Mark Webber storms to his second British Grand Prix victory
Webber steals victory away from Fernando Alonso!
Mark Webber has taken his second career victory around Silverstone after a stunning race in which the Aussie overtook Fernando Alonso in the dying laps of the race, with Webber’s Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel coming home 3rd. Local hero Lewis Hamilton endured a tough 52 lap race, starting and finishing the race in only 8th place.
Only 23 drivers took to the grid in preparation for the race, as the Caterham of Vitaly Petrov suffered a disappointing engine failure on his way to the grid. At the start, Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber came exceedingly close to touching, as further back the field safely negotiated the opening few turns. It was heading into turn 5 when local driver Paul di Resta spun off, after receiving contact from behind. The Scot limped back to the pits for a replacement tyre, yet retired several laps later.
Fernando Alonso led away at the front, with Webber a close 2nd and Michael Schumacher a distant 3rd. Eventually a queue of drivers began to build up behind Schumacher, as Vettel became the first driver to pit for new tyres on lap 11. As Pastor Maldonado and Sergio Perez pitted on lap 12, Felipe Massa managed to overtake Schumacher as the German driver opted to pit a lap later.
Only moments after making their first pit stops, Pastor Maldonado and Sergio Perez made contact heading into turn 5. Unfortunately for Sauber, Sergio Perez retired from the race was damage sustained during the incident, whereas Pastor Maldonado continued on. The Mexican driver vented his frustration when he returned to the paddock, calling for the FIA to take action against the Venezuelan.
By lap 15 the majority of the field had made their opening pit stops, with Lewis Hamilton assuming the lead as Alonso and Webber pitted. The Briton started the race on the harder tyre compound, and therefore opted for a longer opening stint. However, once Alonso had pitted for new tyres, it wasn’t long before the Spaniard retook the lead. Hamilton desperately tried to retake the lead heading into turn 6, however the McLaren driver ran too deep on the exit of the corner and was forced to concede to the Ferrari. Eventually Hamilton pitted on lap 22, dropping further down the order.
It wasn’t long before Lewis Hamilton pitted once again, this time taking the harder tyre compound once again. With Hamilton set to run to the end of the race, tyre conservation would prove to be key to his race. The remainder of the front runners gradually made their second round of pit stops, however Lewis Hamilton failed to capitalize on his strategy and by lap 36 was down in 8th place as Romain Grosjean overtook the McLaren driver.
As the race entered it’s closing stages, it became apparent that the battle for victory was between Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber. With the latter reeling in the Ferrari, Alonso pitted on lap 37 for the softer compound. Although the Spaniard resumed in the lead, the pace of Mark Webber looked highly threatening.
Kamui Kobayashi made a horrendous error as he completed his pit stop, as the Japanese driver miscalculated his pit entrance and bowled several of his awaiting mechanics over. The slightly disheveled mechanics carried out the pit stop, with several getting checked over by the medical staff in the pits.
By lap 45, Mark Webber was closing down Alonso at a tremendous rate as his Pirelli P Zero hard (silver) tyres began to last longer than Alonso’s soft (yellow) tyres. Further down the order, Lewis Hamilton continued to suffer a miserable home Grand Prix, as Michael Schumacher breezed passed the Briton into turn 6.
With only several laps remaining, Mark Webber finally lunged up the inside of Fernando Alonso to take the lead. The Spaniard tried his hardest to fight back, but with highly worn softer tyres, the lack of grip made it nearly impossible for Alonso to fight back. This lack of grip left Webber in a commanding position, as the Aussie took his second career victory at the British Grand Prix. As the famous quote goes: “Not bad for a number two driver!”.
Fernando Alonso still leads the Drivers’ Championship, but with Mark Webber’s victory this afternoon, the Championship battle looks set to remain an intriguing factor in this historic Formula 1 season. The Formula 1 fraternity now heads back to central Europe, for the German Grand Prix around the Hockenheimring.
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