Formula One News - Lewis Hamilton and Jensen Button follow Mark Webber home
Last updated 16/07/2010 11:13:38
Lewis Hamilton and Jensen Button follow Mark Webber home at Silverstone
Although it was Buckingham based Mark Webber who led from first corner to the chequered flag it was Brits Lewis Hamilton and Jensen Button who thrilled their home crowd in the British Grand Prix.
It was a super satisfying victory for Aussie Webber after being denied the new additions of his Red Bull team mate Sebastian Vettel and he allowed his satisfaction to show.
But it was the two McLaren drivers who captured the imagination as they retained their top two places in the Drivers' Championship despite their earlier problems with Hamilton taking a well deserved second place while Button roared his way through the field from his starting position of 14th to fourth place close up behind third placed Nico Rosberg.
Vettel was caught on the first corner by his team mate and his attempt to retain the lead around the outside of Copse led to a puncture as Hamilton's car touched his wheel and that ruined his race.
Webber rubbed it in when he said over the team radio: "Not bad for a number two driver."
That was a reference to his unhappiness over the team's decision to hand Vettel a distinct advantage, increasing the ill feeling within the team.
What a contrast to McLaren and the two British drivers who have confounded all the critics with their easy relationship and their brilliant racing.
The result extends Hamilton's lead over Button in the world championship to 12 points, the equivalent of a fourth place.
Webber is third, 17 points behind Hamilton, with Vettel - who came back from 24th place to finish seventh - fourth in the title race, a further seven adrift of his team-mate.
The race was held in front of a crowd of 115,000, with 305,000 turning up over the three days of the weekend and they were thrilled by Webber's brilliant start from the inside, supposedly more slippery side of the grid.
Vettel squeezed him as they ran towards Copse corner and the German then tried to sit it out with Webber around the outside of the 180mph bend.
His right rear tyre was nudged slightly by Hamilton as they went through the corner and Vettel ran off the track over the kerbs over the outside, one of the incidents causing a puncture that put him to the back of the field.
The stop to change tyres was his only pit stop and Vettel recovered well to finish seventh, passing Force India's Adrian Sutil after a gripping battle with just over a lap to go.
Informed of the Webber's "number two driver" comment, Vettel's response hinted at tension between the team-mates.
"Obviously I focus on myself and so does he I guess," said Vettel.
"Especially after what happened in the past people have different opinions. I have opinions, I have my experiences and sometimes, good and bad, you get to know people a little better and see their true faces. So I think I have learned my lesson and focus on myself."
Hamilton stuck within two seconds of Webber for the first six laps, but the Red Bull driver than began inexorably to draw away into the lead, setting a succession of fastest laps.
"There's a bloke upstairs every now and again," Webber said. "I did the best job I could today and it worked out OK.
"I made a good start and was very keen obviously to make it my corner and it worked out OK for me.
"It was a good fight with Lewis. It was enjoyable, particularly the first part of the GP.
"It's very special for me to win here - it's been a special track for me and to win here and be alongside these guys (Hamilton and Rosberg) is amazing."
Hamilton added: "I don't think it's a miracle result, it's a reflection of all the hard work the team put in. The car was nice to drive. It wasn't as quick as these guys, but we did the best job with the package we had.
"The Red Bulls are just so fast. I knew I wouldn't be able to outpace them. I tried hard in the first few laps, I was flat chat, but he just kept on creeping away."