Alonso charges to British Grand Prix win: Report and Reaction
Fernando Alonso took the chequered flag in a dramatic British Grand Prix as Sebastian Vettel was denied a 7th race win in 9 races in changeable conditions.
With the race track dry in parts but still sodden by the rain that fell earlier in the day in other sections, the Spaniard demonstrated just how far the famous prancing horse has come from their earlier season woes as he eased clear of Vettel and the chasing pack as the rest squabbled for position behind him.
Despite his disappointment of finishing second behind Alonso, Vettel maintained his record of not finishing outside of the top two for the 9th consecutive race, and extended his lead at the top of the drivers standings over his team-mate.
The key moment came for Alonso when both he and McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton were able to get past Vettel after the second round of stops. After a mistake in the Red bull pit-lane Alonso was able to put in fastest lap after fastest lap while the slower McLaren held Vettel off for long enough to allow the double world champion to open up a commanding gap that was never really threatened again.
“After passing Lewis Hamilton for the second time, I attacked the Red Bulls. From now on it will be like that.” – Fernando Alonso
Having started on pole Mark Webber will be frustrated that he was unable to pick up back to back wins after his success at Silverstone in 2010, and the passionate Australian will be even more frustrated after he was told to “maintain the gap” as he attempted to pass Vettel in the final two laps.
McLaren’s weekend got off to a surprising start as Hamilton made his way up from 10th and into the podium positions, and when Button looked to closing in on the leading pack in the early stages the Woking-based outfit would have dreamt of having at least one of their drivers in the top three.
But that proved to be the high-water mark for both men as Button had his race ended after he emerged from the pits without his front right tyre not tightened correctly, while a radio transmission revealed Hamilton didn’t have enough fuelled to reach the end at full pace, meaning he was forced to sacrifice his 3rd spot to Mark Webber.
There was more drama to come for Hamilton as Felipe Massa, who appeared to be playing second fiddle to Alonso throughout the race, closed the gap behind Hamilton as he nursed his car home before the pair collided in the final corner, halting Massa’s charge and allowing the 2008 champion to salvage something from his weekend.
Elsewhere Paul di Resta’s race was ruined by a disastrous pit-stop which ended the Scot’s dream of finishing in the points, while the Mercedes’ of Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher ended up 6th and 9th respectively.
Reaction:
Fernando Alonso: “We struggled when it was wet, but we got quicker as the track dried out. I knew I had to keep the car on the track and away from the grass, not to make any mistakes. I knew we had enough pace to fight for the victory and it came. We stayed calm and we knew our opportunity would come later in the race. After passing Lewis Hamilton for the second time, I attacked the Red Bulls. From now on it will be like that.
Sebastian Vettel: I came out behind Fernando and Lewis and struggled to get past. I had some places where I was quite close but it didn’t quite work. I went in for my stop and had a longer stint at the end. All in all, we had a good race. I had a brilliant start and was able to pull away at the beginning on intermediate tyres. Then we waited a little bit and were not aggressive which cost us a bit of lead. Then we had the pit stop problem.
Christian Horner: “It is a team result. I can understand Mark’s frustrations but we cannot give away a load of points. We did not want to see our drivers in the fence at some time in the last two laps, which is how it would have ended up. Mark is not out of the championship race but we could not afford to risk losing points. Mark should be fine with that, he is a team player. Second and third is a very strong result.”
Lewis Hamilton: “I had a good start and made someplaces up but at the ened unfortunately I had to save fuel massively so I had to give Mark Webber the position, and then in the last lap they said ‘ok now you can push’ and i was like ‘oh thanks’ after I let him (Massa) catch me up! But I was not giving him that position, no way”
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For anyone who is interested in a belated and different perspective on the F1 British GP (and other issues) here are a few of my comments/replies that were recently posted on James Allen’s blog (which he has probably deleted since) … just some food for thought:
YOU IDIOT … it’s most of the other races that have been FIXED … and certainly not in Ferrari’s favour … this is the second year that McLaren and Red Bull have blatantly been colluding and conspiring against Ferrari (who in the past reigned for many years unchallenged??) and Ron Dennis deliberately blackened Alonso’s reputation after signing him in 2007??
Hamilton has never been or ever will be a great driver (contrary to popular but mistaken belief) and he like Vettel last year and so far this year only became World Champions because they were regularly ‘positioned’ (by the F1 Master Manipulators’) on pole or the front row in qualifying so that they would invariably go on to win the race unimpeded … when either of them are not storming ahead at the front they make mistakes and their true colours/skills/talents and finesse are exposed!
I predicted early in 2010 that poor Jenson Button would never be allowed (by Ron Dennis) to rack-up more championship points than Hamilton and I was proved right … in Montreal a few weeks ago it was Hamilton who was supposed to win the race in spectacular fashion NOT Button (but we all saw what happened) … there is no way that Ron Dennis will EVER let Button get ahead of Hamilton in the points … hence at Silverstone the old loose-wheel-nut ploy was used (or should I say no-wheel-nut-at-all) to retire Button … the McLaren mechanics involved in that fiaso deserve an Oscar for their (not very convincing) shrugging of shoulders and feigned innocence?!?
