Mercedes AMG's Lewis Hamilton is back in the 2014 Formula One World Championship title fight after he took victory yesterday in his home race, the British Grand Prix, which was once again held at the legendary Silverstone circuit. Current leader Nico Rosberg, also of Mercedes AMG, was forced to retire due to gearbox problems, which means just four points now separate the two teammates.
Second place went to Williams' Valtteri Bottas, who finished a staggering 30 seconds behind the race winner. Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo finished third, 46 seconds behind the winner. Fourth place went to McLaren’s Jenson Button, while Red Bull Racing’s other driver Sebastian Vettel finished fifth. The reigning world champion won an epic battle with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso that defined the last third of the race.
The duel between the two champions was a stunning display of close racing skill, with both drivers leaving nothing on the table in the tussle. Vettel eventually made the decisive move on lap 46, the champion pulling alongside the Ferrari driver on the pit straight and then edging past through Copse. Alonso would eventually cross the line in sixth.
Hamilton’s win was Mercedes AMG’s eighth out of the nine races held so far this season, but it didn’t come easy. The Briton had to fight his way up from sixth on the grid but was stuck in second until the 28th lap when Rosberg first experienced the gearbox trouble that would ultimately end his race.
Rosberg wasn’t the only one to suffer problems, however. Right on the first lap, Ferrari’s Kimi Räikkönen went off the track and as he tried to return hit a bump and eventually slammed into a barrier. His car narrowly missed Kamui Kobayashi’s Caterham but couldn’t avoid Felipe Massa’s Williams. Both drivers retired from the race, and while Räikkönen was seen limping he is expected to be ready for the German Grand Prix in two weeks.
Seventh place went to McLaren’s other driver Kevin Magnussen, while Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg took eighth. In ninth and tenth spots respectively were Toro Rosso drivers Daniil Kvyat and Jean-Eric Vergne.
As mentioned, Nico Rosberg remains on top of the 2014 Drivers’ Championship table with 165 points, with Lewis Hamilton just four points behind. Daniel Ricciardo is a distant third on 98 points. In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes AMG leads with 326 points versus the 168 of Red Bull Racing and 106 of Ferrari.
Below are top ten results of the 2014 Formula One British Grand Prix:
1) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG
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2) Valtteri Bottas, Williams
3) Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing
4) Jenson Button, McLaren
5) Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing
6) Fernando Alonso, Ferrari
7) Kevin Magnussen, Mclaren
8) Nico Hulkenberg, Force India
9) Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso
10) Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso
