Formula 1 British Grand Prix 2019
Would you believe it? the British Grand Prix at Silverstone was another good F1 race with minimal interference from the stewards, the second race in a row. It seems like Formula 1 and the FIA have been listening to the widespread criticism from fans over the few races before Austria, two weeks ago.
Despite being an exciting race to watch, it was the same predictable result with Lewis Hamilton claiming his sixth British GP victory, with Valtteri Bottas taking the chequered flag in second place. Hamilton was fortunate, as Bottas, who pitted first and at race speeds, was looking likely to retain the lead, before a safety car period, in which Hamilton pitted, allowing the British driver to displace his Finnish teammate.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc gave us a great show, battling throughout the race, often going wheel to wheel, switching places with Leclerc ultimately winning out thanks to his Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel rear-ending Verstappen after the Dutchman passed the German around the outside of Stowe corner on lap 37. Verstappen finished 5th and Vettel 17th after a +10 secs time penalty.
At the time of Vettel rear-ending Verstappen, they were battling for third place, so in a way, it was karma for Leclerc, who lost out to Vettel and Verstappen due to the safety car period, in which, Ferrari elected to not stack both their drivers, pitting Leclerc two laps later than Vettel. I would say that was another bad strategy call, rather than Ferrari favoring Vettel over his younger, and arguably faster teammate.
The race stewards did hand Vettel a +10 second time penalty for his part in the lap 37 incident with Verstappen, which was a non-consequential penalty for the German as he was running at the back of the field after a stop for a new wing. I’m no fan of penalties for racing incidents, but I guess that the stewards had to give Vettel some sort of penalty as it was clearly his fault and it did cost Verstappen a podium.
I’m no Hamilton fan, but respect to the guy for setting the fastest race lap around the current Silverstone layout using 32 lap old hard tires, beating his teammate, Bottas’ time on a set of fresher soft tires.
As we approach the mid season break after the Hungarian GP in three weeks time, it looks like Red Bull are going to be Mercedes’ challengers for the second half of the season. But, we know that Mercedes are all but certain winners of the drivers and constructors titles for yet another year, neither Red Bull nor Ferrari have what it takes to overturn Mercedes advantage with half the season already gone.
British Grand Prix 2019 Results
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