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The Formula 1 season is only halfway through, but on Wednesday, July 6, 2016, the Renault Sport F1 team initiated a true revolution in managerial roles. Starting with the position of team principal. Revealing these changes, which are expected to lead to a definitive solution for the 2017 season when Renault will undergo a real qualitative leap after the current transitional year, is Jerome Stoll, President of Renault Sport Racing, as reported on F1.com.
"We are redefining the team's managerial roles based on the needs of the two factories in Enstone and Viry-Chatillon. In the new management structure, Cyril Abiteboul - former team principal of Renault - will retain the position of Managing Director of Renault Sport Racing but will focus on the improvements that need to be made in Enstone, as well as the alignment of work between the two factories. Soon, he will have to move to the UK for this work".
Stoll also revealed who would be chosen to take Cyril Abiteboul's place as the new team principal of the French squad: Frederic Vasseur.
"Vasseur will be responsible for the team's performance and results".
Additionally, Vasseur will oversee the day-to-day operations at Viry-Chatillon, where the engine program for the Formula 1 World Championship will be carried out. In the last two seasons, 2014 and 2015, the former Lotus team lost a significant portion of its personnel. In 2016, one of the season's objectives is the hiring of personnel in anticipation of 2017.
"We aim to add 100 people to Enstone and 30 to Viry-Chatillon. This is not a task that takes little time. We must hire the best people in their respective fields".
The following day, on Thursday, July 7, 2016, Mercedes officially announced that it would allow Hamilton and Rosberg to race freely, but the code of conduct between the two drivers had been revised. The press release did not go into details about the agreed-upon measures, suggesting that additional restrictive measures were ready in case of further on-track contacts.
"This morning, positive meetings were held at the Mercedes headquarters in Brackley between Toto Wolff, Paddy Lowe, Lewis Hamilton, and Nico Rosberg. Our drivers were informed that they will be free to race for the World Championship. We believe this is the essence of Formula One, even among teammates. As fans, we want to see them race, and this is also what Formula 1 fans expect. However, this freedom must respect the team's values. In the last five races, there have been three incidents that have cost us more than 50 points in the Constructors' Championship. For this reason, we have strengthened our rules of engagement, with greater deterrents to avoid contact between our cars. In light of these agreements, we will give the drivers the utmost trust, and their fate is in their hands. We reminded our drivers that we can give team orders if there is a situation that could potentially lead to a loss of points in the Constructors' Championship, as we did in this year's Monaco Grand Prix when Nico was asked to let Lewis pass. If the drivers do not respect the rules of engagement set today, we may impose team orders as a last resort. We reiterate our belief that Lewis and Nico are the best driver pairing in Formula One. Since 2013, we have won a total of 43 races and 40 additional podiums together, along with two consecutive World Championships. This record speaks for itself".
On the eve of the British Grand Prix, Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, speaking about the new rules imposed on the fights between teammates, said:
"It was a very difficult task because, in a way, they are connected. They both drive a Mercedes, and in recent times, we have seen a series of incidents that led to a situation that we feel we need to contain somehow. The fundamental principle is that when the traffic light turns green in the pit lane, they have a responsibility. We are not sitting in the car with them; there are only two of them, but we provide them with all the best tools possible to handle the situation, and everything else is just in their hands, the result is in their hands (If any bans were imposed on the two drivers...). To answer would mean going into the details of the meeting, but you know how a driver's mind is tuned and what is important for a driver. Suffice it to say that if another episode like that occurs, there will be negative repercussions on their season. The drivers are heroes, the stars of the show; we don't want to diminish them in public, and if I were to answer this question, there would be the risk of doing so, so I won't answer".
He adds:
"I don't want to assign any blame because these are very heated situations, whether they are on the first or last lap. But you know what? I'm tired of analyzing it. I just know that I want to avoid any further contacts in the future. The next race is around the corner, so we absolutely need to discuss with all the people involved how we want to handle the situation when the two are close to each other. Our mindset is to let them race freely because we all remember the days when calls related to strategies were made. Things that made everything boring. In hindsight, here you are, many listening to us talk, because we make news, but I would prefer to see the room half empty and avoid controversies. But the fact is that if they race like we saw them do in Bahrain in 2014, we like that a lot. A collision between teammates is detrimental to any team and must obviously be avoided. We can't really hide what will happen. We have always tried to be as transparent as possible, and we will tell you. The point is that if information is made known, and then there is a need to change strategy, we look like fools. So we are about to discuss very carefully, see what the options are, and then come to a conclusion. If something clear and defined emerges, I will let you know".
