British Grand Prix: Key Facts
After celebrating the 70th anniversary of F1 last year on the Silverstone circuit, the big circus will test a new qualifying format this year. Before seeing what this will bring in terms of spectacle, MotorsInside looks back on some highlights of the British Grand Prix.
Punctures for a thrilling finish
We all have in mind Lewis Hamilton’s arrival in 2020 on three wheels. Despite a puncture on the front left at the beginning of the last lap, the Mercedes driver manages to control his car. The lead he has over Max Verstappen is shrinking, but it is enough to allow him to win.
In 2017, this misfortune happened to the Ferrari drivers. Kimi Räikkönen in second place had a puncture, then it was Sebastian Vettel’s turn to suffer the same fate. Despite this, the Finn managed to come back to the podium, in third position. For his German teammate, the sentence was more severe: he finished in 7th place. He thus dropped many points to his rival Lewis Hamilton in their battle for the world championship. The latter dominated his home race without any opposition.
A rainy 1993 edition at Donington.
In Great Britain, as in France, there are many racing circuits. Thus, in 1993, the Donington track hosted its Formula 1 Grand Prix as part of the European Grand Prix, replacing Brands Hatch.
This edition was marked by Ayrton Senna’s driving demonstration. Behind the wheel of his underperforming McLaren Ford, he qualifies 4th.
After an average start where he loses a position, he gradually overtakes all his opponents, including no less than Wendlinger, Schumacher, Prost, and Hill. By the end of the first lap, he is already leading the race.
He maintains the leadership until the checkered flag, and in style. Only Hill in his Williams-Renault finishes in the same lap as him, but is relegated to one minute and twenty-three seconds behind the Brazilian champion.
Are the stands a shortcut, Mario Kart style?
In 1993 at Donington, Ayrton Senna set the fastest lap during his pit stop. Unfortunately, it would be his last in this exercise.
Five years later, in 1998, it’s Michael Schumacher once again who treats us to a strategy that is… daring, to say the least.
The conditions are rainy halfway through the race. Several drivers are forced to abandon after going off track. The race is therefore neutralized for five laps. When it resumes, Mika Häkkinen and then David Coulthard are caught out. The Scotsman even has to retire.
The stewards note that the Red Baron overtook Alexander Wurz under the safety car. Two laps from the chequered flag, while leading the race, he receives a 10-second stop-and-go penalty.
With his driver, Ferrari decides to serve this penalty at the end of the last lap. Thus, Schumacher crosses the finish line as the winner in the pit lane after serving his penalty. Unprecedented in the history of Formula 1.
