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Race highlights - Britain 2017 - Catch up with all the action from race day at Silverstone

Published by Christine

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Credit: Mason/Getty

There was talk of rain pre-race but it came to nothing as the complete race distance was run without a hint of the weather getting involved. Instead it came to strategy and tyres, particularly towards the end of the race when a spot of chaos kicked off with regards to the Pirelli compounds. There were a handful of good performances today, and a couple of great ones, and it all served to keep the championship battle on course and fascinating.

If you missed any of the British Grand Prix, or want a quick reminder of what went down at Silverstone today, then read on for lap by lap coverage from the Factbyte Factbox.

As it happened: Britain 2017 - The race

Event Highlights

  • Hamilton leads from pole and wins without trouble.
  • Last minute drama sees Bottas second, whilst both Ferraris suffer punctures.
  • Räikkönen finishes third, with two Red Bulls behind him.
  • Jolyon Palmer's Renault breaks down on the formation lap.
  • Kvyat picks up a drive through penalty after colliding with teammate Sainz, who retires.
  • Alonso also retires with yet another Honda problems.
  • 12:30

    Hi F1 friends, how are you doing? It's Silverstone weekend, and naturally, it's overcast and cloudy with a chance of rain. Anything could happen!

  • 12:31

    We're just a week on from what was a relatively tame Austrian race weekend, and now it's the British Grand Prix - the midpoint of the 2017 season.

  • 12:32
    Circuit Data
    Silverstone Circuit
    Local timezone+01:00 GMT
    First race1950
    Number of laps52
    Circuit length5.891km
    Race distance306.198km
    Start offset0.134km
  • 12:32

    The pit lane just opened at Silverstone, allowing drivers to make their practice starts, installation laps, and eventually line up on the grid.

  • 12:33

    Lewis Hamilton has pole position this weekend, with two Ferrari drivers behind him, Kimi ahead of Vettel for a change.

  • 12:33

    Valtteri Bottas took a five place grid penalty after qualfying fourth, so he starts in ninth place.

  • 12:33

    Daniel Ricciardo had a terrible qualifying, stopping out on track during the first session which not only brought out red flags during that session but also means he starts 19th.

  • 12:35
    Starting grid
    1L HamiltonMercedes
    2K RäikkönenFerrari
    3S VettelFerrari
    4M VerstappenRed Bull
    5N HülkenbergRenault
    6S PérezForce India
    7E OconForce India
    8S VandoorneMcLaren
    9V BottasMercedes
    10R GrosjeanHaas
  • 12:38

    Great job by Stoffel Vandoorne to sneak into the top ten. Alonso stole much of the glory, as per usual, by posting the fastest time in Q1 (thanks to a drying track), but he's at the rear of the grid now due to many, many engine related penalties.

  • 12:39
    Medium tyreMedium
    Soft tyreSoft
    Supersoft tyreSupersoft

    Pirelli had originally planned to bring tyres that were a step harder than this, but eventually saw sense.

  • 12:40

    TweetTweet from @F1: "Qualifies: P6. Starts: P5 - Renault's best position since F1 return"

  • 12:42

    It's a busy, busy grid today. Lots of people dashing this way and that, as the clouds move in threatening overhead.

  • 12:42

    Weather icon

    21°C
    Track28°C
    Humidity71%
    Wind speed2.4mps
  • 12:45
    2017 Race Wins
    PosDriverTotal
    1S Vettel3
    2L Hamilton3
    3V Bottas2
    4D Ricciardo1

    Who will be adding either a number, or themselves, to this table today?

  • 12:46

    Drivers have made their way to the front of the grid for the national anthem, and a glimpse of the trophy they can win today.

  • 12:49

    The Red Arrows have zoomed across the skies above the circuit, leaving behind their traditional red, white and blue smoke trails.

  • 12:50

    TweetTweet from @ForceIndiaF1: The anthem is played, the Red Arrows fly past - it's 10 minutes to the race and we can't wait for the lights out!

  • 12:51

    TweetTweet from @andrewbensonf1: Love this bit. Drivers' game faces on, ear plugs go in, balaclava, helmet on. Tension building

  • 12:55

    Race controlRisk of rain 60%.

