Dre’s Five Thoughts On…F1’s 2014 British Grand Prix

“Rosberg’s luck, finally runs out.”

Hey folks, Dre here again with another “Five Thoughts On…” Race Review, this time for Formula 1’s British Grand Prix from yesterday. Another surprisingly interesting race, with Nico Rosberg’s streak of eight consecutive Top 2 finishes coming to a halt, an enormous crash for Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa, Williams FINALLY gets one right at the other end with Valterri Bottas, and an exciting finish as Jenson Button tried desperately hard to chase Daniel Ricciardo for the final podium spot. Lewis Hamilton taking another enormous swing in terms of the Championship race. Let’s break it down, shall we?

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” style=”bottomshadow” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” stylecolor=”
” align=”left” animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”right” animation_speed=”1″][/fusion_imageframe]
The Pendulum Swings in the Battle of the Mercs

The amount of cynicism I saw on social media this past Saturday was palpable when Hamilton (For seemingly no good reason), abandoned his final qualifying lap, despite everyone else continuing and finding multiple seconds in Sector 3. Hamilton was now starting 6th, in a hole, with Rosberg on pole. Many a Hamilton fan was declaring the Championship as good as over.

Now, during the race, after the Safety Car, Rosberg pulled out a 5 second lead as Hamilton quickly cleared the McLaren’s in-between, and was gunning Rosberg down at a rate of knots, switching to a 1-stop strategy, and finding even MORE pace on the Prime tyre. The gap was within 2 seconds when… Rosberg suffered a Gearbox failure, pretty much sealing Hamilton’s victory at the half way point in the race.

Nico Rosberg had eight conseutive Top 2 finishes this season so far, and compared to Hamilton had 43 more points gained from his teammate’s mechanical breakdowns, so Hamilton’s win pretty much wiped out the Australian woes, meaning the gap to Rosberg  is now just 4 points. Might as well push the reset button, it’s effectively a 10 race Championship. Ultimately, coming off of yesterday, this was a race Hamilton just HAD to win, and he did. Lewis looked impervious from start to finish and destroyed the field in the process. Game on.

[fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” style=”bottomshadow” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” stylecolor=”
” align=”left” animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”right” animation_speed=”1″][/fusion_imageframe]
Bottas’ Drive Of The Season and testament to Williams Progress

Nah, it wasn’t. It was the best drive of the past TWO seasons. Bottas qualified 14th on the grid, had an incredible start off the first lap into 9th, and would then go on to produce a string of brilliant passes (The outside pass around Stowe being a popular one), and pushed on into an incredible 2nd place, and way, WAY ahead of the rest of the competition not named Lewis.

I know I’ve given Williams a hard time on this blog this season at times, but it’s only because they’re capable of performances like this. In all fairness, Williams improvement has been PHENOMENAL this season, they’ve only gotten stronger as time has gone on, Bottas’ back-to-back podiums and Felipe Massa’s pole position in Austria is a testament to how far they’ve come. Fernando Alonso needs to be careful, because Ferrari’s 3rd in the Constructor’s is at serious risk if this form continues. Speaking of which…

[fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” style=”bottomshadow” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” stylecolor=”
” align=”left” animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”right” animation_speed=”1″][/fusion_imageframe]
Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso go to War!

Now THIS was fun, and probably something a lot of people have wanted to see for a good while – A scrap between two of the best drivers of the last decade going head to head as Alonso and Vettel did battle for nearly 20 laps, Alonso pulling off a defensive driving masterclass keeping Vettel at bay, especially through the complex after the Wellington straight, as Martin Brundle said, he was giving [/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_tooltip title=”You have to leave-h the space!!!”]A car’s width and two cigarette papers[/fusion_tooltip]”.

It was brilliant driving from both Sebastian and Fernando, who just threw caution to the wind and went for it, Vettel finally winning the fight after Alonso ran a little bit too wide and Seb was able to win the world’s fastest game of “chicken” into Copps at 190 mph.

What I hated about this fight, was the bitching over the radio. Both Sebastian and Fernando didn’t bask themselves in glory, moaning about the other’s actions. Vettel whinged about Alonso’s defence, complaining that he wasn’t leaving enough space, Alonso moaning about Vettel’s track extending, something they were BOTH doing. A shame considering both drove superbly well, wheel to wheel, lap after lap, and it was the most entertaining fight we’ve seen this season.

…Just watch the replay on mute for maximum enjoyment.

[fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” style=”bottomshadow” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” stylecolor=”
” align=”left” animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”right” animation_speed=”1″][/fusion_imageframe]
Kimi Raikkonen’s 47 G-Force Barrier Collision

Holy crap. We got our first red flag of the season, and a one hour delay for the restart as Kimi Raikkonen went wide through Turn 5, turned back on the racing line, failing to notice the bump in the road, losing control, hitting the right barrier at 47G’s, bouncing off the last wall and destroying the car, unfortunately collecting Felipe Massa’s Williams in the process, a sombre end for his 200th Grand Prix. Although, to be fair, he did well to avoid a 170 mph T-Bone.

The class from both men involved was exemplary, both asking if the other was okay. Luckily, Felipe was fine, and Kimi only suffering swelling to the ankle after getting checked out, seemingly he will be okay for Germany in a fortnight’s time, Pedro De La Rosa might cover him for the test next week.

Seriously, it’s a testament to the safety in the sport today that after an incredible hit to a barrier at 170 mph, and pretty much walk away afterwards. Just think, this was an EVEN BIGGER collision than Perez and Massa at Canada a month ago…

[fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” style=”bottomshadow” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” stylecolor=”
” align=”left” animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”right” animation_speed=”1″][/fusion_imageframe]
Niki Lauda Being A Tad Draconian

Niki Lauda, I respect and appreciate you, but please, don’t talk about how it’s “wrong” to take so long to fix the barrier. I honestly find it puzzling, and bemusing that a guy who nearly died in the car 40 years ago doesn’t appreciate the effort that goes into safety.

I don’t care if you postpone the race until tomorrow, you fix that damn barrier. Safety was, is and should always be the #1 concern and priority in this sport. And if there’s even a 0.01% chance of someone else hitting that barrier, you fix the damn thing. The fact that I saw multiple fans bitching about this on Twitter I found shameful.

I will admit, that he was right, the restart rules ARE confusing and should be made clearer, but to suggesting F1’s becoming primitive over a repaired barrier taking an hour to fix, is ridiculous, and borderline insulting to the staff of Silverstone who no doubt were working as hard as possible to enable us all to go racing as soon as possible.

[fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” style=”bottomshadow” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” stylecolor=”
” align=”left” animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”right” animation_speed=”1″][/fusion_imageframe]
I didn’t think it was a massive point as well, but a brilliant drive from Jenson Button to finish 4th. A great result given McLaren’s recent dyer form, and was so close to what would have been a tremendous podium, in dedication to his father. I’m sure wherever he is, John Button would be very proud. #PinkForPapa

Also, MAN did Vettel get shafted on the 2-stop strategy, once again Daniel Ricciardo gets the rub of the green. IT’S A CONSPIRACY. (Hey, it’s no weaker a conspiracy than Hamilton’s pit-stops, right?)

And finally…GOD that Santander British Grand Prix winner’s trophy was AWFUL. Never again please. I’ve been Andre Harrison, thank you very for much reading, and I’ll catch you guys next time… Sayonara!

[/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]