Formula 1 2013 British Grand Prix – Rosberg Wins Scintillating Scrap In Silverstone Sunshine

The Big Picture Unfortunately, the big picture for Formula 1 is still tyres. The rubber that Pirelli are supplying to the sport again came under intense scrutiny this weekend as four drivers suffered left rear tyre failures in the race, three of them nearly causing significant accidents. So serious was the issue that Pirelli immediately went into a meeting with the FIA following the race. It€™s a subject that we just cannot escape, and it seems no matter what Pirelli do people are not satisfied. With the ruling this week regarding Mercedes illegal tyre testing, it seemed that was the end of the issue, but absolutely not. We have seen tyre failures already this year in Bahrain and Spain, with the Pirelli tyre delaminating. However, previously they delaminated and the tread was thrown clear, but the carcass of the tyre remained intact and supported the car for a more controlled if sudden failure. Teams did not like that though, so since then Pirelli did development work in the lab to alter the failure mode of the tyre to a more conventional deflation, which is what we have seen in this weekend€™s race. The tyres cut and deflate, then catastrophically delaminate and tear the cars to pieces. It has been suggested that the inside edge of the kerbs was to blame, and as drivers cut them and slide back over, the sharp edge is damaging the supporting sidewall of the tyre, causing them to fail. People have been quick to criticise Pirelli for this, unfairly in my view. Pirelli don€™t want tyres that fail like this; it is not in the interests of safety or corporate reputation. However they are being pressured by the FIA to produce tyres that perform and degrade in a certain manner, then asked to change them on short notice with no time to actually test them on track. How can a company, even one as resourceful as Pirelli, possibly deliver perfectly with an untested product? It is unfair to ask that of them and unrealistic to expect it. However, Formula 1 has a problem with tyres. Now Silverstone is a particularly high-speed circuit, and the next races in Germany and Hungary would not offer the same loads. Something does need to be done in the interest of safety, with several drivers calling it unacceptable, but instead of pointing the finger at Pirelli as if they deliberately pushed the tyres this direction, the teams should be working with them to push the FIA for proper tyre testing opportunities. Because if they don€™t, Pirelli will start feeling more and more blamed for the situation, and might reconsider whether they wish to be part of Formula 1, and with few takers for the 2014 contract people might be better to adjust their attitudes before there€™s no tyres at all. The Small Picture The small picture this week is split into two pieces. Firstly, Mark Webber; This week he announced he will be leaving Formula 1 at the end of the season to move into sports car racing with Porsche, aiming to compete at Le Mans again next season. I am sure I€™m not alone in feeling particular sadness at this news, though not entirely unexpected, as Mark Webber is a great character in the Formula 1 paddock and a hard racer that has given us some fantastic shows, this weekend being a prime example. He€™s a true gentleman racer, who sadly has had the short end of the stick with Red Bull, and will be greatly missed in F1 next year with his tell-it-like-it-is approach and Aussie charm. Having worked his way up from Minardi in 2002, Webber never cut any corners and worked to achieve his place at the top of this sport, and is the kind of driver I think Formula 1 needs a lot more of. Secondly, is the news about commentating legend Murray Walker; He announced that he has been diagnosed with cancer and leukaemia ahead of the British Grand Prix, and for the first time since 1949 would be unable to attend the race. A broadcasting legend, Murray is without doubt the voice of Formula 1 even years after his retirement, and his memorable phrases and excitable tone that covered so many years and incredible events in the sport still ring in our ears. Who could forget his excitement when Mansell€™s tyre failed in Australia 1986, or his choked up words as Damon Hill clinched the title in Japan 1996? I am sure we are all rooting for him and wishing him the swiftest recovery. From Behind the Glasses The British Grand Prix came to an absolutely breathtaking finish this year, one that will be remembered for years to come. I hoped it would be a race full of surprises, and it didn€™t fail to deliver! I found it absolutely brilliant to watch, and from start to finish went through a raft of emotions as firstly I saw home-favourite Hamilton suffer and then a personal favourite Massa do the same, with everyone besides Vettel seeming to be struck down by misfortune to hand him a road to victory. Only for it then to all turn around as Vettel finally broke down to a huge roar from the crowd, and myself, opening the door for Rosberg to clinch a well-deserved second victory of the year in a spectacular climax as everyone went hell-for-leather in the final seven laps after the safety car peeled into the pits. It had everything Formula 1 can deliver, with controversy and unpredictability from the tyres, strategic pit stops, hard racing, safety cars and a passionate crowd. Silverstone can sometimes be a little lacklustre, as the high-speed circuit offers a great challenge to the drivers but less to the fans as a spectacle, with cars struggling to pull overtaking moves. But this year it really came good with the sunshine, a topsy-turvy race and an intense finish. Watching Webber and Alonso chase down everyone in front was sublime, with Webber all over Rosberg right to the flag and Hamilton threateningly close to snatching a podium after everything that befell him. If we can have more races like this, Formula 1 will be in great health.