It was a Lewis Hamilton masterclass in fluctuating conditions at Silverstone.
In winning the British Grand Prix for the fourth time, he becomes the most successful British driver at Silverstone and joins Nigel Mansell with four wins on home soil. It is also his third consecutive victory at home.
Nico Rosberg meanwhile, has an investigation looming over his result, over the communication between his engineer and himself as the German battled a gearbox issue in the latter stages of the race. Should Rosberg receive a penalty? Most will cite the race in Baku when Hamilton’s engineer couldn’t aid his driver with that ERS problem.
A worthy ‘driver of the day’ goes to Max Verstappen, who was seen muscling his Red Bull amid the treacherous conditions early on in the race. He did, for the most part, hold onto second, but a speedy Rosberg was able to usurp that position from the formidable Dutchman.
Daniel Ricciardo’s race was quite anonymous, but he was able to salvage a healthy fourth and finished well ahead of Ferrari’s Kimi Räikkönen in fifth and Sergio Perez in sixth.
For Ferrari, it was a completely forgettable affair with Sebastian Vettel starting in eleventh but then the gamble to be the first to switch over to slicks backfired and saw him spin off and lose ground. Later, a five-second penalty was imposed on the German for forcing Felipe Massa off the track during their heated exchange.
Williams ended up with no points in their home race, as did McLaren despite Fernando Alonso’s close encounters in the top ten throughout the race.
Just four points now separate the two championship rivals now, as the momentum continues to swing in the favour of Hamilton.
There is a fortnight’s break now before the next back-to-back weekend which will see the first half of the season conclude.
In just seven days, Formula One has trekked from the lush Styrian hills in Austria over to the legendary Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire, Great Britain. Join The Roar for a live blog of the British Grand Prix, starting from 10pm (AEST).
The historic British Grand Prix celebrates its 50th championship race at the timeless 5.8km circuit, formerly a World War II airbase.
Reigning world champion and home hero Lewis Hamilton will be staking a claim for a fourth career victory at the British Grand Prix, having won the last two races with Mercedes AMG.
A 55th career pole position was achieved at the conclusion of qualifying for Hamilton, edging out teammate Nico Rosberg by three-tenths of a second.
If the Briton can accomplish the victory, he will join fellow British world champion Nigel Mansell with four victories on home soil.
Red Bull have been the Silver Arrows’ closest competition all weekend, however there was a gap of a full second between the pole sitter and the third placed Max Verstappen.
Crucial for the Dutchman however was out-qualifying his teammate Daniel Ricciardo, who until now hasn’t been beaten by a teammate in qualifying through 2016.
It was an awful Saturday for Ferrari by their own standards. Sebastian Vettel qualified sixth, but will for a second consecutive weekend will concede five grid positions with another gearbox penalty.
The recently re-signed Kimi Räikkönen will start fifth, albeit could be compromised during his first stint on his tyres, which were used for an extra lap in Q2.
Pirelli’s medium and hard rubber re-join the tyre fold with the soft for this 52-lap race. The medium tyres should feature predominantly during what ought to be a two-stop affair.
The infamous British weather in summertime could yet render the dry compounds redundant. That would then make it an open house a team like Red Bull to close the gap to the leaders.
As ever, there should be close competition amongst the others in the top ten, being very unpredictable as ever.
With the ‘rules of engagement’ altered for the Mercedes AMG cars following their clash in Austria, it shall be intriguing to see how both drivers approach each other.
Team boss Toto Wolff hasn’t ruled out handing out suspensions to whoever instigates another incident on-track.
It seems to have all the makings then of what should be another classic battle at the front. Join me please from 10pm (AEST) on The Roar for full live blog coverage of the British Grand Prix.
anon
Guest
Had to laugh at Rosberg a 10 year veteran in the most dominant car of all time getting a lesson in race craft (again) from an 18 year old. My prediction back when Hamilton was 43 points behind Rosberg that it was almost inconceivable that Hamilton wouldn't win the title is looking bang on the money right now! Speaking of on the money, I got Hamilton at $2.38 to win the championship I think it was. Should have put even more on, as they always say! Ricciardo was getting chesty after Spain and Monaco, publicly chastising his team for their mistakes, insinuating that he'd change teams if Red Bull weren't competing for wins and championships. Those races in Spain and Monaco where he didn't win (through no fault of his own) are all but distant memories. Verstappen is well and truly on top of him now and is carrying all the momentum. How far has Bottas's stock fallen? Massa's ordinary, so what does that say about Bottas? Same can be asked about Vettel. He should never be getting beaten by Raikkonen. Vettel doesn't seem like the same guy, even in interviews. That aura has disappeared. Could it be after being beaten comprehensively by Ricciardo in 2014, and now seeing an 18 year old Verstappen come into RBR and match (and now beat) the far more experienced Ricciardo with ease, is Vettel starting wonder whether he was that great to begin. Sure, he's a great driver, but it seems RBR roll out great driver after great driver from the Red Bull academy. I have to shake my head at Ferrari's decision to persist with Raikkonen. A safe, gutless, cowardly corporate decision.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Thank you very much for tuning into The Roar's live blog of the British Grand Prix and we shall return for the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 24. Ciao.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Just 4 points now separate the two championship rivals now, as the momentum continues to swing in the favour of Hamilton. There is a fortnight's break now before the next back-to-back weekend which will see the first half of the season conclude.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
