.:: 2009 British GP Thread - Silverstone's Swansong ::.

2009 BRITISH GP
The Silverstone Swansong

Welcome to the 2009 British GP Thread, in what appears to be the final appearance for the legendary Silverstone circuit. cjek and mjk1 will keep the thread updated with the latest times as they happen.

RANDOM FACT

Hamilton's win in 2008 by 68.5 seconds is the largest winning margin since the 1995 Australian GP, where Damon Hill won by over two laps.

POINTS OF DISCUSSION

1. Is Bernie Ecclestone right moving the British GP away from Silverstone? Why?
2. Has the current form of the 2009 season proven that the "Winner Take All" method should not be introduced?
3. Barrichello scored a podium here last time in an underperforming Honda - do you think he can finally beat Button this weekend?
4. A final entries list for next year should be introduced on Friday - do you see all the FOTA teams being on there, and if not, who will be missing?
5. Silverstone was where Formula One all began: In the 59 years since, what has been the most memorable moment for you?

SCHEDULE FOR WEEKEND

Friday 19
First practice: 1000-1130 BST
Second practice: 1400-1530 BST

Saturday 20
Third practice: 1000-1100 BST
Qualifying: 1300 BST

Sunday 21
Race: 1300 BST

WEEKEND WEATHER

FRIDAY: Light Rain Showers, Max. 16 deg. cent.
SATURDAY: Light Rain Showers, Max. 15 deg. cent.
SUNDAY: Sunny Intervals, Max. 17 deg. cent.

PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

THURSDAY: Jenson Button (Brawn GP) and Lewis Hamilton (McLaren). 2PM BST

FRIDAY: Ross Brawn (Brawn GP), Christian Horner (Red Bull), Adam Parr (Williams) and Martin Whitmarsh (McLaren). 3PM BST

BBC PRESENTS THE BRITISH GP

PREVIOUS SESSIONS
Friday Practice 1
Friday Practice 2
Qualifying
Race
Forum

1. No and for 2 good reasons. Since taking over the right to hold the British Grand Prix Donnigton has looked less and less likely of being able to run any form of race let alone F1. Secondly Silverstone is one of the best tracks in F1 and if it was allowed to go ahead with it's new pitlane complex it would be even better

2. I actually think that given the way this season has unfolded there is a good case for the winner takes all this season as this articleexplains. Of course you can't change the rules to suit the season and in general i would rather keep the points system but it would be nice if the championship was a bit closer this year.

3. I can't see Barrichello beating Button yet, especially not at home. I agree with the view Barrichello is better in a poor car but Button is better in a good car and so this weekend is his for the taking.

4. At this moment in time i can see it going either way and the manufactures could go and create there own series, if that does happen i don't know where teams like Brawn Gp, Force india and Williams would end up. If it does go the other way i can see all the current teams being there for the moment but i have a feeling this is by no means over and they could leave further down the line.

5. Age is against me on this one but i think that Kimi's win was pretty good in 07 and Damon Hills win in 1994 only because he was the Driver that got me into F1 and is still my favourite F1 driver

1. Always nice to see a new track, and the Silverstone group had got lazy and complacent thinking they would always hold it, so didn't spend much on upgrades. I can't see Donnington actually holding it for all 17 years of this new contract, but atleast a few will be good for a change of scene.

2. Never been in favour of winner takes all, so happy that this reinforces most points in a season.

3. See XSamFisherX above :)

4. All the current FOTA teams that want to compete next year will be on the list. By that I mean that Toyota wobbling about whether to compete next year - it will be their decision if they compete or not. Same goes for other existing teams. Next season will end up with very similar rules to this season as the FIA try to quietly step back from their earlier demands, and we can see round 2 of their hissy spat next season over the same issues of budget caps, points system and technical changes.

5. Damon Hill winning the 1996 World Championship - though mainly because of a family comment on the final lap about Murray Walker having verbal diahorrea, and him instantly saying he had to stop because he had a lump in his throat :P

^ That wasn't Silverstone. :lol:

Anyways, it won't be blisteringly hot, but the sun is out to play on Sunday for the farewell race. As is tradition as well here, Thursday's press conference contains just the British drivers.

1. Those at Silverstone had become too complacent. They thought that the venue was invincible, one of F1's crown jewels which would never be replaced. They fended off Bernie by talking of upgrades which never really materialised. The facilities left a lot to be desired in the end, and when they really did need to upgrade after threats from Bernie, they were unsatisfactory. It's a shame for the sake of us fans and of the brilliant facility and everyone involved in it that we'll lose Silverstone, but Donington can hopefully live up to the promises made. The new infield section actually looks quite good, and hopefully it will be finished in time for 2010. I'm not happy that we're moving away, but Silverstone isn't quite the world class venue it once was.

2. The system should never be introduced. We've used the points winner system for countless years, and it has produced some fantastic championships. It's this constant desire of the FIA to change rules that has left F1 in this potential split situation.

3. Unless Button has problems, Barrichello will finish behind him. It has become clear to me that Jenson is the better driver this season.

4. Even if Ferrari, RBR and Toro Rosso are included, I doubt they'll formally commit to the 2010 championship. Unless a comprimise is found, McLaren, Brawn, Renault, Toyota and BMW will not be on the entry list. It will be Williams, Force India, Ferrari, Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Campos, USF1, Manor, plus other teams to fill the remaining places. Like I said, Ferrari and the 2 Bull teams being listed will mean nothing; they probably won't take part anyway.