On his part, Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda says:
"We want to be world champions with two top drivers, but the championship must be won without incidents. Lewis will not give up, and neither will Nico, and as a result, there are these contacts. It's unacceptable. I would expect, from two adult and intelligent people, that they manage it without contacts. Toto will talk to Lewis and Nico on Thursday. We want them to race freely, but if it doesn't work, and there are more incidents added to the two and a half contacts in Barcelona, Montreal, and Spielberg, we will reserve the right to intervene".
Speaking of Nico Rosberg, the former World Champion says:
"For two years, he has been more reasonable, now he wants to be World Champion, and now he is competitive. But he shouldn't do things like the one in Spielberg if he wants to win. He should think about his father Keke, who won the title with just one victory. Toto and I are working on something that will be great for everyone. But one concept must be clear: a new incident between the two is no longer accepted. This will be clearly stated to the drivers before Silverstone".
And regarding Lewis Hamilton, he concludes:
"Max is the clearest talent I've seen in years, he has the character of a World Champion".
Certainly, Lewis Hamilton's comment cannot be missing, who says:
"My destiny has always been in my hands, nothing changes. I will try to race as we have always done so far. There will be no team orders, and I think this is great for the fans. From this point of view, we must be excited".
Does the British driver have clear deterrents for further contacts?
"No. Let's say I have to say yes, well, we'll find out".
And regarding the new internal rules mentioned in the Mercedes document?
"Everything that has been said is private and confidential. Therefore, I cannot answer the question, but we can still compete against each other. In all other races, we have competed freely, and we will still be able to do so (Would Lewis be willing to follow any team orders?). I would, it's my job. I get paid for it (He is asked to put himself in the shoes of his team principal...). Personally, I believe I am in a better position because I have been a driver and would know what to do in a race and in what situations one finds oneself. It's not easy for those on the outside to understand the decisions we make in a race at three hundred km/h. Certainly, I would like my drivers to race freely, and I wouldn't give team orders because we are here to compete. I understand that when there are two cars first and second, the situation is delicate, but in sixty races, we have had problems in three or four races: a percentage certainly very low compared to all the ones in which we have succeeded".
Are the contenders for the World Championship only him and Rosberg?
"I don't think so; it's still early. Ferrari is still there; Sebastian has had many more problems and a couple of unlucky races, but they are still there. They are a force to be reckoned with. Certainly, we are in an important position, but I am still behind by eleven points, others by fifty: a comeback is not impossible."
And regarding the boos received on the Austrian podium?
"I haven't thought about it. As soon as we left the track, I greeted my fans on Snapchat and took a couple of days off. I spent quiet days; if someone thinks I went after Nico, it doesn't bother me. I believe the support I will receive here this weekend will make those protests really small."
While Mercedes is trying to sort out its internal organization, Michael Blash, FIA Deputy Race Director since 1996, resigns from his position. His role is entrusted to Laurent Mekies. Both Jean Todt, FIA President, and Race Director Charlie Whiting express their gratitude for Blash's work. On July 8, 2016, Kimi Raikkonen renews his contract with Ferrari, with which he will compete in the 2017 World Championship. The Maranello team, in a statement, announces the renewal of the technical-sporting collaboration agreement with Kimi Raikkonen.
"In the 2017 season, the team will still be formed by the Finnish driver and Sebastian Vettel".
For Kimi Raikkonen, third in Austria in the last Grand Prix, it will be the seventh season with Ferrari, with whom he won a world title in 2007. In total, in his F1 career, Raikkonen, 36 years old, has also driven for Sauber, McLaren, and Lotus, won 20 Grand Prix, and secured 16 pole positions.
"The hundredth Grand Prix for Raikkonen was a coincidence. Yesterday, the president's call came, giving the green light, and so we quickly reached an agreement with Kimi, who was very happy. I believe this serves to motivate him even more and make him perform well".
And the comment from Ferrari's team principal, Maurizio Arrivabene.
"The pressure weighed heavily. Lately, there has been enormous pressure on Kimi and also a little disrespectful because he is still the last of the world champions at Ferrari. So this helped him to shake off this pressure and focus on what we do. The relationship with Sebastian is excellent, and they work well together. Today, I believe that in Ferrari, we don't have a problem with drivers, and I emphasize that we don't. We don't have a team problem, and this will allow us to focus much, much more on the things to improve on the car. We look at what happens in our home. It is obvious that it's nice to have one less problem in the notebook of tasks to do. But it is very, very important, and now we focus on this Grand Prix, on those to come, and we improve because we have to. We owe it to our fans, and we owe it to Ferrari".
