“Not bad for a Number 2 driver…” Mark Webber’s comment over the radio to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner after winning the British Grand Prix was a telling one. After Webber was forced to give up his new front wing to Sebastian Vettel when the unit on Vettel’s car failed in Saturday morning’s practice session, there was no doubt in the mind of many – and certainly the Australian’s – that Seb is the team’s favoured driver. The niggle that began when the pair collided in Turkey has become a huge problem and Horner and his Germanic bosses certainly have a lot of damage limitation to do in the fortnight before the German Grand Prix. One thing’s for sure, Webber is one tough Aussie and won’t stand back for anyone…
Another stand-out feature of the British race was the performance of the McLaren duo, particularly Lewis Hamilton. After the upgrade produced for their home race was a total failure, the team were forced to go back to the cars’ previous spec for qualifying. It’s a credit to Hamilton’s combination of skill and determination that he dragged his car up to fourth on the grid, then proceeded to be the only driver to take the fight to the dominant Webber during the race. His second place ensured that he retains the points lead in the world championship battle. Button did things more quietly, battling in quali but using strategy to finally get up into fourth place from his 14th place start, holding on to second in the championship standings.
But, while these two Englishman covered themselves in glory, another, a past hero of the UK crowd, was proving just what an intellectual midget he is. Nigel Mansell was a gutsy driver, but I always knew that he wasn’t the cleverest guy on the track. Now, off the track, he has confirmed that by colluding in the decision to penalise Fernando Alonso for being pushed onto the grass while overtaking Robert Kubica’s Renault. It was arguably the kind of determined move that Mansell himself would have made in his heyday… and all those British fans would have cheered wildly!
In fact, Alonso had to go off-track to avoid a collision as Kubica gave him absolutely no room. Even the most cynical would have to agree that it was at the very least a 50:50 call. In any event, the standard penalty for gaining a position is simply to give it back. If Mansell and co were so sure Alonso was in the wrong, why did they not send an immediate instruction to Ferrari? By the time they had bumbled their way to a decision, Kubica had retired. What then? The drive-through penalty imposed was totally inappropriate and former drivers Martin Brundle and David Coulthard said so. But not “Our Nige”. He’s certainly not mine: you can have him…