  • 12:57
    Race Battle
    Force IndiaFinished Ahead
    S Pérez7
    E Ocon2

    We've seen the inter-team battle at Force India heating up over the past few race weekends. They're starting next to each other on the grid yet again, sixth and seventh.

  • 12:58

    Worth noting also that Vettel is the only driver that has outperformed his teammate in each and every of the nine races so far. (Based purely on finishing position, regardless of retirement or reason.)

  • 12:59

    The top ten are starting on supersoft tyres, all bar Bottas who has the yellow soft compounds on. Outside of the top ten, we've got Palmer, Kvyat and Sainz on supersofts, then a whole heap of soft tyres. Finally, at the very back, Ricciardo and Bottas are on the red supersofts as well.

  • 13:00

    TweetTweet from @glenn_autosport: Coming up: 52 laps featuring constant weather updates, and it'll rain after the finish

  • 13:00

    Hamilton pulls away for the formation lap, leading the pack away from the Silverstone wing and on that first warm up lap. The grid clears.

  • 13:02

    Palmer is reporting a brake-by-wire failure already, it's only the installation lap! The team are looking into it.

  • 13:02

    Team radioTeam radio from Jolyon Palmer: "I've got a hydraulic problem."

    "Go to neutral and stop the car please."

  • 13:02

    He's pulling over and has stopped that yellow car before the race has even begun. Disappointing for him at his home race.

  • 13:03

    Lots of smoke from the cars as they wait on the grid.

  • 13:03

    Race controlStart aborted - extra formation lap.

  • 13:04

    Palmer is out of the car and stalking away to the infield. Marshals come in and push the car out of the way.

  • 13:05

    There were yellow flags still showing as the cars passed the stricken Renault but it's clear now as Hamilton rounds the final corner and takes to the grid once more.

  • 13:06

    Vettel's car is smoking outrageously, like there's a chimney in there!

  • 13:06

    Green flagRace started.

  • 13:06 Lap 1

    Räikkönen looked for a way past Hamilton but had to stay behind him. Verstappen passes Vettel in the first few corners to move into third place.

  • 13:07 Lap 1

    Verstappen is now taking a look at the next Ferrari in his path, Kimi holding him back for now.

  • 13:07 Lap 1

    Bottas made up two places in the first half of the lap, starting ninth and now sitting seventh.

  • 13:07 Lap 1

    Yellow flagYellow flags.

  • 13:08 Lap 1

    Hülkenberg overtakes Ocon for fifth place, running wide but keeping control round the next corner. Ocon looks for a way back but it's Nico's position.

  • 13:08 Lap 2

    Sainz has spun his car off track, sitting in the run off area. "Tell Dany he did a good job," he says, as replays show the Toro Rosso pair collided.

  • 13:08 Lap 2

    Race controlSafety car deployed.

  • 13:09 Lap 2

    Another look at the Toro Rosso incident show it is a fair move to start, but Kvyat ran wide over the kerbs, picked up some dirt on his tyre and then barrelled into the side of his teammate. Sainz could do nothing as he was spun off and out of the race.

  • 13:10 Lap 3

    TweetTweet from @Jamesallenonf1: Sainz out. Kvyat crashed into him in Becketts at V high speed. Toro R is in chaos at moment.

  • 13:10 Lap 3

    Race controlTurn 13 incident involving D Kvyat and C Sainz under investigation - causing a collision.

  • 13:10 Lap 3

    Wehrlein has come into the pit lane and he's put the yellow soft tyres on his Sauber.

  • 13:11 Lap 3

    TweetTweet from @redbullracing: Pushing to the Max! The Dutchman gets up to P3 from the start with Daniel up to P15 from the back of the grid.

  • 13:12 Lap 3

    TweetTweet from @pirellisport: Soft tyre runners will aim to go longer than supersoft starters to gain track position. But it will all depend on degradation of supersoft.

  • 13:13 Lap 4

    One of the Toro Rossos bumped into Magnussen in that incident but Kevin confirms he felt the hit but nothing feels wrong with his car.

  • 13:14 Lap 4
    Driver Positions
    PosDriverStops
    10L Hamilton0
    20K Räikkönen0
    31M Verstappen0
    4-1S Vettel0
    50N Hülkenberg0
    61E Ocon0
    72V Bottas0
    8-2S Pérez0
    9-1S Vandoorne0
    104F Massa0
  • 13:14 Lap 4

    Race controlSafety car in this lap.