It was a Lewis Hamilton masterclass then in the changeable conditions at Silverstone. In winning the British Grand Prix for a fourth time in his career, he becomes the most successful British driver at Silverstone, as well as joining Nigel Mansell with four wins apiece on home soil. It is also his third consecutive victory at home. Nico Rosberg meanwhile has an investigation looming over his result, over the communication between his engineer and himself as the German battled a gearbox issue in the latter stages of the race. Under the FIA regulated radio clampdown, should Rosberg recieve a penalty? Most will cite the race in Baku when Hamilton's engineer couldn't aid his driver with that derating ERS problem. A drive worthy of 'driver of the day' for Max Verstappen, who was seen muscling his Red Bull amid the treacherous conditions early on in the race. He did for the most part hold onto second, but a speedy Rosberg was able to usurp that position from the formidable Dutchman. Daniel Ricciardo's race was quite anonymous, but he was able to salvage a healthy fourth and finished well ahead of Ferrari's Kimi Räikkönen in fifth and Sergio Perez in sixth. For Ferrari, it was a completely forgettable affair with Sebastian Vettel firstly starting in eleventh, but then the gamble to be the first to switch over to slicks backfiring and saw him spin off and lose ground. Later, a 5-second penalty was imposed on the German for forcing Felipe Massa off the track during their heated exchange. Williams ended up with no points in their home race, as did McLaren despite Fernando Alonso's close encounters in the top ten throughout the race.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
-------- DRIVER'S -------- 171 - Nico Rosberg 167 - Lewis Hamilton 106 - Kimi Räikkönen 100 - Daniel Ricciardo 98 -- Sebastian Vettel 87 -- Max Verstappen 54 -- Valtteri Bottas 47 -- Sergio Perez 38 -- Felipe Massa 28 -- Romain Grosjean 26 -- Nico Hulkenberg 26 -- Carlos Sainz 23 -- Daniil Kvyat 18 -- Fernando Alonso 13 -- Jenson Button 6 --- Kevin Magnussen 1 --- Pascal Wehrlein 1 --- Stoffel Vandoorne 0 --- Esteban Gutierrez 0 --- Jolyon Palmer 0 --- Marcus Ericsson 0 --- Pascal Wehrlein 0 --- Felipe Nasr 0 --- Rio Haryanto
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
----- CONSTRUCTOR'S ----- 338 - Mercedes AMG 204 - Scuderia Ferrari 195 - Red Bull Racing 92 -- Williams Mercedes 73 -- Force India Mercedes 41 -- Scuderia Toro Rosso 32 -- McLaren Honda 28 -- Haas Ferrari 6 --- Renault Sport 1 --- Manor Mercedes 0 --- Sauber Ferrari
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
PODIUM INTERVIEWS - Hosted by Mark Webber HAMILTON - "I was glad the 'good' English weather came out." "It's never just plain smooth sailing." ROSBERG - "It was an exciting race with him [Max]." VERSTAPPEN - "I think I stopped one lap too late [on the inters]."
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
The results from the British Grand Prix: 1 L. Hamilton 2 N. Rosberg 3 M. Verstappen 4 D. Ricciardo 5 K. Räikkönen 6 S. Perez 7 N. Hulkenberg 8 C. Sainz 9 S. Vettel* 10 D. Kvyat 11 F. Massa 12 J. Button 13 F. Alonso 14 V. Bottas 15 F. Nasr 16 E. Gutierrez 17 K. Magnussen RET J. Palmer RET R. Haryanto RET R. Grosjean RET M. Ericsson RET P. Wehrlein
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
LEWIS HAMILTON wins his fourth BRITISH GRAND PRIX in what was a commanding drive from pole position! NICO ROSBERG finishes second to retain the championship lead, but pending the investigation over the radio communication between he and his engineer towards the end of the race. MAX VERSTAPPEN holds onto his medium tyres to score another podium for Red Bull Racing in third.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 52/52: FINAL LAP Rosberg's radio communication will be investigated by the stewards post-race, it has been confirmed.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 51/52: Massa relegates Button to P12. Vettel with his 3.6 second gap over Kvyat will at most drop to P10 with his 5-second penalty.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 49/52: 4 LAPS TO GO The information given to Rosberg over the radio now being debated over, whether it was legal to provide those details or not to help him with his gearbox issue.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 48/52: Rosberg's gearbox issue has destroyed the inroads he had made on Hamilton as the gap now is 10 seconds. Verstappen is back into play now for second place with 1.7 seconds between the pair. Räikkönen past Perez now for fifth.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 47/52: Vettel with a 4 second advantage over Kvyat. Another 1 second then he'll nullify his 5 second penalty. A gearbox issue for Rosberg! His engineer tells him to avoid 7th gear and skip straight to 8th.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 46/52: Räikkönen still over the rear-wing of Perez, as he tries to look down the inside of Stowe corner. That's where Rosberg made his eventual move on Verstappen earlier for P2.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 44/52: Hamilton and Rosberg still trading purple sector times, as the gap stands at 6 seconds now
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 43/52: HAM ROS VES RIC PER RÄI HUL SAI VET KVY the current top ten. Vettel to serve a 5 second penalty potentially post-race which could promote Button into the top ten and demote the German into P11. Räikkönen catching Perez for P5. The sole sign of some hope for Ferrari in this race.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 42/52: 1:35.989 for Rosberg is the fastest lap of the race. 6.5 seconds now between the leaders
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 41/52: 5-second time penalty for Vettel for forcing Massa off the track.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 40/52: A dismal end to Palmer's rookie race at home, with the Renault being steering into the garage and out of the race. Rosberg now the quickest on track and shaving a second per lap off Hamilton's lead, having gained the clear air.