Rindi Putra
The following is a summary of the British GP F1 race at the Silverstone Circuit in 2023. In this race, McLaren uses a special livery for the race, McLaren uses a chrome livery and Williams uses a livery with the British flag commemorating their 800th participation in Formula 1.
This time, the McLaren duo managed to qualify in 2nd and 3rd positions, while Max Verstappen still held the 1st position (pole position).
In this race, there was also a film shooting activity starring Hollywood actor Brad Pitt with the Formula 1 theme. They even use modified cars similar to F1 cars to be placed on the starting grid with real F1 cars in the formation lap sessions.
Lando Norris took the lead in the opening laps
In lap 1, after the green light, Lando Norris stole 1st position from Max Verstappen who apparently experienced a little wheel spin, this was also recognized by Max after the race. Even Max almost lost his position behind Oscar Piastri.
On Lap 4 Sergio Perez, Verstappen's teammate was still in 15th position, the same as the position at the start of the race, even though Perez was using the fastest car (Red Bull) at that time.
McLaren looks very fast, especially in the maggots & beckets area (high-speed corner). But on lap 5 Verstappen finally managed to take first place from Lando Norris.
McLaren team orders
On Lap 7, the two McLaren drivers were given instructions to hold their respective positions (not to overtake each other). With this strategy, it is believed that both cars will maintain a safe distance from the drivers behind them. On this lap, Hamilton also caught up with Alonso in the Copse.
Lap 8 Hulkenberg was forced to enter the pits because he had to replace the front wing which had broken as a result of contact with Sergio Perez's car. Apart from changing the front wing, Hulkenberg also changed the tires from Hard to Medium tires.
On Lap 9 several teams started reporting that there would be potential for rain, but it wasn't too threatening. On this lap, Verstappen also complained that his car was not stable and the Red Bull team confirmed that the wind was strong and could affect the car.
Ocon had a problem with the car's hydraulics
Lap 10 Ocon retired or left the race due to a hydraulic issue. The team informed the drivers that the threat of rain was gone because the clouds had shifted position.
On lap 14 Yuki Tsunoda became the first car to change tires under normal racing conditions (not on VSC or SC). Yuki changed from Soft to Hard tires and finished in 18th position. Perez managed to climb slowly but steadily to the 10th position on lap 17.
Ferrari and AlphaTauri changed tires first
On lap 19 Charles Leclerc entered the pits to change tires from Medium to Hard. This "box-box" also makes Ferrari and AlphaTauri a team that carries out an undercut strategy in normal conditions (without VSC or Safety Car).
Max Verstappen knew that Ferrari had changed the tires but his team reassured him and said that they did not need to respond to Ferrari's strategy because during the race they were not a threat.
On lap 25, the McLaren team panicked when they saw Ferrari change tires. They don't want their position stolen by Ferrari because of the first pit. McLaren is aware that their direct rival is not Red Bull, but Mercedes and Ferrari which are behind.
McLaren also asked Lando about the condition of the tires he was using. Lando indicated that his car was comfortable to use, so he didn't want to rush to change tires. Lap 25 Leclerc overtakes Stroll on new hard tires.
Lap 27 Sainz box and change the band from Medium to Hard and leave in 12th position. Lap 28 De Vries box changes from Soft to Medium and exits the pits in the 17th position. Lap 29 Russel changes tires from Soft to Medium and exits the pits in 9th position, Perez changes from Medium to Soft and pits out of position 13. Lap 30 Piastry box from Medium to Hard and exits in position 6.
In lap 31 Russel overtakes Leclerc for 8th position. Lap 31 Gasly box from Medium to Soft and exits the pits in 11th position, Stroll box from Medium to Soft and exits in 14th position.
The Safety Car came out because Magnussen's car had a problem
Lap 33 Magnussen encountered a problem and stopped in the middle of the road (did not stop in a safe place), Magnussen's car had a fire but immediately died. This issue resulted in VSC and subsequently Safety Car status being issued.
This SC condition resulted in the pit box being busy because almost all the teams changed tires in this condition. The following drivers changed tires during the Safety car: Albon (M-S), Leclerc (H-M), Tsunoda (H-S), Devries (M-S), Hulkenberg (M-S), Verstappen (M-S), Norris (M-H), Hamilton (M-S), Alonso (M-S). Meanwhile, Sainz and Perez decided not to enter the pit and keep their old tires (stay out).
Lap 35 Zak was interviewed live and said that choosing Hard tires for Lando was a sudden decision but still hopes Lando can survive Lewis' attacks from behind on Soft tires. Lando also sounded annoyed on the radio team because he was given Hard tires while Mercedes (Lewis) behind him used Soft tires.
Safety Car In This Lap
Lap 38 Race Control decided to end the Safety Car status (safety car in this lap). Here is the order of the drivers when the Safety Car ended P1-P18 (VER, NOR, HAM, PIA, RUS, ALO, SAI, PER, ALB, LEC, GAS, STR, SAR, BOT, TSU, DEV, ZHO, HUL).
When the race restarted, Verstappen decided to step on the gas earlier, he immediately stepped on the gas while still on the Hangar Straight. This strategy was considered successful because Lando Norris could not catch up and instead had to survive Hamilton's attacks with his soft tires.
Lap 38 - 41 Lando Norris fought hard with Lewis Hamilton in almost every corner, but luckily Lando Norris this time had a better car performance even though he used Hard tires which are known to be the slowest tires.
In lap 41 Verstappen complained that the soft tires he used were not very comfortable but moments later he posted the fastest lap on lap 42. Lap 43 Lance Stroll got the Black and White flag because he had violated the track limit 3 times.
Sainz is languishing and Gasly has suspension problems
Lap 44 Perez, Albon, and Leclerc managed to catch up with Carlos Sainz in the position that was previously in 7th position. Gasly caught up with Sainz, but Sainz managed to recapture the position.
Lap 46 Gasly and Stroll came into contact which resulted in Gasly having to end the race early (DNF) due to suspension problems. Lap 47 Perez won 6th place from Fernando Alonso.
Lap 48 Russel and Norris received a track limit warning and received a black and white flag for breaching the track limit 3 times. Lap 50 Stroll gets a 5-second penalty due to contact with Gasly.
Verstappen's Domination and McLaren's Rise
Lap 52. Verstappen crossed the finish line followed by the other drivers. Alonso, Albon, and Leclerc had a close battle to the finish but their position did not change. The final position after all crosses the finish line. VER, NOR, HAM, PIA, RUS, PER, ALO, ALB, LEC, SAI, SAR, BOT, HUL, STR, ZHO, TSU, DEV, GAS (DNF), MAG (DNF), OCO (DNF).
Lando Norris was chosen by the fans as Driver of the day and Max Verstappen brought home an additional point for the fastest lap on lap 42 with a time of 1:30.275 using Soft tires.
Also read:
- McLaren Successfully Recruits Red Bull's Chief Engineering Officer, Rob Marshall
- Origins of Lewis Hamilton's "Hammertime" on Team Radio - The Story
- Promised 100 Races, Otmar Szafnauer Sacked by Alpine in the 35th race
- What is the meaning of "Dentist" in Racing Community?
- Not Bridgestone, F1 Will Extend Contract With Pirelli Until 2027
- Sainz v Piastri Drama, Tsunoda Top 10, Red Bull As Usual: Belgian GP 2023
- Jarno Opmeer on Called Thomas Ronhaar Dirty and Cheater on Live Stream
- Andretti On Joining F1: "They told me to buy but no one wants to sell!"
No comments