PLEASE NOTE too that last Sunday the word ‘cunning’ was used (by Ted Kravitz) when referring to possible ‘McLaren’ race tactics and the word ‘guile’ (by Eddie Jordan) when talking about Red Bull’s Christian Horner … I couldn’t have used more apt adjectives about them myself … can’t wait to see what tricks will be up their sleeves at the coming Nurburgring?!?
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SORRY BUT I BEG TO DIFFER … the low-fuel message was given to Hamilton (and cherry-picked to broadcast to the listening and watching world) purely so that it would force him to conserve his tyres until the end of the race … something he is absolutely useless at doing (plus he is forever locking-up his front wheels and flat-spotting his tyres?).
In the final stages of the British GP Hamilton’s ‘team’ were acutely aware that Webber would overtake him and the low-fuel-slow-down warning was the perfect pretext they could use for when it inevitably happened and/or if there were any other ‘occurrences’ before the end of the race that they might need to explain away and gloss over (the contact with Massa being a case in point).
ALWAYS ALWAYS WITHOUT FAIL we have to listen to a list of excuses/justifications and mitigating circumstances either from Hamilton himself or Martin Whitmarsh or indeed the totally biased race commentators Martin Brundle and David Coulthard when Hamilton bungles his chances or doesn’t do as well as he should … he is just sooo predictable!!
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It’s what I call ‘FORMULA ONE XENOPHOBIA’ … that which has always existed behind the closed doors of F1 … the Master Manipulators may as well be wearing Klu Klux Clan hoods as far as I’m concerned … the current bigotry/prejudice and racial discimination that abounds this (and last) season has been predominently against the (Italian) Ferrari team!
In recent times it is they who have suffered the consequences for being seen to be so brilliant in decades past … their highly respected reputation, phenomenal achievements and fanatical Tifosi following must be quashed and it is the collaboration of Red Bull and McLaren who are seeking to ensure that Ferrari do not win either of the championships any time soon??
As far as the drivers are concerned … it was glaringly obvious in (and since) 2007 that Fernando Alonso (often referred to as ‘the Spaniard’) was unfairly and habitually denigrated and slagged-off … whilst at the same time the Brit Lewis Hamilton’s alleged ‘talents’ were being grossly over-estimated and eulogised … back then I warned certain F1 persons that the truth would one day come to light!!
And then there’s Mark Webber (the tell-it-like-it-is Aussie) … he’s evolved into a much better and more skilful driver/racer than his team-mate Vettel but he’s never going to be allowed to surpass him on the points board (not sure why this particular German has been so blatantly favoured but have an inkling it’s something to do with the Mercedes-Benz connection?).
The Brazilian Massa suffers to a lesser extent now because he’s not seen as any real threat (in stark contrast to his compatriat Ayrton Senna in the past) … one only has to watch and listen to a few Formula 1 races and especially the two British race commentators (Brundle and Coulthard) who are so outrageously biased in their opinions and quick to try and brainwash and indoctrinate their listeners … more to say on those two at a later date … let’s see what transpires in Germany next weekend???
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Sent in response to James’ reply (to my SORRY BUT I BEG TO DIFFER message) which was:
‘Interesting theory, bit Idon’t think you are right here’.
Well James at least you didn’t delete my ‘theory’ but it was also fairly predictable that you (or any of your other BBC F1 colleagues/commentators/pundits) would never openly admit that I am in fact 100% ‘right’ … indeed it’s because the glaring truth has finally begun to dawn on people (at least to those with more than two brain cells) about young Mr Hamilton’s previously alleged and totally unfounded fantastic/awesome/phenomenal and world class driving skills that there have been various and desperate attempts by McLaren and the F1 ‘Master Manipulators’ to convince us all that it really was (and still is) justifiable to compare Hamilton to drivers like Fangio and Senna, etc???????
WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO KID Mr Brundle and Mr Jordan … shame on Eddie J because it’s he who is always reminding his audience that the fans are not stupid … sad to say that some of them actually are and have fallen hook, line and sinker for the Lewis Hamilton hype and BS … but others (like myself) are not fooled or taken in by the relentless brainwashing tactics of the BBC’s all-British F1 programme personnel, ie: Humphrey, Brundle, Coulthard, Jordan, Kravitz and yourself … or McLaren’s Martin Whitmarsh and Red Bull’s Christian Horner et al!!
Like I warned back in early 2007 James … you are all going to look like total idiots when the whole truth does emerge (and believe me it will) … you all (but particularly Ron Dennis) ruthlessly conspired together to make it appear that Hamilton was ‘God’s latest F1 gift to Britain’ (when in fact Jenson Button has always been the better and more consistent driver?).
Many eyebrows will be raised and questions asked James so pleeeeze (ask your colleagues to) stop trying to perpetuate the myth/fiction/fabrication that Hamilton is (or ever was) a giant of the sport when in fact the reality of his unpredecented escalation to fame and a World Championship was wholly brought about by cheating/chicanery and massaged qualifying results … and was in fact manufactured on the flimsiest of on-track ‘evidence’!!
