamilton is the best, while Fernando Alonso gains access to Q3 only at the last attempt, although he is penalized by a track exit by Romain Grosjean, with following yellow flags in the last sector. The two Scuderia Toro Rosso drivers, Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Éric Vergne, the two Sauber drivers, Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez, Bruno Senna, Nico Rosberg and Paul di Resta are eliminated. In the decisive phase again all the drivers come out of the pits immediately to anticipate the possible return of heavy rain. Fernando Alonso is the best after the first attempt, beaten later by Mark Webber. Michael Schumacher and Kimi Räikkönen initially fit intermediate tires. In the last attempt Fernando Alonso improves again and takes pole position. Ferrari returns to the front after almost two years of waiting. Fernando Alonso is the fastest driver in qualifying for the British Grand Prix, the ninth round of the Formula 1 World Championship. Qualifying conditioned by rain, with a red flag and a stop for more than an hour and a half during the second heat. At that point, with just over six minutes to go until the chequered flag, the Spaniard was out of the top ten and virtually eliminated. Upon returning to the track, with better weather conditions, the Spaniard managed to get a pass for the last round where in the final seconds he set the best time, in 1'51"744.
For Fernando Alonso, the World Championship leader, it is the first pole position of the season. Alongside Alonso will start the Red Bull Racing of Australian Mark Webber, followed by the Mercedes of Michael Schumacher and the Red Bull Racing of Sebastian Vettel. Fifth time for the other Ferrari, that of Felipe Massa, which precedes the Lotus of Finn Kimi Raikkonen. Behind him will start the Williams of Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado and the McLaren-Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton. Ninth time for the Force India of German Nico Hulkenberg, who, however, will lose five positions due to the gearbox change. The disappointment of the day is Jenson Button: the British McLaren-Mercedes driver, eliminated in the first heat, will start from the rear. Fernando Alonso is understandably happy at the end of practice:
"I am happy, it's been two years since I got pole, such a wait is a very long time for Ferrari. It's important to start in front, also for visibility. I did the right lap, it was not easy. The conditions were difficult for everyone, but after the stop it was important to stay calm. At the time of the stop in Q2 I was in P16 and it was not easy not to make mistakes. Difficult to make the perfect lap, there were many puddles. Tomorrow everything can change in a few seconds".
Finally, the dedication to Maria de Villota, a young Spanish test driver from the Marussia team who was the protagonist in the days leading up to the British Grand Prix of a dramatic accident during a test run at the Duxford aerodrome:
"I want to dedicate this pole position to Maria de Villota, who is going through a particularly difficult time. We all feel sadness these days and are close to her and her family".
Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali remains calm.
"It was an intense day, tough qualifying. I can imagine what was being said in the middle of Q2, the points will still be made on Sunday. I'm happy for Fernando and for the team. In the meantime, we take this day home. We will solve the problems at the end, the competitiveness of the car has definitely improved but the opponents are very strong. Tomorrow we hope to guess right with the weather".
And Felipe Massa is also satisfied with fifth place:
"Given what happened today fifth place is not bad. I tried to do better but in the last sector I was losing a lot, at the last corner the rear wheel was locking. At the beginning things looked very difficult, luckily the track conditions improved".
Within the Red Bull Racing pit box, the focus is on the unknown that the weather will present. Sebastian Vettel says:
"It could be a big lottery. It will be a difficult day. It's raining and the weather in the race will be the same tomorrow. It will be a long race".
While Mark Webber holds on to second place:
"A very good job was done, we went close to the pole, the strategy was done well with the four laps available, now let's hope well for the race".
Michael Schumacher trusts in the rain:
"In the wet we are competitive. Rain gives us the best chance".
And Lewis Hamilton, only eighth, is not satisfied:
"Happy? No, I did everything I could do, I struggled with the intermediates, I couldn't get it up to temperature, in the other sessions I had been competitive".
