A bit more about the 2017 British GP.
It was my 20th visit to Silverstone, and it didn't disappoint. It has to be up there with some of my best Silverstine's. Because Lewis won? Partly, but not entirely. He's won five times now, four in a row ( though there are those who credit non of that success to the man himself, or they just pretend it didn't happen).
Other brilliant Silverstone's that stick in my mind... 2003 was a stonker, Barrichelo won I think, but much action including a lunatic priest on the track. And of course 2008, when Lewis lapped just about the whole field in heavy rain, finished a minute ahead of the next driver. Massa spun 5 times. That one will take some beating. But back to this one 2017....
ANYONE saying Silverstone is boring, bad track , can't overtake etc, can't have been there. Either that or they hate that a certain Mr. Hamilton has won five times and Vettel is always crap.
So starting with Vettel. He's always crap at Silverstone, and he didn't disappoint this year. He's only won here once, even in the dominant Red Bull years.
He was outdriven by Kimi. He was schooled by Max. He seems to think there's one rule for himself and a different one for the rest of the drivers. He flat spotted his tyre and caused a puncture. He squeeled in the radio a lot. Satisfying! Cause of much merriment to the Silverstone crowd. I was sitting with a Vettel fan on one side of me, so I tried hard to contain myself as Max in an inferior car schooled him, I didn't succeed. I was on my feet screaming.....along with tens of thousands of other fans. Same when his tyre blew. On my feet cheering. Couldn't help myself, it was an involuntary action. Karma may take its time but that was sweet payback for deliberately driving into your main competitor in a fit of pique.
And to the other Ferrari driver. Solid. But man is he dour!
Verstappen. Amazing battle with Vettel. Who says you can't overtake or defend in F1? They forgot to tell Max. As skilled as Lewis he doesn't give a damn. ( Lewis does, and though more prepared to be his own person now, he has standards he won't compromise) max is undobtablya future multi F1 champion. He had massive support at Silverstone.
RIcciardo. He drove a good race with nothing to lose. He only really overtook slower cars. Still a good performance, from last but one on the grid. Another very popular driver with the Brits.
Bottas- he's grown tremendously in my estimation since joining Mercedes. I love this pairing. He's fast, races well, he keeps Lewis on his toes, he's consistant and he plays fair. Non of the gamesmanship of Lewis' last three partners, but he's not a pushover. He was hired for a year, I think he's more than earned a contract renewal. He did really well to bring it to second at Silverstone!
Ocon - great drive from him. I'm sure Perez is getting a little worried , probably Wherlein too!
Stroll was a little out of his depth here. I expected the Williams to go well at Silverstone, they didn't and Massa did well to hang on to 10th.
Hulk- never a favourite of mine, he proves me wrong time and again, and he did so spectacularly at Silverstone. Brilliant! Palmer on the other hand continues to disappoint. Yes, he's had an unfair share of woes, but he's nowhere near Hulk.
Kvyat,O Kvyat! Great entertainment for the spectators at Maggots, but dear oh, dear. Took out his ream mate. I can't help but feel for the guy, but it just isn't happenning.
Which brings us to the man of the day himself, one LEWIS HAMILTON. Undisputed king of Silverstone.
Stunning quali lap when it was far from clear who was going to get pole between the two Mercs and the two Ferrari's. Over half a second faster than the next man and more than that clear of his ten mate. Class of his own, that pole lap was sublime! ( though no doubt it will be argued against in some quarters)
I'll quote one of his previous team mates, on that, the reigning world champion Nico Rosberg. When his lap was being discussed, someone mentioned him being in the best car and Nico said, " That wasn't the car, that was Lewis, believe me, I know! "
In the race itself, again he was in a class of his own. Controlled EVERYTHING from start to finish. Sensational. Scary moments for me, when I had to hide my face a little.....
The start, the restart, the pitstop when his tyres were blistering and when other tyres started popping.
Honourable mention I have to say, goes to Lewis three previous team mates.
NIco.....as I mentioned above
ALonso for that gutsy drive from last to first in Q1
And button for his interview with Lewis on the podium ( I groaned when he appeared, but he was ok, laughed that it was his first time in the Silverstine podium then said to Lewis 'but this is all about you' ....
And it was!
I have to say Silverstone was all the better for the excellent company!
Stonemonkey, Foxylady, Raceegg and Raceembryo.
I think it's the closest we'll get to a form meet up. I know it's hard for all you 'abroad' people. But it'd be great f even more came next year! Fantastic weekend guaranteed. My tickets are booked already!