5. Too many moments to choose from I'm afraid!

Classic British GP's... from the beginning of Mansell Mania, to Neil Horan, to the Senna-esque dominance of Hamilton last year.

1981 | 1987 | 1998 | 2003 | 2008

Extended Highlights

1987

THE RED LIGHT

Warning: This video contains scenes of epicness. And numerous mess-ups, as I've been a lil' under the weather recently.

It does say 'Redders gives his preview of the 2009 Turkish GP' in the video description.

It does say 'Redders gives his preview of the 2009 Turkish GP' in the video description.

yuxwallin

It doesn't now :D

Jenson Button's helmet design for the 2009 British Grand Prix weekend:

Much better than that disgusting illuminous one he has. Eurgh! Only negative about his season is that ugly helmet!

Damon Hill, Sir Stirling Moss and Sir Jackie Stewart discuss the British GP

So, Red Bull looking quick, and Force India's upgrades are paying off.. shaping up interestingly

That's Friday wrapped up then, with Red Bull looking hot for pole tomorrow, but will the Brawn's make a fightback? Hopefully Webber won't have any significant damage to his car for tomorrow, that would be a shame if he needs a penalty.

After watching the video replays it's really hard to say. All the drivers on the F1 grid right now are good and while it appeared his correction wasn't really needed from the outside I'm sure Sutil would have felt something getting away. I first suspected a puncture which would result in a crash like that but the replays showed it ws no obvious mechanical failure (puncture or suspension breakage). Kravitz is saying Force India haven't seen anything obvious yet either in the telemetry and no locked brakes make it seem quite strange.

Possible brake failure on the right side of the car? Or possible breakage in the differential - I honestly have no idea and it will be interesting to find out what Force India find in the telemetry.

NEWS just in. Sutil confirms a problem with the brakes.

Oh poor Button. So how is Brawn going to screw Barrichello? Four-stop, maybe five-stop strategy?XSamFisherX

:lol:

Best we could hope for is a Rubens win, with Button either 3rd or - if lucky - 2nd. Of course, Ross will find some way of stopping Rubens from winning, I'm sure.

QUALIFYING

Pos  Driver       Team                       Q1        Q2        Q3
 1.  Vettel       Red Bull-Renault      (B)  1:18.685  1:18.119  1:19.509
 2.  Barrichello  Brawn-Mercedes        (B)  1:19.325  1:18.335  1:19.856
 3.  Webber       Red Bull-Renault      (B)  1:18.674  1:18.209  1:19.868
 4.  Trulli       Toyota                (B)  1:18.886  1:18.240  1:20.091
 5.  Nakajima     Williams-Toyota       (B)  1:18.530  1:18.575  1:20.216
 6.  Button       Brawn-Mercedes        (B)  1:18.957  1:18.663  1:20.289
 7.  Rosberg      Williams-Toyota       (B)  1:19.228  1:18.591  1:20.361
 8.  Glock        Toyota                (B)  1:19.198  1:18.791  1:20.490
 9.  Raikkonen    Ferrari               (B)  1:19.010  1:18.566  1:20.715
10.  Alonso       Renault               (B)  1:19.167  1:18.761  1:20.741
11.  Massa        Ferrari               (B)  1:19.148  1:18.927
12.  Kubica       BMW-Sauber            (B)  1:19.730  1:19.308
13.  Kovalainen   McLaren-Mercedes      (B)  1:19.732  1:19.353
14.  Piquet       Renault               (B)  1:19.555  1:19.392
15.  Heidfeld     BMW-Sauber            (B)  1:19.559  1:19.448
16.  Fisichella   Force India-Mercedes  (B)  1:19.802
17.  Bourdais     Toro Rosso-Ferrari    (B)  1:19.898
18.  Sutil        Force India-Mercedes  (B)  1:19.909
19.  Hamilton     McLaren-Mercedes      (B)  1:19.917
20.  Buemi        Toro Rosso-Ferrari    (B)  1:20.236

AUTOSPORT 

POST-QUALIFYING CAR WEIGHTS - BRITIANPos Driver Weight (kg)

 1.  Sebastian Vettel       666.5
 2.  Rubens Barrichello     657.5
 3.  Mark Webber            659.5
 4.  Jarno Trulli           658.0
 5.  Kazuki Nakajima        652.5
 6.  Jenson Button          657.5
 7.  Nico Rosberg           661.5
 8.  Timo Glock             660.0
 9.  Kimi Raikkonen         654.0
10.  Fernando Alonso        654.0
11.  Felipe Massa           675.0 *
12.  Robert Kubica          689.5 *
13.  Heikki Kovalainen      695.5 *
14.  Nelson Piquet          682.5 *
15.  Nick Heidfeld          665.5 *
16.  Giancarlo Fisichella   668.0 *
17.  Sebastien Bourdais     687.5 *
18.  Adrian Sutil           692.0 *
19.  Lewis Hamilton         666.0 *
20.  Sebastien Buemi        672.5 *

AUTOSPORT

* declared weight 

I just found out that people in the US can't watch it live... I live near Seattle and I have to wait till noon PST (pacific standard time) to watch it.Mr5Nascar

Fantastic drive by Vettel, completely dominated today. Red Bull were on fire this weekend.

Call me a bitter Button fan, but today was pretty awful :(

Still, nice to see Hamilton doing something for the fans even if he was at the back, and a good fight with Alonso today. I wonder why there's been no investigation with Bourdais and Kovalainen yet though.