Jenson Button jokes on the eve of the British Grand Prix:
"The favorite to win? Obviously it's me".
But deep down, he hopes for it. The sky promising rain, the chaos over tires (Pirelli is at the center of controversy because the teams preferred not to wear rain tires and so they didn’t’ practice so much), the home circuit: the conditions to return to victory, after the illusory triumph in the debut race, in Australia, are all there. There is something, however, in this eve, that the British driver does not like. It is the strange turn F1 is taking.
"This is a really strange year, you understand very little about it. In some races you have to be careful about the tires all the time and try to make as few pit stops as possible, in others you have to push like crazy, destroy the tires and change them, without thinking about it. And all this is a bit frustrating in the end".
What do you mean?
"In the sense that you get too confused at the end. You're forced to go out on the track and decide after the first lap what to do. I liked F1 the way it was in the past better, I enjoyed the way we drivers had to read the race. Now the more you focus on a strategy the more you mess up".
The fans seem to like it that way.
"I don't know, maybe so. Although I don't think people understand exactly everything that happens during the race".
Ferrari President Luca Montezemolo said it is a World Tyre Championship, and not a World Drivers' Championship.
"I don't think that's the problem. In the end whoever has the better car and the better driver also works better with the tires. The way of interpreting the races has changed. Every time I come to Silverstone I think back to my karting days. When racing meant being wheel-to-wheel against opponents and there wasn't a moment of breathing".
Now instead?
"Now it's just business. Look at how I'm dressed (he points out the suit and the cap with sponsor, ed). In the karting days, all you needed was a T-shirt and you would go to the track. It's not about looks of course, it's about spirit. This is what F1 needs to recover. In those days after a race you would go and play ball with your opponents, today I just can't see myself going there and playing with Vettel".
Nostalgia aside, what are the right strategies to win such a balanced World Championship?
"It's quite confusing the situation. I think you have to be lucky in some key situations. Sometimes you don't have to think too much, you just have to drive".
For tomorrow's race, who is the favorite?
"More than in terms of drivers, I like to think in terms of teams. And I have a strange feeling about Sauber. In my opinion they will be very fast".
Now go and explain to Hamilton and Vettel that this is the least important qualifying of the season, that when there is rain everything is always in question and that things can change at any moment. Fernando Alonso tries, takes off his helmet, turns off his triumph smile, and begins to downplay. But everything around him glows red, and the meaning of this British pole position blessed by an autumn downpour -the first after 31 pointless when not frustrating qualifying sessions- is written in clear letters in the sky above the paddock and goes far beyond the race-lottery: Ferrari is back. And with such a driver anything is possible. Those who were not convinced should go and review the footage of Q2, the qualifying session in which the top ten who will compete for pole position are decided. Before the break, Fernando Alonso pulled a circus act, recovering the car that had gone aquaplaning inches from the guardrail. Any other driver would have crashed, he managed to straighten the front end and slide away unscathed on the Silverstone circuit. A little driving course gem that was celebrated with an almost emotional applause from the more seasoned journalists in the press room. Then, on his return to the track, he coolly recovered from a situation that appeared hopeless, partly due to a less than felicitous choice by Ferrari, slipping into ninth place at the last second. Said in this way it doesn't sound like much, but a good review of the lap in question shows how Alonso managed to improve his time in the presence of a yellow flag, despite the fact that one cannot improve their time in the sector where there are yellow flags: this means that the Spaniard managed to slow down as per the regulations but just enough to not lose the advantage acquired in the two previous sectors. A matter of hundredths of a second. Handled, however, as if they were minutes and therefore dominated. A kind of miracle. Which, however, the Spaniard feels he should not celebrate in any way. The race is on Sunday, and so it is more prudent to wait.
"This pole position doesn’t matter at all, it will count more when we get it by pulling away from others in the dry".
What can already be said, however, is that the F2012 - version 1.2 - is finally a very good car. Maybe not yet exactly at the level of the competition (McLaren and Red Bull Racing) but more or less close. And the confirmation of this is hidden in Felipe Massa's performance:
"Did you see how well Felipe was doing today? He was always there with the timing, he did very well".
The Brazilian driver, in fact, seemed finally recovered to the cause. Felipe Massa explains, with the face of someone waking up from a nightmare:
"The car has improved a lot since the beginning of the year. It is much more balanced, it works well on both extreme and intermediate tires, and with each race it continues to improve; even here at Silverstone we brought some new parts that are doing well".
Actually, this is not exactly the case. Or rather, not entirely. In particular, Ferrari had brought a new wing on which it was relying heavily, but Alonso destroyed the only example of it on Friday in a minor accident, and so the Maranello cars are running with the old wing. Little more than a detail, even given the weather conditions that certainly do not invite aerodynamic experiments.
"With all that water around at one point you couldn't see anything on the track, and at certain junctures it took a lot of luck".
More outspoken, and even more controversial, is Felipe Massa:
"It's unbelievable: this is the temple of Formula 1, everything started here, and many of the major teams are based near here. Is it possible that there is an asphalt like this? Is it possible that there is all this aquaplaning? Yet it rains often in England, they should be used to it".
On Sunday, July 8th, 2012, during the line-up lap of the British Grand Prix, a failure of the Renault engine fitted on Vitalij Petrov's Caterham forced the Russian driver to retire before the race even began. After rain on Friday and Saturday, the race takes place under clear skies and relative uncertainty about the grip of the two tire compounds. All the drivers in the front rows opt to use Soft tires, with the exception of Fernando Alonso, who starts on Hard tires, so the two McLaren drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, and Nico Rosberg. At the start Fernando Alonso maintains the first position, followed by Mark Webber, Michael Schumacher, Felipe Massa, Sebastian Vettel and Pastor Maldonado, who gains a position by taking advantage of the duel between Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen. In the middle of the group there is a contact at the first corner between Paul di Resta and Romain Grosjean: the Briton is forced to retire due to a puncture, while the Frenchman is forced to make a pit stop to proceed with the replacement of the front wing. In the early laps Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber increase their lead over the rest of the group, also taking advantage of the slowness of the car driven by Michael Schumacher, which slows down the competitors following him. An attack by Felipe Massa on the German Mercedes driver leads Sebastian Vettel to press the Brazilian, who, however, maintains his position. On Lap 4, Kimi Räikkönen passes Pastor Maldonado and Felipe Massa puts pressure on Michael Schumacher, passing him on Lap 11. Meanwhile, on lap 10 Sebastian Vettel anticipates his pit stop and fits on Hard tires. Between lap 10 and lap 15 all the top drivers in the standings return to the pits to make tire changes. On Lap 12, coming out of the nearby pits, a contact between Sergio Pérez and Pastor Maldonado forces the former to retire and the latter to make an additional unexpected stop, which demotes him in the standings. On lap 15 Sebastian Vettel passes Jenson Button and climbs to seventh place.
After the first set of tire changes Lewis Hamilton, who did not make a pit stop, moves into first place, followed by Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel, who now leads Felipe Massa. Alonso tries to pass Hamilton and succeeds on lap 19. Two laps later the Briton makes his first tire change, fitting a set of Softs and re-entering the track in seventh position, behind Kimi Räikkönen. On lap 24 they both pass Michael Schumacher, but the McLaren has no pace on Soft tires and Lewis Hamilton pits again to make his second tire change as early as lap 28. The Englishman re-enters the track in 12th position, ahead of Romain Grosjean, also coming back from his second stop. The Frenchman had stopped on lap 2 after contact with Paul di Resta in the early stages. While the standings remain unchanged in the leading positions, the two began to move up the leaderboard, before on lap 35 it was the Lotus Frenchman himself who passed Lewis Hamilton. During lap 31 Sebastian Vettel makes his second tire change, while the rest of the group makes tire changes during the following laps. Fernando Alonso, last one to stop, still holds the race lead, followed by Mark Webber which is four seconds behind; however, the Spaniard must now complete 15 laps on Soft tires. Sebastian Vettel, Felipe Massa and the two Lotus drivers, Kimi Räikkönen and Romain Grosjean, follow. On lap 38, at the time of the pit stop, Kamui Kobayashi comes long on his pitch for the tire change and runs over some mechanics, but there are no physical consequences. In the last laps, Mark Webber approaches Fernando Alonso and manages to overtake him on lap 48. At the same time Michael Schumacher also overtakes Lewis Hamilton, who is increasingly struggling with tire degradation.