For his part, Kimi Raikkonen expresses his happiness in his own way for the contract renewal, saying:
"I have always thought that I wouldn't be here if I didn't like what I do or if I felt I couldn't express myself 100%. So nothing has changed. When you don't get a good result, it doesn't necessarily mean that you are not giving 100%, that you haven't done your best, or that you are not motivated. There are many factors. If I weren't motivated, I wouldn't be here wasting my time or the team's time. Obviously, I enjoy it more when the results are better, but it doesn't mean I drive less strongly than I did before; it's that when the entire package is better around me, I can achieve a better result as a result. I said almost 10 years ago that my last team in Formula 1 would be Ferrari, and I still think so. What will happen in the future, I don't know; time will tell, but usually, I don't make long-term plans. Things change very quickly in life, and I hope to stay in good health; then we'll see what happens. I'm not really thinking much about it, but I'm sure there will be a lot of nice things for me to do in the future".
Speaking on the eve of the British Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel does not appear very confident. The former World Champion does not believe there will be positive developments during the season:
"I didn't expect any particular reference in any race; certainly, our season could have gone better so far, but at the same time, there are still many races to be played. We need to maintain concentration, take one race at a time, and see what happens. I just need to focus on driving the car and not look at the standings. We need a bit of everything; we go quite well in low-speed corners, not in all tracks but in most. In medium and high-speed corners, we lack something. About the power of the engine, we are making great improvements that are visible, but we also know that in qualifying, Mercedes has the ability to increase power. So suddenly, they have 30-35 more horsepower, and you can feel it. Let's say we're not where we want to be yet, but we're on the right track; there's a lot of work ahead of us".
And regarding the contact between the two Mercedes during the last lap in Austria, the German Ferrari driver adds:
"I believe that in the end, it's just a race incident; the fact that they are teammates makes it spectacular, but there is nothing special about what happened. Last week, I couldn't take advantage; I was no longer there. In Barcelona, if you talk to me, Kimi, and the Red Bull drivers, we all benefited from their collision. It's not the first time we've seen an incident between drivers with different opinions, but it's important for the sport because it provides something to talk about".
Meanwhile, the usual Mercedes dominance opens the British Grand Prix, held at Silverstone. Lewis Hamilton, coming off the triumph in Austria, clocks a time of 1'31"654, just 0.033 seconds ahead of his teammate, Nico Rosberg. Behind the two Mercedes, a gap forms. Nico Hulkenberg in Force India is over 0.8 seconds behind. Fourth position for Sebastian Vettel: 1'32"501 for the German, almost a second behind Hamilton and with some gearbox problems at the end. Fifth is Daniel Ricciardo in the Red Bull, followed by the other Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen, fresh from the renewal until 2017. Completing the top ten are Max Verstappen with the other Red Bull, Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz Jr., and Fernando Alonso. In the first free practice session, Esteban Ocon takes Kevin Magnussen's place at Renault, while Charles Leclerc makes his Formula 1 debut, replacing Esteban Gutiérrez at Haas. He is the first Monegasque to race in Formula 1 since Olivier Beretta in the 1994 Hungarian Grand Prix. And about Kimi Raikkonen's renewal, Ferrari's team principal, Maurizio Arrivabene, justifies the team's decision, saying:
"Yesterday, the call from the President came, giving the green light, and so in a very short time, we reached an agreement with Kimi, who was very happy. I believe that this will further motivate him and make him perform well".
Then, the team principal of Ferrari talks about Mercedes, saying:
"Today, I believe we don't have a driver problem at Ferrari, and I emphasize that we don't have one, and this will allow us to focus much, much more on improving things on the car".
Arrivabene prefers not to comment on the difficult relationship between Hamilton and Rosberg:
"We look at what happens in our house. It's obvious that it's nice to have one less problem on the to-do list. But it's very, very important, and now we focus on this Grand Prix, the ones to come, and we improve because we have to. We owe it to our fans and we owe it to Ferrari".
