2014 Formula 1 Report: USA Edition
Drafting the Circuits
Week 27
Grand Prix Date Tire Compounds
German Grand Prix July 18-20 Supersoft/Soft
Hungary Grand Prix July 25-27 Medium/Soft
Belgian Grand Prix August 22-24
Drivers’ championship:
1. Nico Rosberg 165
2. Lewis Hamilton 161
3. Daniel Ricciardo 98
4. Fernando Alonso 87
5. Valtteri Bottas 73
6. Sebastian Vettel 70
7. Nico Hulkenberg 63
8. Jenson Button 55
9. Kevin Magnussen 35
10. Felipe Massa 30
11. Sergio Perez 28
12. Kimi Raikkonen 19
13. Jean-Eric Vergne 9
14. Romain Grosjean 8
15. Daniil Kvyat 6
16. Jules Bianchi 2
Constructors’ championship:
1. Mercedes 326
2. Red Bull 168
3. Ferrari 106
4. Williams 103
5. Force India 91
6. McLaren 90
7. Toro Rosso 15
8. Lotus 8
9.Marussia 2
British Grand Prix
Well Lewis did it!
As was mentioned in last week’s F1 report, Lewis Hamilton needed to stamp his mark on the drivering championship race. By winning the British Grand Prix, he did his part. With Nico Rosberg falling victim to a gearbox issue and securing zero points for the first time this season, Hamilton smacked his way back in the battle.
Game On!
It is only fitting that Hamilton won the 50th British Grand Prix, as he was certainly the hometown favorite. Notable also was Felipe Massa who participated in his 200th Grand Prix.
Unfortunately, while Lewis wound up on top, Massa wound up at the back due to unfortunately incident with Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari on the opening lap.
Disaster struck the Scuderia as Raikkonen ran wide at Aintree while scuffling with the Sauber of Esteban Gutierrez. As he reentered the Wellington Straight, he lost control of the car, collided with Massa’s Williams and harpooned the barrier with a force of 48 g’s.
Raikkonen limped away to the care center and fortunately escaped only with bruising to his knee and ankle. The opening lap melee caused a red flag for barrier repair. Kimi is questionable for this weeks Silverstone test.
Once under way, the Mercedes as expected staged their own little coup as the gapped the field showcasing the delicate balance between engine performance and aero efficiency. Right now, Mercedes is combining these factors better than anyone.
Nico experienced a gearbox problem, which he thought he could handle by altering settings and not pressing Hamilton. Unfortunately, it worsened and Rosberg was forced to stop the car ending his Grand Prix.
Hamilton’s win placed him right back in the title fight as he now trails Nico by only 4 points. Two weeks brings about the German grand Prix which will put Rosberg on home ground (although he truly lives in Monaco).
Velterri Bottas in the 77 Williams had another impressive performance delivering a second place run after starting 14th place on the grid. Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo joined the pair on the podium.
Jenson Button was close to battling Ricciardo for that final podium spot with the famous battle cry of…one more lap and I would have had him.
Perhaps the most spirited racing involved champions Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso who battled for 5th place. Both complained about the other leaving the track to gain advantage. In the end, Vettel was simply faster and secured 5th place.
Two more races before the August break. We will guide you through it!
Pos Driver Team/Car
1. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2. Valtteri Bottas Williams-Mercedes
3. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull-Renault
4. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
5. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
6. Fernando Alonso Ferrari
7. Kevin Magnussen McLaren-Mercedes
8. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes
9. Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso-Renault
10. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Renault
11. Sergio Perez Force India-Mercedes
12. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault
13. Adrian Sutil Sauber-Ferrari
14. Jules Bianchi Marussia-Ferrari
15. Kamui Kobayashi Caterham-Renault
16. Max Chilton Marussia-Ferrari
17. Pastor Maldonado Lotus-Renault
Retirements:
Nico Rosberg Mercedes
Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari
Felipe Massa Williams
Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari
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