  • 13:14 Lap 4

    Green flagTrack is clear.

  • 13:14 Lap 5

    Team radioTeam radio to Kimi Räikkönen: "Remember Hamilton and what he does normally with restarts."

  • 13:15 Lap 5

    Hamilton does slow down and zips off as the coast is clear. A good restart, but he doesn't shake Kimi who sticks with him.

  • 13:16 Lap 5

    Massa and Stroll have both gained in the first few laps, just like they did last weekend. Massa up to tenth, Stroll in 12th.

  • 13:16 Lap 6

    Ricciardo has dropped back down to 18th again now, he was following the Haas of Magnussen and then got pushed wide and ran over the gravel, crunching his way back down the field.

  • 13:17 Lap 6

    Bottas has made his way past Esteban Ocon, he's up to sixth place now, and Hülkenberg will be his next target.

  • 13:18 Lap 7

    Race controlDRS enabled.

  • 13:18 Lap 7

    Hamilton complaining about the engine de-regulating, whilst Räikkönen says he has hesitation when accelerating. Problems for the pair out front.

  • 13:19 Lap 7

    TweetTweet from @pirellisport: Potentially an interesting strategy for @PWehrlein. He’s run the medium for one lap under safety car, can now go on soft to the end. Maybe.

  • 13:19 Lap 7

    Replays show yet more teammate woes as the two Sauber drivers struggle to leave each other space as they round the same corner at the same time.

  • 13:20 Lap 8

    Solid move from Bottas as he dips to the inside of Hulk's Renault, and sweeps ahead. He's on the harder compound from the drivers around him too.

  • 13:20 Lap 8

    Team radioTeam radio to Daniil Kvyat: "Keep looking after the car, we have some floor damage."

  • 13:20 Lap 8

    Vettel must now be looking into his mirrors with some concern, Bottas is just three seconds behind him.

  • 13:21 Lap 9
    One to Watch
    M Verstappenvs.S Vettel
    3rd+0.769s4th
  • 13:21 Lap 9

    Ricciardo has finally managed to get past Magnussen, and has regained the momentum he had earlier, he's now in 14th.

  • 13:23 Lap 10

    Race controlDrive through penalty for D Kvyat - rejoining the track unsafely.

  • 13:24 Lap 10
    Gap Analysis
    PosDriverGap
    1stHAM1:33.422
    2ndRAI+2.445
    3rdVER+7.478
    4thVET+8.266
    5thBOT+10.852
  • 13:26 Lap 12

    Ricciardo's hunt has been curtailed somewhat by Fernando Alonso, who knows how to make that McLaren as wide as possible.

  • 13:26 Lap 12

    It was a late DRS dive that finally lets Ricciardo past on the back straight. Stroll next.

  • 13:27 Lap 13

    Vettel has a look at the rear of Verstappen but isn't close enough to attempt a passing manoeuvre.

  • 13:28 Lap 13

    Stroll poses no issue at all for the Red Bull of Ricciardo, he's up to 12th place now.

  • 13:29 Lap 14

    Vettel's a lot closer to the rear of Verstappen this time, and does make the pass but Verstappen comes roaring back, and the pair run each other wide. No contact between the two, and it was some great, hard racing. Verstappen remains ahead for now.

  • 13:30 Lap 14

    TweetTweet from @MercedesAMGF1: LAP 14: The crowd enjoyed that! VET has a go at VER into Stowe... The boy just doesn't know when to give up!! Hangs onto P3...

  • 13:30 Lap 15

    They're at it again, as Vettel looks for another opportunity but Verstappen keeps ahead away. The crowd are cheering as they pass the grandstands.

  • 13:31 Lap 15

    TweetTweet from @RenaultSportF1: We'd like to thank the #BritishGP crowds for cheering so loud during exciting bits, we're guaranteed not to miss them!

  • 13:33 Lap 17

    Bottas has closed the gap now, and joins the back of that Red Bull/Ferrari fight.

    Battle for 3rd
    PosDriverGap
    3VES-
    4VET+0.736
    5BOT+1.493
  • 13:34 Lap 17

    Hamilton is pulling out a bit of a gap out front, up to 4 seconds from Räikkönen now, but he's not running away with it yet.

  • 13:35 Lap 18

    Vettel tries the outside line this time, but doesn't have the pace to get past Verstappen this time round.

  • 13:36 Lap 19

    QuoteJolyon Palmer: "Not even a start, pretty gutted with that, so much support here, the crowd has been great… It’s just so disappointing to not even start the race. I think we were in a really good position, starting 11th on new tyres. Just a hydraulic leak, looks like it went through the formation lap. It was all looking good, looking ahead, trying to focus on the start but we never made it."

  • 13:37 Lap 19

    Sebastian Vettel pits, obviously making the call as passing on track wasn't working.

  • 13:37 Lap 19

    Soft compounds go on the Ferrari in a 2.9 second stop for Vettel. He rejoins in sixth place.

  • 13:38 Lap 20

    Ricciardo feigns a move one side of Massa before dipping to the other to pass the Williams. He's into tenth now.

  • 13:38 Lap 20

    Team radioTeam radio to Max Verstappen: "Keep pushing Max. Box and confirm. You will be racing Sebastian."

  • 13:39 Lap 20

    Verstappen's stop was 3.4 seconds, which has dropped him behind Vettel who was a long way ahead when the Red Bull finally emerged from the pit lane.

  • 13:39 Lap 20

    Team radioTeam radio to Valtteri Bottas: "This is your chance, Valtteri. Get the hammer down. Tyres are looking good."

  • 13:40 Lap 21

    StopwatchLewis Hamilton has the hammer down too, though, with a 1:32.286 for the fastest lap so far.

  • 13:41 Lap 21

    Ocon comes in for his pit stop, not super quick but solid enough for the Force India crew.

  • 13:41 Lap 22

    And Vettel sets the fastest lap now, with 1:32.225. Fresh tyres making a difference so far.

  • 13:41 Lap 22

    Vettel easily gets past the Renault of Nico Hülkenberg for fourth place.

  • 13:43 Lap 23

    Team radioTeam radio from Fernando Alonso: "I went off in turn fifteen and not because I was sleeping."

  • 13:44 Lap 23

    So Vettel and Hamilton are trading fastest laps, Hamilton's turn this time.

  • 13:44 Lap 24

    Stroll comes in for a pit stop, and it's slow from the Williams crew, who are known for the pit stop skillz. 4.2 seconds for Lance.

  • 13:44 Lap 24

    Bit of a lockup for Bottas as he's told this is a critical stage of his race. He now takes the fastest lap of the race so far.

  • 13:45 Lap 24

    Pérez comes in, and as the Force India leaves the pit lane, the Haas of Romain Grosjean is coming in.

  • 13:46 Lap 25

    Kimi Räikkönen pits. Yellow tyres going on the car.

  • 13:46 Lap 25
    Pit Stop Analysis
    DriverK Räikkönen
    TeamFerrari
    Pit lane28.476s
    Stopped2.5s
  • 13:47 Lap 25

    And so Lewis gets the call to come in for his own stop, presumably the only one of the afternoon.

  • 13:48 Lap 26
    Pit Stop Analysis
    DriverL Hamilton
    TeamMercedes
    Pit lane27.733s
    Stopped2.3s
  • 13:48 Lap 26

    Supreme stop from the Mercedes crew, and Hamilton rejoins side by side with teammate Bottas. He gets ahead, and of course Bottas has his own pit stop still to take.

  • 13:49 Lap 26

    The fresh tyres are clearly advantageous, as Hamilton dashes away from Bottas, pulling out a full second gap before you can even blink.

  • 13:50 Lap 27

    The Force India drivers are chasing each other on track again now. Ocon still ahead, but Pérez just half a second behind. It's not a day for teammates to do battle, it seems.

  • 13:51 Lap 28

    Räikkönen reports there's something loose in the cockpit, something jabbing into his leg by the sounds of it.

  • 13:51 Lap 28

    TweetTweet from @elephino_: Perez closing on Ocon & this is hit your team mate day. This'll be fun

  • 13:52 Lap 28

    Kvyat comes into the pits, it sounds like there's something broken on his car and this will be a retirement.

  • 13:52 Lap 29

    Or not, the crew change Kvyat's tyres and send him back on his way again.