A few hours later, Lewis Hamilton dominates in the second free practice session, clocking 1'31"660, followed by the Red Bulls of Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen. Fourth is Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari, followed by his teammate, Kimi Raikkonen. Following are Fernando Alonso's McLaren, Valtteri Bottas' Williams, Romain Grosjean's Haas, Jenson Button's McLaren, and Felipe Massa's Williams. Nico Rosberg does not take to the track in the afternoon session due to a problem with the power unit of his Mercedes. At the end of the first day of practice, Lewis Hamilton can be satisfied with the work done:
"It was a great first day at Silverstone. Many positive steps forward regarding the balance of the car. We still have work to do, and our pace could be even better, so if we can keep our car in that optimal window, we will be even stronger. Out there is just incredible with the balls, this track is absolutely an impressive challenge. Going through Maggotts and Becketts and down towards Stowe, I was screaming in my helmet! It's so exciting. What a great combination of corners, especially when the wind blows in the right direction. Today there was a bit of headwind, and going through that sequence was something epic, like the most fun roller coaster you can imagine".
Regarding the incident of the alleged damaged hotel room in Baku, initially declared and then denied by Niki Lauda at the request of Lewis Hamilton, the British driver clarifies:
"I was sitting on the beach sunbathing, enjoying the day and thinking: I just won a Grand Prix (the one in Austria, editor's note). I felt wonderful. Then I saw what came out. I was with the expression: What the hell? I wrote to Niki and asked: What is this? He and the team did a great job addressing the issue, but unfortunately, the damage was already done. People read and think it's true that I lost my head. I was coming from a victory, and all the positivity turned into negativity".
It was not a positive day for Nico Rosberg, who says to the media late in the evening:
"I had a good morning session. It seems that we are the fastest out there, and there will be a nice battle between me and Lewis. It's a shame not to have been able to run this afternoon, but I'm sure we'll solve the problem for tomorrow".
But the German driver relies on the data that will be provided to him by Lewis Hamilton, following the problem with his car:
"I will see what Lewis learned today, and I will try to adapt this information for tomorrow and Sunday. It's great to see how many passionate fans are out there, and I know that many workers from our factory are here, and I hope they can have a fantastic weekend, and that we can put on a great show for them".
Talking about the issue that slowed down Nico Rosberg's work, Patty Lowe says:
"We don't know exactly, to be honest. There was a small water leak that appeared just before the start of the session. We hoped to overcome it without a repair because it was really a small leak, but in the end, we made this decision to protect the engine because there were risks of damage. It was still a Friday engine, not an engine with which we intend to compete again this season, except for necessity. And for this, we thought it wise not to risk damaging it".
On Saturday, July 9, 2016, the last free practice session is interrupted, through the display of the red flag, seven minutes before the end, due to an accident involving Marcus Ericsson. The Sauber driver touches the synthetic grass, located at the edge of Stowe, losing control of his car and hitting the barriers. In the impact, the steering wheel detaches from the column. The Swedish driver, unharmed, is still taken to the track's medical center for checks. The session starts on a wet track, forcing drivers to use intermediate wet tires. Only after about twenty minutes from the start do drivers switch to slick tires. The best times are set by the two Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton ahead of Nico Rosberg by a few hundredths of a second. The time is set after the resumption of the session, following Ericsson's accident. A gearbox problem is found on Sebastian Vettel's car, limiting its performance, closing with the fifth time. After the tests, Ferrari is forced to replace the transmission of the German driver's car, which incurs a five-position grid penalty. A few hours later, Marcus Ericsson does not take part in the qualifying session, as, following the accident in practice, he was taken to the hospital in Oxford for checks. Despite the risk of rain, among the big teams, only Mercedes drivers immediately take to the track at the beginning of Q1. The asphalt, not yet rubberized, forces drivers to make several mistakes. The fight to avoid elimination involves Jenson Button, the two Renaults, the two Haas, and Daniil Kvyat. Home drivers Jolyon Palmer and Jenson Button, and the two Manor drivers, are eliminated, along with Felipe Nasr. The best time in Q1 is set by Nico Rosberg, who precedes Lewis Hamilton by a few thousandths. Q2 starts late due to the need for stewards to evaluate the time set by Kevin Magnussen, which is validated only after the stewards confirm that the Danish driver did not exceed the track limits.
Even in this phase, Mercedes' dominance is clear; behind the two drivers of the Anglo-German team are the two Red Bulls. Kimi Räikkönen ruins one attempt with a spin, then a second with a braking error, but manages, at the last moment, to qualify for the decisive phase. Haas drivers, Sergio Pérez, Felipe Massa, Daniil Kvyat, and Kevin Magnussen are eliminated. In Q3, the duel between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg is repeated, fighting for pole position separated by a few thousandths of a second. However, the first time set by the British driver is canceled as the World Champion left the track at Copse. In the second and final attempt, Lewis Hamilton beats the time of his teammate and takes pole position. Nico Rosberg completes the front row, while Red Bull monopolizes the second. At the end of qualifying, Nico Rosberg is placed under investigation by the stewards for violating the minimum time to return to the pits during Q1. The German driver, however, will not be sanctioned.