Mark Webber wins the British Grand Prix, followed by Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel, Felipe Massa, Kimi Raikkonen, Romain Grosjean, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Bruno Senna and Jenson Button. Leading from start to finish, in the final laps, on Soft tires, Fernando Alonso was unable to keep up with the furious pace of Mark Webber, who passed the Spaniard right at the end, mocking him and depriving him of a victory that seemed to be his by now. It is a bitterness, however, that demonstrates the incredible technical comeback of Ferrari, which - in the absence of rain - proved to be as strong as few would have predicted for a race on a dry track here at Silverstone. It is a bitterness that overshadows Fernando Alonso's extraordinary achievement: four podiums in the last five races are certainly no small feat. And so it is that among other things the Spaniard is still firmly at the top of the World Championship with 129 points. But, you know, racing is like that: an extraordinary result immediately becomes a disappointment if the possibility of winning appears on the horizon. And how can you not think about victory if you stay in the lead for 48 out of 52 laps in a race? In short, despite everything now Ferrari is not celebrating. And to say that - Alonso aside - he would be more than entitled to: behind Sebastian Vettel, third, there was the tall Maranello car, that of Brazilian Felipe Massa who, with the best performance of the season, finished ahead of the Lotus of Finnish Kimi Raikkonen. A race of attack at the beginning, of defense then. Always running at an impressive pace. In short, Felipe Massa now really looks like another driver. Ferrari thanks because now it is also possible to look to the Constructors' World Championship, and not only to the Drivers' World Championship.
"If we complain about a second place like this one today then it means that we haven't understood anything about what happened this year".
The much-feared rain at Silverstone comes an hour after the end of the race, and it seems almost to refresh the minds of those who, dazzled by Fernando Alonso's splendid weekend, had twisted their mouths at the finish line crossed moments after an elusive Mark Webber. Aided by the late downpour, Stefano Domenicali, questioned about the value to be attributed to this day, therefore allows himself a small pause, then calls everyone to order: second place is a great result, it increases the distance from the real rivals and, together with Felipe Massa's excellent fourth place, guarantees an unprecedented leap forward even in the Constructors' World Championship standings to which by now not even Luca Montezemolo was looking anymore. An extraordinary balance for a result wisely achieved by a car that, even if improved incredibly in these months of hard work in Maranello, is still a span behind the ever-favorite Red Bull Racing. It must be said that Stefano Domenicali's reasoning is also vaguely (and understandably) self-absorbed. In fact, already during the race many insiders had questioned the team's strategy as to the use of tires. In fact, Ferrari had chosen to let Fernando Alonso star on Hard tires (which here at Silverstone were going much better than Softs), and then fit on Hard tires again at the second pit stop and finally close with Softs, which in Saturday's free practice had proven to be easy to wear out. Red Bull Racing, on the other hand, mounted the Soft tires at the beginning of the race, being able to rely on the Hards in the final phase, when it came to overtaking Fernando Alonso and winning the 25 points. In the party of those unconvinced by Ferrari's strategy goes Felipe Massa. The Brazilian, for himself, had chosen to start as Red Bull Racing:
"We talked about it for a long time. But Fernando was afraid they would deteriorate too much and he wanted to take it easier in the first few laps since he was starting in the lead. However, I don't think it would have changed much".
