Hamilton Pole Shot – Rosberg Win

Formula 1 raced Silverstone for the British Grand Prix. The weather was bright with temps in the mid-upper 70’s which, on the average, was a bonus for the often damp UK. Lewis Hamilton had the #10 Mercedes on the pole for the homeland. All seemed right in the world for English racing fans.

Rewind.

The F1 Mercedes team with drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg ran through a test with tire supplier Pirelli back in May. The FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile ) were a little upset as the test was private in the sense that only Mercedes was involved and they used a current season F1 car for the tests. This crossed some kind of line in the rule books.

In the time between the Canadian Grand Prix and Silverstone, the ruling came down with a penalty, or maybe a sanction, or possibly a ruling. Essentially, the Mercedes team was reprimanded and barred from a future multi-team tire test. Hamilton and Rosberg were cleared to stay in the points race for the season. They ruled that there was no intention of violation or deception on the part of Mercedes or Pirelli. Mercedes was straightforward saying they were assisting Pirelli with safety concerns over tire degradation.

Essentially, they were hit with a sock full of marshmallows.

Fast forward. Silverstone. They might have missed something.

Pole sitter Lewis Hamilton had a great start off the line and raced forward to a comfortable lead. Several laps in and Hamilton’s left rear tire came apart like it had been mounted with a paper shredder. In a way, the tire itself made a ruling. Hamilton and the Mercedes AMG Petronas #10 were off, in the pits and getting passed by.

No worries. The left rear tires were coming apart on several other cars across team colors. There was a scramble to change out tires while racing on with efforts to stay light on the curbing through the turns. Hamilton’s hit did the number and put him far enough back that the pole would be the only “win” for Silverstone.

Karma tire failures were not the only bad luck to hit championship chasers. Red Bull’s Sebastion Vettel was rolling in front with 10 to go when the transmission gave up putting Vettel on the curbs.

To the end.

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes were put back early with the tire but managed to get back to the checkers in 4th. Team mate Nico Rosberg crossed in front for a Mercedes win. Vettel’s team mate, Mark Webber, gave Red Bull a podium slot in second place and Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso crossed in third.

Vettel stays on top in points despite the un-finish at Silverstone. Pirelli is still reviewing tires. An upcoming test, without Mercedes, may or may not yield some answers. Tires have been an issue this season. Strategies have been based on tires. Failures, however, have been an issue as well. Formula 1 has a tangle to work through with the required compound hardness being a part of the race. That said, keeping tires on the cars is also part of the race.

Formula 1 is pure speed. That speed which makes F1 such a spectacle is riding on questionable tires.

Let’s fix it and go racing.