  • 13:53 Lap 29

    Ricciardo is up to sixth at the moment, but he has yet to come into the pit lane.

  • 13:54 Lap 30

    Hamilton has started lapping cars now, Kvyat has dropped down 1 lap and Ericsson quickly follows.

  • 13:55 Lap 30

    The only drivers yet to stop are Magnussen in eighth, Ricciardo sixth, and Bottas up in second.

  • 13:56 Lap 31
    Gap Analysis
    PosDriverGap
    1stHAM1:32.745
    2ndBOT+4.858
    3rdRAI+13.966
    4thVET+18.676
    5thVER+26.244
    6thRIC+47.440
  • 13:57 Lap 32

    Massa gets a radio message that the two Force India drivers ahead of him are being held up by Kevin Magnussen. Meanwhile, Mags is given a message on the radio: "Excellent pace, absolutely excellent pace." Bless!

  • 13:57 Lap 32

    TweetTweet from @F1PaddockPass: Kvyat's been given 2 penalty points for the Sainz collision. Brings his tally to 9 - of the 12 available - with still half a season to go.

  • 13:59 Lap 33

    Bottas finally comes in for his pit stop, tearing off several strips from his visor. It's a super quick stop for the Mercedes crew.

  • 13:59 Lap 33
    Pit Stop Analysis
    DriverV Bottas
    TeamMercedes
    Pit lane27.858s
    Stopped2.1s
  • 14:00 Lap 34

    Ricciardo comes in for his own stop, and it's a 2.1 second stop. The crew are so impressed, the two tyre chaps share a quick fist bump to celebrate.

  • 14:00 Lap 34

    Team radioTeam radio from Fernando Alonso: "No power."

    "Okay, box now."

    Everyone sighs.

  • 14:01 Lap 35

    So Lewis has a comfortable 13 second gap on Räikkönen in second, but behind him he has Vettel four seconds behind and Bottas a further four seconds down the road.

  • 14:02 Lap 35

    Ricciardo makes a relatively easy move on Pérez to insert himself into a Force India sandwich. He's in ninth now.

  • 14:02 Lap 35

    And Ricciardo dispatches the other Force India to make it look easy for eighth place.

  • 14:03 Lap 35

    @SauberF1Team: Pitstop for @PWehrlein and back out on supersofts

  • 14:04 Lap 36

    Ricciardo is chasing after Nico Hülkenberg again now.

  • 14:05 Lap 37

    Bottas is on a charge, he's setting some fastest laps from fourth place. The gap to Vettel now dips under three seconds.

  • 14:06 Lap 37

    Kevin Magnussen still hasn't stopped yet, he's on 35 lap old soft tyres, and sitting in eighth place.

  • 14:06 Lap 38

    Team radioTeam radio from Lewis Hamilton: "These tyres are blistered."

  • 14:08 Lap 39

    TweetTweet from @ChrisMedlandF1: In a reversal of Austria, Bottas now closing down Vettel in the closing part of the race. 2.7s the gap

  • 14:09 Lap 39

    Magnussen has pitted at last, he's dropped down to 14th place now.

  • 14:10 Lap 40

    No waiting around for that Haas though, Magnussen zips ahead of Stroll to move into 13th.

  • 14:13 Lap 42
    One to Watch
    S Vettelvs.V Bottas
    3rd+0.882s4th
  • 14:14 Lap 43

    Bottas dives to the outside of Vettel, they run side by side until Vettel pushes the Mercedes wide. Bottas comes back but Vettel stays ahead, locks up into the next corner but still stays in third. His tyres can't be happy now though.

  • 14:15 Lap 43

    Bottas is so close now, Vettel looking wild as he tries to defend from the clearly faster Mercedes.

  • 14:15 Lap 44

    The speed difference is incredible as Bottas easily moves ahead this time, third place for the Mercedes driver.

  • 14:17 Lap 45

    Team radioTeam radio to Valtteri Bottas: "Great job."

    "Minimal talking."

    Bottas clearly concentrating as he sets Räikkönen in his sights, seven seconds up the road.

  • 14:17 Lap 45

    Vettel: "I have no more front, they've been blistering for twenty laps." Six more laps to go.

  • 14:17 Lap 45

    Romain Grosjean comes in for a very late pit stop. He's down in 14th place now.