Corruption in high places indeed … but be assured that the worst sins are going to be found out (please take note Bernie?) … perhaps one day James I will send you some excerpts of the letter(s) that I sent to Max Mosley at the end of 2007 which may give more credence to my ‘theories’ … in particular the irrefutable evidence of Ron Dennis’ treachery with regard to the now (in)famous ‘Alonso holding up Hamilton at the Hungarian pit-stop’ incident?!?
That was a particularly unconscionable act of betrayal on Dennis’ (and McLaren’s) part and still Mr Dennis can be seen skulking around the McLaren garage on race weekends watching the screen and waiting to see whether the slightly more subtle and sneaky strings he’s pulled are going to pan out as intended … as I’ve already mentioned James the word ‘cunning’ was spoken in the same breath as ‘McLaren’ by Ted Kravitz as the Silverstone race was underway … and I couldn’t help smiling a knowing smile when he said it!!
Yours most earnestly … Jane
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Yeah … Hamilton can race allright … like a maniac … a dervish … with a couldn’t-care-less about the consequences … ‘get out of my way’ and ‘I’m going to take you out even if it means I take myself out’ attitude … he’s been lucky in most instances (but wasn’t in Montreal?) so what’s to stop him from adopting this same selfish and irresponsible (downright disrespectful to the other drivers) approach in every race??
I blame people like Eddie Jordan and Co who have outspokenly condoned and praised Hamilton’s reckless and erratic driving ‘techniques’ and urged him not to change his driving ‘style’ (methinks possibly because they feel it adds some much needed drama, excitement and suspense to the races?).
It’s not clever or skilful racing … it’s just a harebrained young man throwing all caution to the wind and hurling himself into the corners (and other cars) … going wide … locking his wheels … flat-spotting his tyres … and hoping for the best??
His controversial blunders and collisions on track that used to be quietly glossed-over and minimised have now become a highlight of each race … he’s actually being admired and applauded in some quarters for his ‘antics’ … so effectively in four and a half years of gaining F1 driving experience Hamilton has learned absolutely nothing and has not honed or polished what little natural skill he had?!?
He’s still far too impatient and inept and the unpalatable truth is (for most of the British fans who rate him) that he is (and always was) a pretty mediocre second-rate racing driver who only gained the kudos/glory/fame and distinction that he did by foul means, ie: trickery, deception and corruption … ahh I feel better now that I’ve got that off my chest!
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Paul D … Shouldn’t you be asking the very same questions about Hamilton’s alleged all round ability when considering that he only found lightningly quick fame and kudos (and was actually compared to Ayrton Senna) while he was out front and cruising back in 2007,8,9???
It was only decided by the last race of the ’07 season that Hamilton would not go on to win the championship (for reasons best known to the powerful people up there in the top echelons of F1 who I call the ‘Master Manipulators’) … under no circumstances would Alonso be ‘allowed’ to win it hence a compromise was made that the crown should go to Kimi and that it would be Hamilton’s year in ’08!!
Please note that last year and this when Hamilton hasn’t been on pole or the front row he hasn’t fared quite as well as in previous seasons … no because it was deemed Red Bull Racing’s turn to win both the championships (the constructors’ bringing home the much needed sponsors and cash for the team to continue to flourish, etc).
Indeed last year when Vettel wasn’t on pole or the front row he too didn’t fare quite as well in the races even though he did ultimately go on to win the drivers’ championship by 4 points … Red Bull and Vettel were almost a carbon copy in 2010 and so far this season of McLaren and Hamilton’s success in ’07 and ’08 (with only Brawn and Button winning the coveted crown out of the blue in ’09?).
Are you not suspicious Paul … doesn’t it make you wonder … British Teams … British drivers (except for the one German) all dominating in recent times … the unchallenged Ferrari and Schumacher combination/era almost being obliterated from our memories??
Are Red Bull and McLaren guilty of ganging-up and conspiring against Ferrari to try and stop them from ever finding such phenomenal success again … oh yes I think you’ll find that they are (and have been) if you look closely enough … and now young Paul DiResta has been thrown into the Brit mix … mmm doesn’t really take much working out really but we shall see what unfolds over the next few races and seasons??
Regards … Jane
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Dear Jon … sadly despite what you may have heard or been led to believe … no other team will want to employ Lewis Hamilton for some of the reasons that I’ve outlined elsewhere on this blog (if my comments haven’t been erased already?) … and yes you’re right the trust has been eroded between him and the team?!?
My bet is that Paul DiResta has been specially drafted-in and will eventually replace Hamilton at McLaren in the not-too-far-distant-future … I doubt that Ferrari or Red Bull will take on Hamilton and I can’t see him going to a lesser team … I could be mistaken but as far as I’m concerned he’s been progressively hammering the nails’ into his own coffin … time will tell??
Regards … Jane
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Hope you found ‘my perspective’ interesting and thought-provoking?!?