"There was a lot of pressure, but I knew I couldn't let the guys down".
says Lewis Hamilton at the end of the practice.
"I'm really grateful to the fans who have been here since Thursday. It's been the biggest crowd ever seen, the energy, the positive wave they gave me is overwhelming. It wasn't the cleanest qualifying session we've had, but I thank the team for the fantastic work that allowed me these performances".
Lewis speaks again about the relationship between him and teammate Rosberg, after the incident that involved them in Austria:
"I don't think there's anything to clarify; we have to do our job, the road is still long, and I'll try not to put myself in that situation again, as I believe Nico will too".
Nico Rosberg recites his mea culpa due to the failure to secure pole position. The German driver from Mercedes will have to start behind his teammate in a race that could further narrow the gap between them in the World Championship standings:
"The car they gave us today is incredible; it was a pleasure to drive, especially at high speeds where it doesn't lose grip-it feels like being on rails. It wasn't my best day, that's all. Lewis worked better, so congratulations to him. However, tomorrow we're in the game and we'll aim to win".
Similar to what happened in Austria, Vettel will also have to serve a five-position grid penalty at Silverstone. The Ferrari driver had to replace his gearbox after the third and final free practice session for the British Grand Prix. The alert was raised through team radio by Vettel himself after completing the final lap of the practice:
"Guys, I think I've lost the gearbox again".
The eleventh position will partially compromise the former Red Bull driver's race, but he appeared confident after qualifying:
"Tomorrow, I expect a good race; we have a good pace, and I'm sure we'll make progress. Maybe it will rain. We'll have to keep our heads down, stay calm, and go racing, trying to enjoy it. The car is fast, and we'll recover".
The eighteen-year-old Dutch Red Bull driver, Max Verstappen, had an excellent qualifying:
"I'm happy with the third position; those two seem to have a special turbo button. For us, it was the best possible result".
Apart from finishing ahead of the Ferraris, Verstappen also outpaced his teammate Ricciardo by three-tenths:
"I struggled a bit in the last two qualifiers, but here we had a promising race pace, and I wasn't too worried. The qualifying was very good; the car performed as expected, and we were stronger than the competitors who ended up behind us".
Mathematics is starting to become annoying for Ferrari. The setbacks are becoming too numerous to be accepted, beyond the excuses used to comment on and justify the problems. With the second gearbox replacement in two weeks, always for Vettel, the backstage of the team didn't hold back in expressing frustration. However, blaming the materials because Ferrari doesn't make the changes sounds sensational if not paradoxical. The truth is that Raikkonen's fifth and Vettel's sixth place in qualifying satisfy no expectations. Not to mention the penalty Vettel will have to serve for the gearbox, another five positions back. Unfortunately, Saturday's time also reveals another fact that won't be pleasing: on a technical circuit like Silverstone, where the chassis matters, Vettel has incurred a two-second delay from Hamilton. And between Mercedes and Ferrari, there are also two Red Bulls, those of Verstappen and Ricciardo. Objectively, it's not acceptable for the team that wanted to win the World Championship.
"I don't want to comment on the Grand Prix; things will go as they have to go. Since the beginning of the weekend, we haven't been fast: the Mercedes showed an incredible pace on this track".
Sebastian Vettel's admission is of little use if Sunday doesn't rectify Saturday.
"Hopefully, it will rain, but I think we can recover".
It's the usual optimism, the one every driver must convey as protocol. The substance, still using Vettel's words, is that the good strides made are not enough when compared to those of Red Bull.
"There is a lot of ground to recover, make the car faster, give it more aerodynamic load, make it more efficient, adding some power. We have to work on all fronts".
And Raikkonen? He celebrated his renewal with a couple of mistakes that made Friday's team principal, Maurizio Arrivabene's statement, almost comical:
"We wanted to take the pressure off him...".
Nevertheless, the Finn keeps his head high and looks straight ahead, without turning around, as always in his own way:
"It certainly makes things simpler because people will stop asking the same question over and over again! And this makes a huge difference. I am also pleased to disappoint a lot of people who had high hopes. It was good that it was a decision now and not towards the end of the season because from now on, we can focus completely on the rest of the 2016 season and the changes for 2017. The rest, the races, and working with the team really don't change. Of course, I'm very happy to be with Ferrari; I'm curious to experience the changes planned for 2017: faster cars and wider tires seem like quite positive solutions to me".