But Stefano Domenicali disagrees:
"There is no doubt. We did well this way, if we had used the Softs at the beginning, with the heavier car and the less rubberized asphalt, it would certainly have been worse. And we also did well to use two different strategies for the two drivers: so we could cross-reference the data and make more precise choices".
The impression is that Ferrari's team principal is basically right and that the reason for the final overtaking is to be found in Red Bull Racing's better balance and the fact that Mark Webber was very competitive. With the discussion of strategies dismissed, it remains to address the technical one. After the ninth race, and thus practically halfway through the season, what is the real situation in the World Championship? The team principal does not want to make a real assessment, before the summer break in August there are still two races left and there is no time for considerations of any kind, you just have to work:
"We need to improve on top speed and do it immediately".
He says to those who ask him to indicate a priority, and even from the precision with which he narrows down the range of needed interventions it is clear that the situation, in Maranello, is considered good. A few months ago the car was undrivable, making drivers despair coming out of corners, and that of top speed seemed only one of many problems. Problems that now, as if by a miracle, seem to have spilled over onto the competition. On Mercedes, which can no longer find the right cue. But especially on McLaren, plunged into a truly frightening state of confusion. The Woking team had started the season in the best of ways. It had frightened everyone by collecting an impressive series of excellent qualifications and showing itself to be practically impregnable in the race (although then at the time of bringing home the result it had given away too many points to its opponents, but that's another matter). Now he is unrecognizable. Between bad luck and mistakes his two drivers seem to be playing whoever makes the most mistakes. But it is the technical setback of a car that seems to have lost its balance that is incomprehensible. Of course, in a season like this, things change quickly. So it is possible that between now and Hockenheim the British team will make up ground. But they have to hurry because the championship goes on and soon there will be no more time for comebacks. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso climbs into the chair in the small room set aside for the post-race press conference and shows one of his matter-of-fact faces. He is disappointed, and he shows it. You would never know that the guy with the low voice and serious face is the leader of the World Championship. He knows it, too, that he should be happier. But he can't. And firstly he almost apologizes for it.
"Now, of course, after ten minutes there is still the feeling of having lost a victory. But I am sure that within an hour I will appreciate the result more".
He says with a sincerity that does not belong to him. After all, it's still 18 points.
"The same 18 points I would have earned if, after being third for the entire race, with a handful of laps to go I had snatched second place from someone else. Yes, I'm sure in an hour's time I will appreciate it more: after all, if someone had told me on Thursday that I would have finished second, I would have put my signature on it".
And then there is the overall aspect to keep in mind. You have been fighting for victory for three races.
"Yes I am very proud of this team. Our goal now is undoubtedly the world championship .And from that point of view it went very well here: we lost seven points from Webber but gained many from the rest of the grid. And then there is another aspect".
Which one?
"That the last two races where we fought for the top anyway were one very different from the other. Valencia is a street circuit with tight corners while this is a very fast circuit. And in both cases we did very well, a sign that the car has improved a lot".
Many questioned the strategy.
"We made the tire choice after Saturday's free practice and the short test we did in the dry. We saw that the softs were not going very well and so we felt more comfortable starting with the hards, also because there was a danger of rain and in that case by switching to the intermediates, we could have avoided putting on the softs altogether... If we really wanted to be self-critical, maybe we could have tried to use the hard tyres a couple of laps more before making the first of the two pit stops. But I don't think it would have made a big difference".
Now? What is the key to staying on top of the leaderboard?
"Now in my opinion there is still a step we have to take to be on par with the others, to be able to say we have closed the gap. We have to be a little bit faster in with some particular conditions and some circuits. Then we are there".
For the future, would you like to race together with Mark Webber?
"I would have to use shoe lifts, otherwise I would look bad in the photos. I'm fine with any partner but, I repeat, with Felipe I'm great. Here, once again, he showed what he is capable of in a normal race, without problems. We'll see what the team decides".
