Button Undone

Photo: Rego Korosi Creative Commons Licence

I wonder how often that has been used as a heading... After a day's gaming, a day's sport I thought and despite a headache and general lurgitude I was anticipating an enjoyable day as a telespectateur in front of "Le Tour" and hours of British Grand Prix coverage. My own laptimes between kitchen and sofa were looking very respectable and my timing of the now traditional brunch was impeccable, with eggs, bacon, toast and fried tomatoes trayed-up with steaming cup of coffee and arriving at the couch on the parade lap as planned. That was about all that did go to plan though.

The race showed huge promise with a rather damp quali having mixed things up a bit, (Webber on pole instead of the lad from Heppenheim, Hamilton way back in tenth and Paul di Resta in a stunning sixth place) and Silverstone was enjoying two different sorts of weather simultaneously, with heavy rain at the old pits end while it was bone-dry at the shiny new startline area.

Silverstone purists may not like the changes made to the old warhorse over the years but the efforts of Mr Hill and the BRDC among others have at least secured a Grand Prix in Britain for some years to come it seems. For myself I am still sad that it is impossible to run these cars at Brands anymore as that circuit always felt like home to me and much more friendly and welcoming.


In years gone by, my friend, my brother and I would camp for the Grand Prix weekend and be treated to a real show with lots of support races and ridiculous quantities of lunchtime activities. What really swung it for us in those days was that we didn't get thrown out after quali and could get a beer and watch a film on the Diamond Vision screen or, more importantly, wander through the tunnel into the pits area in the evening and watch the mechanics frantically working on the cars for the following day, in some case preparing to pull all-nighters. Not all the teams were open and friendly (I seem to remember the Prancing Horse boys usually had the garage closed up), but others were happy to chat and talk fans through what they were trying to achieve. Exciting stuff for this supporter at least and ensuring that I had much more of a feeling of being inside the sport. I appreciate that the world has moved on and this kind of access is not really practical now (and anyway rebuilding cars and changing engines no longer happens between qualifying and race) but I miss Brands...

To return to Silverstone, I also have some good memories of some of my visits there, particularly Watty vs the Grandes Marques in 1980, a superb introduction to live Grand Prix going. I recall my first sight of the Silverstone hare as I was hearing the welcome news of ailing Renaults and blown turbos. Later (having witnessed his first win at Brands and predicted Mansell-mania) I saw "Our Nige" overcome Nelson Piquet there in a breathtaking duel. One striking memory of that day was of the fans applauding deafeningly as a Williams cruised into view after the finish, only to falter as they realised it had the wrong number. Pope Nige was kissing the tarmac elsewhere as his car had stopped out on the circuit and was in danger of ending up on piles of bricks as the souvenir hunters descended like vultures. The abiding and touching memory however is of the volume of applause rising again in tribute to Piquet, who after all had also driven a hugely committed race. I was rather moved by the sportsmanship of the naturally partisan British crowd.

I seem to have spun off into a large run-off area and am in danger of stalling - So to return to the track: Sunday's race had some very exciting moments, in particular spectacular, and very brave, overtakes by both of the McClaren boys, each of them on a Ferrari. Hamilton's most impressive was late in the day as he squeezed past Massa having failed to be umpired out of his fiery racing style and this time he didn't incur the ire of the stewards (this week including the aforementioned Mansell).

A gremlin had got into the works though and there was a rash of race-defining pit mishaps which largely scuppered the spectator's hopes for a home win or even a British podium place. Di Resta came in to find he was being fitted with his team-mates boots, others found sticking wheel nuts a delaying factor. Jenson didn't have this problem, as he emerged from the pit lane with only three of them and his right front wheel held on only by the tether. There was nothing to do but abandon. Later he explained the situation through gritted teeth without pouring vitriol on the unfortunate lollipop man who had released the car prematurely. These things happen, but Button seems to be jinxed at his home race.

Hamilton held onto fourth in spectacular fashion without being called to the headmaster's office this time, but the day belonged to Ferrari for a change and while I was sorry not to see Mark turn his pole into another Silverstone victory or to see one of the local boys swigging the champagne, it is probably good for the season not see Seb in his usual position. In my opinion, the scarlet scuderia should always be competitive in a good season but I don't like to see them or any other team totally dominant. Interesting to see a scowling Christian Horner post race having to justify his decision to rein-in a charging Webber in the interests of the team (What the one that is miles in front of everyone else already?) instead of doing his usual beaming in response to all the congratulations.

The new track is looking good, apart from the fact that some of the cars appeared to be encountering huge bumps, the McClarens especially seeming to bounce around on them very stiffly. The race which showed such promise didn't entirely live up to it. No complaints about lack of incidents though nor about a change of overall-colour on the top step. A further disappointment later was to see young Vetell take the Top Gear track crown from dear old Rubinho, but he comes across as such a likeable young man that it's hard to begrudge him too much.

Interesting to hear that Damon Hill is stepping down as President of the BRDC and that his successor may be another hero of our race-going days, Derek Warwick. I have happy memories of seeing his ugly "Flying Pig" Toleman passing Didier Pironi's Ferrari, for second place, right in front of us at Brands. Of course it soon ground to a halt with mechanical problems and Warwick's career followed suit after the sainted Senna vetoed him as his Lotus team-mate. Damon rightly referred to him as a World Champion although he was probably referring to his World Sportscar Championship and not his earlier gold-top stock car days when we used to watch him at the nearby Spedeworth stadium at Arlington. "Del" is already a director of the BRDC and a known supporter of young British drivers so I'm sure his offer to stand as President will be welcomed.

For a contrasting view of the "One of the Best British Grand Prix of All Time"(!) see here. I know you did well to turn tenth into fourth but have you mentioned that opinion to your team-mate, Lewis?