Here come the Bridgestones ...

With the exception of Monaco Grand Prix Bridgestone this season has been following the concept of leaving a gap in rubber stiffness between the two allocated tyres for each race. That means that for example drivers have had to use super soft and medium or soft and hard rather than super soft and soft or medium and hard compounds at each GP (unless the race is declared wet).

For the four races from the Hungarian Grand Prix to the Italian Grand Prix Bridgestone will allocate consecutive compound pairings for each of these races.

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F1Wolf

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The "leader" - Robert Kubica with 6 engines in first 8 races

One of the new cost cutting rules introduced for 2009 season is limiting each driver to 8 engines per season only:

28.4 a) Each driver may use no more than eight engines during a Championship season. Should a driver use more than eight engines he will drop ten places on the starting grid at the first Event during which each additional engine is used.

With almost half a season over and first summer break upon us this is perhaps a good opportunity to look at how the drivers have been managing their engine allocations so far:

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Here is the final part of my photos from Silverstone – Saturday and Sunday action on the track. Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the pictures:

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Here is the second part of my photos from Silverstone. All the pictures below were taken during the free practice sessions, the best time to play around with camera. I had the best spot on Friday morning when I could get very close to the track. Here are the photos. Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the pictures:

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I was lucky enough to spend Friday and Saturday of the British GP in the Paddock Club and enjoy all the perks that come with the pass. Here are some of the pictures I took in the Paddock Club and during the pitlane walkabouts. Click on the thumbnails to see the full size pictures:

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Few days later than usual as I had to make it back from Silverstone first but the results of round 8 are here. The best score of this round is a massive one – psychy with 27 points – what a score !

There is now three way tie at the top of the provisional standings.

Round 8 results:

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The last day at the track was purely about the Grand Prix. The morning trip from Northampton was very smooth and we arrived at the track in no time. This was perhaps the biggest crowd of this season but you would not notice it at the gates. No delays, everything smooth.

It looked like nice and warm day until we reached our seats at the top row of the Lufield C grandstand. The sunshine was blocked off by the roof while our back were exposed to the cool wind. This is where the copy of Red Bulletin came handy – worked perfect as the additional layer on my lower back .

The atmosphere at the track was unbelievable, especially during the drivers parade (picture above). Over 100,000 people at their noisiest, what a feeling.

The race itself was a bit boring. The fastest guy of the weekend was on pole, made no mistakes. He pulled away while his only serious challenger (Mark Webber) remained stuck behind Rubens Barrichello until the first round of pitstops. Jenson Button had horrible start and dropped behind the moving chicane that is Jarno Trulli and that was it. The only entertainment came from the “backmarkers” – Lewis Hamilton fighting with Fernando Alonso, Sebastien Bourdais colliding with Heikki Kovalainen (loosing his front wing in the process).

Sebastien Bourdais without front wing, Silverstone 2009

I was a bit in a hurry after the race as one we needed to make sure one of our friends does not miss his plane. So I quickly dropped my Kangaroo TV, met the Puma Fan Reporter Scott Woodwiss for quick chit chat and rushed back to Northampton. The trip back was surprisingly smooth as well and by 4:30 pm I was already sipping my first post race pint in the local pub near the house we have been staying this weekend.

Overall, although cold , this was a great F1 weekend. I wish I could confidently say that I will be back … I will post more of my photos (and results of the prediction game) after I return back from this trip, later this week.

F1Wolf

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Sebastian Vettel, 2009 British GP winner

Sebastian Vettel won the 2009 British GP after leading it from start to finish (except 2 laps following his second pit stop). Mark Webber finished second ahead or Rubens Barrichello.

Jenson Button never recovered from his poor start and finished the race in 6th just behind Felipe Massa and Nico Rosberg. Jarno Trulli and Kimi Raikkonen completed the top 8.

It was a good day for Giancarlo Fisichella who brought his Force India car home in respectable 10th. Worth noting is also that Nelson Piquet finished ahead of Fernando Alonso.

2009 British Grand Prix result:

1. S. Vettel – Red Bull – 1:22:49.328
2. M. Webber – Red Bull + 15.188
3. R. Barrichello – Brawn GP + 41.175
4. F. Massa – Ferrari + 45.043
5. N. Rosberg – Williams + 45.915
6. J. Button – Brawn GP + 46.285
7. J. Trulli – Toyota + 1:08.307
8. K. Räikkönen – Ferrari + 1:09.622

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Force India garage

My day started with the early morning pitlane walk. If anybody gets the chance to do the pitlane walkabout, make sure you don’t miss the one on Saturday morning. It requires rather early wake up but it is well worth it. Not too many people and lots of time to wander around the pitlane.

Although I also had the Paddock Club pass for today I planned to watch the practice and qualifying session from my Lufield grandstand seat. At the end I gave up and stayed in the Club and Club grandstand for the whole day. Lot to enjoy and much less to walk around.

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Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing

Sebastian Vettel will start the 2009 British Grand Prix from the pole postion. Rubens Barrichello will line up next to him on the front row. Mark Webber and Jarno Trulli make up the second row. Kazuki Nakajima will start from his career best P5 while the championship leader Jenson Button could only manage P6 today.

Besides being fastest Vettel is also the heaviest driver among the top 10, he does look like the man to beat this weekend…

It was not the best day for the 2008 British GP winner Lewis Hamilton who only managed P19 today….

2009 British GP Qualifying result:

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F1Wolf

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