Hamilton races to 2008 British Grand Prix victory

I haven’t witnessed Nigel Mansell overtake Nelson Piquet for the lead of the British Grand Prix at Stowe corner nor have  I watched a race live from the track. However, one race that had me on the edge of my seat and in complete awe was the 2008 British Grand Prix.

(c) BBC Sport

A Formula One fan for two thirds of my life, ever since I was six years old I have always had an interest in the sport. But it wasn’t until 2004 that I really got fanatical on the subject. And from what I can remember, the 2008 round held at the Silverstone circuit was one of the greatest races I have ever seen (let alone the best British Grand Prix I have ever watched).

Plenty of people will have differing opinions, of course. We are all born into different Formula One eras and I just happened to join the F1 club at the end of the Schumacher dominance and the progression into the Hamilton/Vettel/Alonso era. My viewpoint is somewhat obscured, I would love to have witnessed past grand prix’s live but my judgement is based on the nine British GP’s that I have watched live on TV. Out of those nine, 2008 has definitely been the best.

I’m not sure whether it was Hamilton’s exceptional car control or pure dominance that impressed me most. Probably both. It was such a beautiful and majestic display in terribly and typically British conditions. He had taken pole position a year earlier but slipped back due to the utter superiority of the Ferrari duo. However despite not taking pole for the 2008 round there was a definite sense of optimism prior to the race when the additional variable of rain was introduced.

(c) Autoblog

The track was quite literally soaked with rain prior to the start of the race. Hamilton lined up fourth but by the first corner he was vying for first. Webber and Raikkonen – who started in second and third – were slow away as their cars scrambled for grip. Hamilton managed to get his launch just right to leap alongside team-mate Heikki Kovalainen into turn one.

There was the briefest of touches. I remember leaping to the edge of my seat at the Brit’s left front brushed the right rear wheel of Kovalainen’s. That was close, a bit too close. Webber then spun as he entered the Hanger Straight – sure Webber was requesting a fresh set of overalls after that! I can’t imagine sitting in the middle of the track facing the wrong way as 19 speedy machines whizzed by. Not the start Webber had wanted.

We only had to wait until lap five for the McLaren duo to swap positions. It was a nice and clean move into Stowe corner – slightly reminiscent of the Mansell/Piquet overtake mentioned previously – and the crowd were on their feet as were a fair few watching from the comfort of their living rooms, I’m sure.

He had extended his lead to six seconds over Kovalainen in just five laps before the Finn spun and handed second to Raikkonen. Hamilton was controlled out front despite the Ferrari driver making significant inroads into his advantage by the time they both pitted on lap 21. Split strategies were made, Ferrari kept Raikkonen on word intermediates in the hope that the track would dry. Hamilton received a fresh set of Bridgestone intermediates and managed to emerge still in the lead of the race.

(c) BBC Sport

It proved to be a disastrous move by Ferrari. Almost immediately the British rain fell upon the Silverstone circuit and Hamilton extended a significant advantage as Raikkonen struggled for grip – a rare error by the Italian team. By lap 37 the rain had intensified but with a commanding lead, McLaren kept Lewis out on the intermediates. Rubens Barrichello was some way down the field but his switch to the extreme wets proved to be inspired. Hamilton pitted on lap 38 for more intermediates and had a margin of over 30 seconds over his nearest competitor, a truly dominant showing.

 

Cars were spinning off left, right and centre. Felipe Massa was seemingly struggling most and seemed to spend more time on the grass or facing backwards. Raikkonen and Kovalainen all suffered spins but continued, in contrast to the likes of Kubica and Fisichella who beached themselves in the unforgiving gravel.

Hamilton ran an almost faultless race. He did make one mistake, a clumsy spin at Abbey corner. However despite that it was a truly dominant and impressive showing, even more so as it was only just second British Grand Prix and his 26^th career race. Staggering stuff.

Fast forward a treacherous 22 laps and Hamilton crossed the line to win on home soil. It was a slightly emotional and euphoric victory on what was a very special day for Hamilton and Britain. The crowds response can only be described in similar words, I wish I had been there to watch him cross the line. I can only imagine… Despite this there was still a buzz on my household as we watched him win in stunning style, something I’m sure a lot of you also felt.

I think the best way to prove that this was perhaps his best ever Formula One race is not by the win itself but the margin that he won the race by 68 seconds. As the two Ferrari drivers floundered, Saturday star Kovalainen was pretty average and rising star Robert Kubica slithered off into the gravel it was Hamilton – who was still relatively inexperienced – who rose to the top. Heidfeld finished a distant second with Barrichello advancing to third after a spirited drive on wet weather tyres.

(c) Guardian

Raikkonen managed to recover from his earlier spins and Ferrari’s error in the pit stop but he still finished one lap down. That’s right; the McLaren driver lapped all but two cars! Similar to Sebastian Vettel’s latest victory in Canada where he lapped all but four cars (although conditions were considerably drier).

Kovalainen, Alonso, Trulli and Nakajima rounded out the points finishers whilst spin addicts Webber and Massa finished down in 10^th and 13^th. 

 I will always remember this race. I love watching it back and watching Hamilton’s awe inspiring car control. He was just so skillful and precise despite the rain steaming down on track and the car struggling for grip. And he did it lap, after lap, after lap. 

Can Lewis win this year’s race? If it rains then he has a better chance but I wouldn’t discount him, let’s put it that way.