In Ferrari, besides the good dialectical form, something more is still expected on the track. But Kimi Raikkonen explains:
"It's the same story as all the races so far this season. We want more aerodynamic load and struggle to find the right setup. If there are conditions like those of these days, it adds fuel to the fire. That's how it is, and we know that insufficient load is one of our weaknesses, but we also know that it doesn't get fixed in the blink of an eye. We mainly encounter these problems here, and the wind we're suffering from is perhaps more than others. Finishing in fifth and sixth positions is not what we want, and obviously, we're not satisfied with the result, but it's the best we've managed to achieve. We know our limits on this track well, and we know where we have more difficulties; the track and conditions don't make things easy, and there are some things that have somewhat blocked us. This afternoon, the car improved a lot compared to yesterday, but obviously, it wasn't fast enough yet. In Q2, I complicated things for myself, spinning with the first set of new tires, while with the next one, I blocked the front tire. In the end, I managed to get into Q3, but these things shouldn't happen. Conditions are always different in the race, and here they can change a lot. Usually, on Sundays, we are stronger, and hopefully, tomorrow will be the same. We'll try to make a good start, make the tires work well, and make the right decisions".
The chances of rain today are 40%. Translated, it means that meteorologists have no certainties, so Ferrari relies on a well-known refrain this season:
"We're not starting from a position that belongs to us, so I'm sure we can make progress, maybe starting well, and then what will come, we can never know. We have to stay focused, keep calm, and try to enjoy the race".
Vettel says, and while he says it, there is a pang in seeing the race they will run-the two Mercedes drivers, ignoring what will happen behind them and being careful not to touch each other, as the real danger is themselves and the rules imposed by the German team, with corresponding sanctions. Be sure that at least for this race (excluding the start), there won't be fireworks between the two leaders of the standings: there is a forced truce. Lewis Hamilton warns in this regard:
"Tomorrow, we will race. And we will race as we always have. Of course, what we were told before this weekend is in our minds and awareness. It will be in a corner of our minds for sure, but it doesn't mean we can't continue to race hard as we always have. I think tomorrow will be the same".
Nico Rosberg agrees with his teammate:
"Yes, we're still in a battle out there. There's just a small change in the way we'll do it, that's all. A guarantee that there won't be a collision between us? What do you want me to say, we never intend to touch each other. We just want to battle between us and not get into other collisions".
On Sunday, July 10, 2016, about twenty minutes before the start of the British Grand Prix, a heavy rainstorm breaks out on the track. The race start is not postponed, but the cars begin behind the Safety Car. The cars follow the safety car for five laps before it returns to the pits. Many drivers in the back decide to immediately return to the pits and switch from wet to intermediate tires. This includes both Ferrari drivers and Daniel Ricciardo. At the restart, the leaderboard still shows pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton in the lead, followed by Nico Rosberg and Max Verstappen. On the seventh lap, Pascal Wehrlein ends up in the gravel, and the race officials deploy the Virtual Safety Car on the affected track section. Lewis Hamilton enters the pits for a tire change, followed by his teammate Nico Rosberg and Max Verstappen. Sergio Pérez is now in fourth place, ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, Kimi Räikkönen, Carlos Sainz Jr., and the Williams duo.
