The British Grand Prix weekend could not have ended on a more spectacular note for the thronging crowds in Silverstone keen to see their home driver and three-time world champion take the top spot on the podium and take it he did. Lewis Hamilton put on a stellar performance for the crowds from pole position to win the race by a decisive margin. The Brit who came into the weekend against a backdrop of “smoke and mirrors” as he put it, showed he was in great form. After lifting the trophy on the podium, Hamilton jumped into the crowd and ‘crowd-surfed’ his way through the masses.
Hamilton has now slashed Sebastian Vettel’s lead at the head of the order to merely one point proving that anything can well and truly happen this season. He has also equalled the all-time records of Jim Clark and Alain Prost cementing his name in the hall of fame as he has done before. Given his age and his driving prowess, it seems only a matter of time for him the better most records in the book. Bottas proved yet again, that he had the determination and superior skill set starting ninth on the grid and finishing seven places up in second. It was indeed a great weekend for the Silver Arrows with a first and second place finish.
The new Formula 1 management has clearly been hard at work, delivering on their promise to engage the sport’s most important commodity: the fans. Aptly named Formula 1 Live, the event kicked off on Thursday in London’s iconic Trafalgar Square. The event saw all the teams participate with nineteen of the drivers in attendance. It was a behemoth event, pulled off flawlessly with almost a hundred thousand fans in attendance. From driver interviews on stage to headline acts including superstar girl band Little Mix, the event was a fantastic way of bringing the sport closer to the fans. The highlight of the event had to be the drivers doing donuts and driving up and down the city streets. Jenson Button, Britain’s 2009 world champion, made an appearance on stage and was on hand to help out young fans taking part in a Pirelli-sponsored pit-stop challenge. This was the first time that all ten teams have come together outside of the track on a race weekend.
There were two hallmark celebrations with both Williams Racing and Renault Racing celebrating their fortieth year anniversaries in the sport. Williams celebrated their fortieth in style with the premiere of ‘Williams The Film’ at the Curzon Theatre in Mayfair. In attendance were founder Frank Williams, team principal Claire Williams, Felipe Massa, Lance Stroll, Valtteri Bottas and a host of other F1 luminaries including Chase Carey, Damon Hill, Sean Bratches and Ross Brawn. The movie was a rare, behind the scenes riveting account of how Frank started Williams, his triumphs, the horrific accident that left him tetraplegic and the current day Williams racing team. The movie was directed by BAFTA-winning director Morgan Matthews. The Grand Prix Ball in aid of Wings for Life was held at the Hurlingham Club. It featured Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, former Red Bull F1 driver David Coulthard and former racing driver Eddie Jordan. There was also a live F1 demo with a Red Bull racing car.
The British Grand Prix ended with a very fitting podium seeing three-time world champion and British racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart on the podium handing out the trophy to Valtteri Bottas.
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