The first pole position in two years, a victory lost only in the final stages of the Grand Prix and two cars in the top four at the finish line. The balance is positive for Ferrari at the end of the British Grand Prix, and President Luca Montezemolo can only congratulate the team on a job well done at Silverstone.
"Yesterday's result is very important and comes after the beautiful pole of the previous day. In this last part of the championship we have shown that we can be competitive in all conditions and on all types of tracks. If I think about the beginning of the year, we have made enormous progress, but now we have to keep working with our heads down because we still don't have the best car. We are Ferrari and our goal can only be to have the fastest car of all on the track".
Montezemolo expresses words of praise for both drivers:
"Fernando had a great race and a great qualifying, bringing a Ferrari back to pole position after a long time, and I was very pleased to see a fast, fighting and consistent Felipe all weekend. It is very important for him and for us because it is also thanks to his points that we have moved up to second place in the Constructors' standings. I am proud of the work done so far by the Ferrari men, but I will be even more proud for what I am sure they will do in the remainder of the season".
For his part, Mark Webber is almost in disbelief: his triumph in the British Grand Prix came with an overtaking move in the last minute. The Australian Red Bull Racing driver overtook Fernando Alonso's Ferrari three and a half laps before the checkered flag.
"I thought Alonso would go all the way, I didn't think I could win. It's an incredible result, I'm over the moon. It was not a very spectacular race, strategy played an important role. I knew that, compared to Alonso, we had chosen different solutions. After the first stint, I thought Alonso was in a position to win. But in the end the situation turned out to be favorable for us, I am ecstatic. The championship is still long, every race is important. I have won two Grand Prix, I need to be consistent: the World Championship is very balanced. Now we enjoy this result, knowing that it took a lot of work to get it. Then, from tomorrow we will think about Hockenheim. I repeat, there is still a long way to go and it is not the case to get excited about the position in the standings. I have a good haul, but I have to keep pushing".
And Sebastian Vettel is also all in all happy for the team:
"It was an interesting race. Mark deserved to win and I am happy for the team. I was not so good at the start where I lost a few positions to Felipe Massa. Then we made the right strategy".
Felipe Massa is finally back to being competitive:
"We definitely had a competitive car like in Valencia, however, the important thing is to continue like this, to work to improve. This is the right direction. We were fighting the whole race with the Red Bulls, however, the pace was not bad. A good race, a good result I must say in a positive weekend".
Despite the faded victory in the finale, Stefano Domenicali sees the bright side at the end of the British Grand Prix.
"Too bad, unfortunately we didn't have the pace with the Softs, congratulations to whoever won but we still made important points, an important jump in the constructors' standings and Fernando is fighting for the World Championship. We have two more races ahead where the approach has to be to maximize what we have, we know the points to work on and we move forward. I am happy for Felipe. He had a good race, always on the attack, that's a good sign. We need both drivers, the Constructors' title is within our reach, Red Bull made important points today but we made up positions. We are focused, head down and not listening to others, we know where to improve and our engineers have clear ideas".
Victory at Silverstone and renewal with Red Bull Racing: all in two days. For Mark Webber it's a good time. The Australian driver, who won the British Grand Prix, extends his contract with the Anglo-Austrian team for another year.
"I know the team well and I am very comfortable here. We have grown together over the years and I feel that staying with the team is absolutely the right thing. The team is constantly working to improve in all areas and we have shown that together we can win races. It's great to be able to make this announcement right after the win at Silverstone".
Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner is also satisfied.
"Mark has driven very well in the first nine races this season and his performance has been impressive. Much of his success in Formula One came during his time with Red Bull, and together we achieved 10 pole positions, nine wins and 31 podiums. The renewal was a logical decision".
The Anglo-Austrian team's other driver, Sebastian Vettel, already had a contract with Red Bull Racing for 2013 as well, so the team thus confirms the two drivers for next season.