On the tenth lap, Valtteri Bottas spins and drops to thirteenth place. In the following laps, Lewis Hamilton leads the race with a comfortable margin over Nico Rosberg, who is under pressure from Max Verstappen. On the 15th lap, Sebastian Vettel pits to switch to dry tires as the racing line is quickly drying, but some areas remain very wet, especially around the pit straight. On the 16th lap, Verstappen overtakes Rosberg at Chapel. Two more laps, and the Mercedes drivers also switch to slick tires. Then, on the 19th lap, Verstappen makes the same choice, rejoining the track ahead of Rosberg. On the 21st lap, Ricciardo passes Pérez and takes fourth place. The still damp track forces drivers to make several mistakes: Fernando Alonso goes off into the gravel but manages to continue; Verstappen runs wide, losing ground to Hamilton, while Sainz, due to a spin, drops from sixth to eighth place, overtaken by Räikkönen and Nicolas Hülkenberg. Sebastian Vettel also makes some errors but, on the 28th lap, overtakes Daniil Kvyat and climbs to tenth place. Sergio Pérez also loses control of the car at the first corner but maintains fifth place. On the 37th lap, Sebastian Vettel passes Felipe Massa and moves up to eighth place but is under investigation by the stewards for a maneuver that may not have allowed the Brazilian to defend himself properly. The following lap, after a long duel, Nico Rosberg overtakes Max Verstappen, who is struggling with tires. In the final laps, Kimi Räikkönen passes Sergio Pérez, while Nico Rosberg struggles with gearbox issues, allowing Max Verstappen to stay close. However, the Dutch driver cannot attack the Mercedes driver, who finishes second at the finish line. Later, Rosberg will be penalized ten seconds, dropping to the third step of the podium. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton secures his forty-seventh Grand Prix victory in the World Championship. It was a masterpiece for Lewis Hamilton, leading from start to finish and especially delivering incredible laps at the beginning of the race when the track was completely wet. The British Grand Prix started under the Safety Car, amid heavy rain. Here, Lewis made the difference, proving that he is the true king in any condition at Silverstone, securing his fourth career victory.
"Before the race, the weather was nice, but then it started raining, and we started in very challenging conditions. The track dried quickly, but at the beginning, I had to adapt and not take risks. This race is always beautiful because it's never easy, and you can never sail smoothly; that's what makes it unique".
Nico Rosberg finishes second but with a small doubt at the end: the driver suffered a serious gearbox issue. Immediately from the pits, they suggested what he should do on the steering wheel: a forbidden but necessary maneuver to avoid disaster.
"It was a complicated start, then Verstappen overtook me, and we had an exciting battle, then I managed to pass him on the outside. In the end, I have to congratulate Hamilton, who did an excellent job; let's be satisfied with this second place".
Now, Nico is under investigation, and something might happen. We'll see. In the meantime, aside from Hamilton, the hero of the day is Verstappen: third at the finish line but especially author of an extraordinary overtaking move against Rosberg. On the outside, decisively, one of the most beautiful ever seen in F1.
"It was a fantastic Grand Prix; the race was very exciting and complicated at the beginning. I managed to overtake Rosberg, then I was catching up with Hamilton, but I stopped one lap too late maybe; Nico overtook me, but I still had a great pace, and I could still see the two Mercedes. In the end, I have to thank Red Bull for the fantastic car".
And Ferrari? Disaster. They attempted risky tire changes several times, first anticipating the switch from full wet to intermediates (nullified by the Virtual Safety Car) and then from intermediates to slicks (nullified by a Vettel spin). But honestly, bad luck is not the only factor. Raikkonen finished fifth, while Vettel, only towards the end (also receiving a 5-second penalty for a questionable pass on Massa), managed to enter the top ten.
What needs to be said is that Kimi struggled considerably to overtake a Force India (Perez's) and that the Ferrari cars not only seemed light-years behind the Mercedes (no longer news) but also behind the Red Bulls.
"It was a very difficult weekend".
This is Kimi Raikkonen's laconic comment after the fifth-place finish in the British Grand Prix. Regarding the start with intermediate tires, he adds:
"It was the same for everyone; we tried to be as fast as possible, but there wasn't much grip. It was a tricky situation for me; I went wide and had some difficult moments. Then with the slicks, it was sliding a bit, but it was better than yesterday".
A British Grand Prix that Ferrari should soon forget.
"The next races will be a different story, and I don't expect to have the same problems, although you can never know. I expect a return to normality, but it's certain that we had a difficult weekend".
In the meantime, Sebastian Vettel encourages the team:
"Today, we weren't competitive, but as a team, we reacted well. We're not happy with the result, but we managed not to lose too many points. During the race, we were fast, but not enough to compete with Red Bull and Mercedes. We know what we have in hand; there's no need to create panic; it's just a bad day. We can learn from these races; there's no need to question everything".
Daniel Ricciardo finished the race in fourth place, followed by Raikkonen but 1.09 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton. Sixth and seventh places went to the two Force India drivers Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg. Carlos Sainz with Toro Rosso finished eighth ahead of Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari. Fernando Alonso is satisfied despite finishing thirteenth in the British Grand Prix.
"It was the first race where we felt competitive, especially in mixed conditions between dry and wet. Although the result was the best weekend for me since I've been involved in this project".
Finally, the boos from the British fans for Rosberg on the podium were unpleasant. With the interviewer forced to say:
"Come on, guys, be sportsmanlike".
