Lewis Hamilton wins 2014 British GP

On the weekend Silverstone celebrated its 50th anniversary Lewis Hamilton delighted the home crowd by winning the British Grand Prix. It’s his 27th career win and brings him alongside Sir Jackie Stewart to equal seventh on the all-time list.

In even better news for Lewis he has reduced the championship title race to just four points after teammate Nico Rosberg was forced to retire with gearbox issues. Rosberg led the race up until his Lap 28 retirement. Lewis, though, was only too happy to assume the lead which he held comfortably until the chequered flag.

Valtteri Bottas achieved his best grand prix result by finishing second, improving one step at a time after his third place in Austria. It was an impressive result after starting from P14 and using a one-stop strategy to climb twelve places. Daniel Ricciardo also employed a one-stop tyre strategy to elevate himself from a P8 starting position to finish in third place.

An opening lap crash by Kimi Raikkonen brought out a red flag. Raikkonen ran wide into Turn 5 and when he rejoined the track on Wellington Straight he ran over a bump which caused him to lose control and crash head-on into an armco barrier. The impact spat him back across the track and Felipe Massa, in his 200th grand prix, clipped Raikkonen’s Ferrari while trying to avoid contact.

Both drivers were forced to retire from the race and concerns over Raikkonen’s immediate health were eased when he emerged from his car. He later complained of ankle pain and will be monitored after Ferrari later revealed the impact of the crash was registered at 47G.

Jenson Button finished fourth after also opting for a one-stop strategy. Button was closing in fast on third place as the race drew to an end. Perhaps with another lap or two he may have been able to overtake Ricciardo for P3.

A stoush between Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso provided entertainment as they diced wheel-to-wheel. Both drivers got on the radio to complain about poor standards from the other and in the end Vettel came up trumps finishing in P5, Alonso in P6. Although, Vettel will be sour after he started the race on the front row, while Alonso will feel better about his day after starting form a lowly P16.

The top 10 was rounded out by Kevin Magnussen, Nico Hulkenberg and the Toro Rossos of Daniil Kvyat and Jean-Eric Vergne.

2014 British Grand Prix final placings

1. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes AMG – 52 Laps (2:26:52.094) (25 pts)
2. Valtteri Bottas Williams – 30.1 secs (18 pts)
3. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing – +46.4 secs (15 pts)
4. Jenson Button McLaren – +47.3 secs (12 pts)
5. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing – +53.8 secs (10 pts)
6. Fernando Alonso Ferrari – +59.9 secs (8 pts)
7. Kevin Magnussen McLaren – +62.5 secs (6 pts)
8. Nico Hulkenberg Force India – +88.6 secs (4 pts)
9. Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso – +89.3 secs (2 pts)
10. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso – +1 Lap (1 pt)
11. Sergio Perez Force India – +1 Lap
12. Romain Grosjean Lotus – +1 Lap
13. Adrian Sutil Sauber – +1 Lap
14. Jules Bianchi Marussia – +1 Lap
15. Kamui Kobayashi Caterham – +2 Laps
16. Max Chilton Marussia – +2 Laps
17. Pastor Maldonado Lotus – (Exhaust)

Retired/Not classified
Nico Rosberg Mercedes AMG – 28 Laps (Gearbox)
Marcus Ericsson Caterham – 11 Laps (Suspension damage)
Esteban Gutierrez Sauber – 9 Laps (Accident)
Felipe Massa Williams – 0 Laps (Accident)
Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari – 0 Laps (Accident)

Fastest lap
Lewis Hamilton Mercedes AMG – 1:37.176 (Lap 26)

2014 F1 world championship – Drivers (Top 10)

1. Nico Rosberg Mercedes AMG – 165
2. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes AMG – 161
3. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull – 98
4. Fernando Alonso Ferrari – 87
5. Valtteri Bottas Williams – 73
6. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull – 70
7. Nico Hulkenberg Force India – 63
8. Jenson Button McLaren – 55
9. Kevin Magnussen McLaren – 35
10. Felipe Massa Williams – 30

2014 F1 world championship – Constructors

1. Mercedes – 326
2. Red Bull Racing – 168
3. Ferrari – 106
4. Williams-Mercedes – 103
5. Force India-Mercedes – 91
6. McLaren-Mercedes – 90
7. STR-Renault – 15
8. Lotus-Renault – 8
9. Marussia-Ferrari – 2
10. Sauber-Ferrari – 0
11. Caterham-Renault – 0