  • 14:18 Lap 46

    Vettel's tyres are worn out after he stopped so early. They made that call to get ahead of Verstappen, but now will face pressure from the Red Bull who is eight seconds behind.

  • 14:19 Lap 46

    Grosjean makes contact with a Sauber and runs wide off track. "So stupid," he says, although it looked like it might be his fault.

  • 14:20 Lap 47

    Team radioTeam radio from Kimi Räikkönen: Put on the pit board the right numbers!"

    Not a lot to ask, really.

  • 14:21 Lap 48

    Bottas has taken two seconds out of the gap to Kimi. Just over five seconds. Ricciardo, meanwhile, is just about 2.5 seconds behind Hülkenberg.

  • 14:23 Lap 49

    Team radioTeam radio to Nico Hülkenberg: "Why do I have too many de-rates on that straight?"

    "We have a problem, Nico, just need to keep pushing."

  • 14:24 Lap 50

    Räikkönen's front left tyre has delaminated. "My front tyre... broke," the Finn says, swearing on the radio. Bottas easily gets past for second.

  • 14:25 Lap 50

    Kimi pits, which is a disappointment after a solid race for him and his crew.

  • 14:25 Lap 50

    Max Verstappen has also come into the pits!

  • 14:26 Lap 51

    Vettel has run off track, he's got a front left puncture and is back on track but throwing up sparks as he tries to get back to the pit lane.

  • 14:26 Lap 51

    It's the final lap though!

  • 14:27 Lap 51

    Verstappen moves ahead of Vettel for fourth.

  • 14:27 Lap 51

    Vettel comes into the pit lane.

  • 14:27

    Chequered flagLewis Hamilton wins the British Grand Prix!

  • 14:28

    Bottas crosses the line second, who will be third?

  • 14:28

    It's Kimi Räikkönen who makes it a podium finish despite that last minute drama.

  • 14:29

    Vettel ended up seventh overall.

  • 14:29
    Race Winner
    DriverL Hamilton
    TeamMercedes
    Race time1:21:27.430
    Race distance300.307km
    Average speed221.201km/h
  • 14:31
    Driver Positions
    PosDriverStops
    10L Hamilton1
    27V Bottas1
    3-1K Räikkönen2
    40M Verstappen2
    514D Ricciardo1
    6-1N Hülkenberg1
    7-4S Vettel2
    8-1E Ocon1
    9-3S Pérez1
    104F Massa1
  • 14:32
    Gap Analysis
    PosDriverGap
    1stHAM1:37.212
    2ndBOT+14.063
    3rdRAI+36.570
    4thVER+52.125
    5thRIC+65.955
  • 14:32

    TweetTweet from @SteveCampF1: Championship fight blows wide open once again at the halfway mark of the season!

  • 14:33

    TweetTweet from @C4F1: It's a disappointing P7 for Vettel after his penultimate-lap drama, cutting his championship lead to ONE point!

  • 14:33
    Championship Standings
    PosDriverPts
    1S Vettel177
    2L Hamilton176
    3V Bottas154
    4D Ricciardo117
    5K Räikkönen98
  • 14:34
    Championship Standings
    PosTeamPts
    1Mercedes330
    2Ferrari275
    3Red Bull174
    4Force India95
    5Williams41
  • 14:34

    TweetTweet from @_markgallagher: Bottas drove superbly today as well. Chased down Ferrari, won that battle, helped his team & keeps his own challenge on course too

  • 14:35

    That race looked like it wasn't going anywhere but suddenly exploded (almost literally) in the final few laps. Great halfway stage of the season, to have such a close fight, with several drivers still in the battle.

  • 14:35

    Great job by Ricciardo, too, starting from the rear of the field to finish comfortably fifth behind his teammate.

  • 14:36

    Nico Hülkenberg didn't quite have the ability to fight that he may have wanted but a solid sixth place helps the Renault team no end. Particularly when compared with a DNS for Palmer.

  • 14:36

    And another double points finish for Force India shows how reliable the team can be when they are behaving.

  • 14:43

    A fortnight off now, before the F1 crowd turn up at the Hungaroring for the final race before the summer break. How will the championship stand then, and who will the momentum be with as the holidays begin? Can't wait to find out!

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