And even Lewis Hamilton will say later:
"I tried to calm things down. It was a great day. I think we can be better and avoid such incidents. In any case, I didn't hear so many boos, but it's important to understand that these are very passionate fans who had sensed something was wrong the last time. Perhaps, when I arrive in Germany, I might face the same treatment, but sincerely, I hope it doesn't happen, as it's not nice in sports when it does. When I go to watch a football match and my team loses, I never boo the opposing team because they simply worked better. That's true sportsmanship".
And to think that their idol had just won. Who would have expected this from the English fans? Just as no one expected the crowd-surfing, something missing in Formula 1. Lewis Hamilton took care of that, the only driver capable of breaking the norms of the motor racing sports system.
"I always wanted to crowd-surf, even though I was afraid they might drop me. I wanted to touch the fans, get close to them somehow, and it felt like the ideal moment. It was very nice. When I saw the crowd, I didn't think twice and jumped".
An instinctive gesture, an unplanned event in the overly guarded world of the Circus. Lewis thus completed his day: objectively, someone up there protects him, considering that the ten minutes of rain practically handed him the victory. The real risk was avoiding a collision with the safety car, incidentally always a Mercedes. And then, in the late afternoon, the final gift: the penalty for Rosberg, now bringing him within one point of the German in the standings. Who would have thought that after the first four races without victories? Now, halfway through the season, the comeback is almost done, and Budapest could be the stage for the overtaking. What happened? In the final laps, did Rosberg have gearbox problems, and the team advised him via radio not to use the seventh gear, violating FIA Article 27.1, which stipulates silence between the pit wall and the drivers. Mercedes has announced an appeal, to be finalized by midweek. The ruling has sparked a debate. Chris Horner of Red Bull comments, leaning towards changing it in the future:
"I think this rule is rubbish. It doesn't make much sense, but laws are laws, and a simple reprimand would have set a precedent".
Gray Ferrari. Forget about flaming red. Gloomy, like the Silverstone sky and the melancholic performances of Raikkonen and Vettel. The tenth Grand Prix of the season unveils everything, all hopes, excuses, and justifications. Mercedes is beyond reach, and now Red Bull is ahead as well. In Silverstone, Ferrari hoped for a typical British downpour, but it came too early, just in time to spoil the VIP parade in the pit lane before the start. And it was a problem for everyone: for the spectators, as the FIA opted for a safety car start (Hamilton hoped for it. Who, at the front, had no one spraying water and triumphed serenely), and for Ferrari, bottled up in traffic, realizing immediately that this would be another painful race. Today, no one will say anymore that winning the World Championship is possible. Not even Maurizio Arrivabene, Ferrari's team principal. Reacting with feline agility to the accusation of resignation:
"Absolutely not. This is my face, and I convey my emotions to the team. I say how things are. I am angry, but never resigned. Never".
He doesn't shy away from the trial, and how could he? The state of affairs is so evident: Vettel's gearbox issue is an indicator of something more significant.
"We'll see now, in Maranello. But the project, for me, remains valid. I hope it's a materials problem, not a setup error".
The replacements in Sochi and Shanghai were indeed attributable to external causes (accidents), but Raikkonen's issues in Monte Carlo and Vettel's in Spielberg and Silverstone are of a technical nature. The sequence of anomalies is no longer acceptable. It will be tough days in Maranello, and who knows if Marchionne will change his mind after Barcelona, where he said:
"Let's let the team work in peace".
The potential outburst of the boss will fall on Arrivabene's shoulders, who is well aware:
"We received a harsh lesson, and we must learn from it. There shouldn't be difficult circuits. And, regardless of the engine, other components play a fundamental role, and here, they were lacking. It's not the first time, but here, it emerged more evidently".
Certainly, Arrivabene cannot be accused of lacking personality:
"We chose an aggressive strategy, but the virtual neutralization didn't help us. But, to be honest, at best, we would have gained one position. The drivers did a good job, despite being penalized and somewhat agitated by the technical problems we know".
Silverstone has downsized expectations.
"We must fend off Red Bull and get closer to Mercedes. How? Everyone knows their role and tasks to perform".
Even the drivers, returning from England with the balance altered: today, the number one Ferrari in the standings is Raikkonen, third, with Vettel surpassed even by Ricciardo.
"Team orders? Threats of sanctions? Look, our drivers know the rules: the priority is the team. So, until mathematics condemns anyone, they are free to race. They know well; it happened this year already, and there were no problems".
All together, for the common good.