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Hello and welcome to ESPN's coverage of the Japanese Grand Prix from a very wet Suzuka. -The FIA has confirmed the race will start under the safety car due to the heavy rain and large amounts of standing water. --- Devashish says: "They should have started the race at morning why did not they start then?" The option was given to race organisers [Honda] but it was turned down as it probably didn't want to have to refund tickets. As a direct consequence we probably won't get any racing of note, for a while at least. --- Rahulan says: "Hi, going back to the drivers transfer market, looks like Fernando is moving to McLaren. Is that decision based on Honda's suposedly better engine? don't you think its a gamble?" A massive gamble, yes. But that said there's no guarantee Ferrari will make any inroads to Mercedes next season, but they start with a year's experience under their belts. McLaren seems very confident Honda's power unit will be competitive but then they would say that. --- Rangerdwade says: "What would james hunt have done with a rain start.... race!" --- 14:56: We are four minutes away from the "start" of the race. ---
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--- 14:51: A safety car start has just been confirmed. --- Phil says:"Merc only win the Constructors Championship IF Red Bull score less than 3 (I think ) points." That's correct Phil. I managed to omit that little caveat from my earlier commentary, but yes, that's the big if. --- Siddhesh says:"I never understood the point of starting a race behind the SC. What is the point? I can understand if a race is already underway, but pointlessly doing a few laps just to consider the race for half-points will definitely not get F1 any new fans." It's primarily a safety concern, especially in this amount of rain. The hope is you do that, the track dries out a bit after a few laps, and then you can get the race under way. --- 14:48: And it's started raining harder again. If that continues for a few minutes I'd say a safety car start is the most logical thing. --- 14:46: The Japanese national anthem is now playing on the grid. --- 14:42: Before anyone says it, I know that's not the real Charlie Whiting. ---
--- 14;40: The rain, for the most part, has stopped, but the main problem facing the drivers is the amount of standing water around the circuit. If the pace car doesn't stay out for too long, we could be in for a classic wet race this afternoon. --- 14:39: Mercedes wins the constructors' championship with a one-two this afternoon. --- 14:37: Perez has already aquaplaned off the circuit during his lap to the grid. He had a little trip across the gravel but kept it out of the wall, before slipping off the circuit again at Spoon. Horrid conditions out there. --- 14:35: "Look out for the rivers through the Esses" Hamilton is told by race engineer Peter Bonnington, which should give you a good indication of the conditions. --- 14:34: We're starting to see cars heading down the pit lane - Nico Rosberg the man to lead out. He goes to the end of the pit lane and it looks like there's no problems like he encountered before the start at Singapore. Oh, it probably goes without saying, but it's full wets all around. ---
--- 14:31: After such an entertaining season it would be a real shame if F1 shot itself in the foot by having a farcical washout race this afternoon in Japan. As I mentioned earlier, organisers had the chance to reschedule the race and didn't - the FIA, by all accounts, offered them the chance to bring the start forward. This morning the rain was less severe. --- 14:29: Maylander of course the F1 safety car driver. ---
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--- 14.26: If we run the whole race behind the safety car without a lap being run, and half-points are awarded, Rosberg will lead Hamilton in the championship by 0.5 points.
--- 14:20: Of course all the hype yesterday was around the news Sebastian Vettel will be leaving Red Bull after six years at the team, and 15 years affiliated with its driver programme. He is almost certainly going to Ferrari but perhaps the most interesting thing to come out of it was that it now leaves a real question-mark over Fernando Alonso's future. Alonso is hardly going to struggle to find a drive but, even though he gave a defiant message yesterday, it's clear he's lost real leverage in his negotiations with McLaren. Some rumours he is hoping for a one-year deal in the hope a Mercedes seat opens up in 2016. ---
--- 14:15: It's raining heavily at Suzuka, as it was heavily forecast to. The FIA were offered the chance to move the race to 11am local time this morning but that chance was turned down. It's highly unlikely we will see much racing action this afternoon as a result. |
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Lap 1 |
It is still so, so wet out there and it will be interesting now to hear the feedback given by the drivers. Hamilton tells Mercedes the safety car needs to drive faster after being warned to be careful in the conditions. Vettel says he is aquaplaning at just 80 km/h, which gives you an idea of the conditions. --- Dh4pm says: "Dan's the man at RBR he will get the 3 points. Seb is a spoiled little kid. Trying to follow in Michael Schumacher's foot steps. Sorry but your boots will never fit." |
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Lap 2 |
Marcus Ericsson has already spun out into the gravel, just coming through the final corner. Looks like his race is over. Replays suggest he just lost it coming round the curve. Oh dear, such a good qualifying for Ericsson yesterday and it looks like it's all come to nought. Salman says: "Makes you why didn't the FIA started the race earlier when the rain fall wasn't that heavy as it is now." As I said, the FIA gave organisers the option but they turned it down.
--- "Make sure Rosberg doesn't do any dramatic stops as I can't see him!" complains Hamilton after coming very close to the back of his team-mate.
The cars will line up at the end of the safety car. Oh boy. This is going to get a little ridiculous, I fear. |
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Lap 3 |
--- Hulkenberg is told there is a dry patch forecast in the next half an hour before more heavy rain, so we may well see some action today, after all. But don't quote me on that one, please. The race restarting under the safety car will mean we will definitely get at least half points from this race. Hopefully the track should dry out pretty quickly too. Rosberg tells Mercedes to be careful about any call to switch to intermediates later in the race if there's only a small window of no rain and drying track. --- As I said, if the letter of the law is followed, half points should be awarded for this race. But then, the race finished in the pit lane and not the by crossing the line. "Tents are allowed in the pit lane," comes the message from race control. Thanks for that. Seeing replays of even the safety car slipping and sliding its way around that lap. No doubt conditions are undriveable out there, but it begs the question why nothing was done to force an earlier start - especially as people have known this would be the weather today for a good five days.
There's quite a sight in the paddock now, with tents erected all the way down with F F1 cars all the way down. The FIA confirms the race will resume at 15:25, ten minutes away. Albeit, under the safety car. Meaning they will do a few more laps following it and complaining how unddriveable it is.
Anvay says: "If I remember correctly in the 90s F1 races were held in all kinds of weather sometimes even torrential downpour. The cars those days were far less safe than the ones in use today.Can't then understand why the FIA has become so conservative these days. These are the best racing drivers in the world, they should be able to race in all conditions. Just one of the ways in which FIA is killing F1!" As I said, the FIA offered the promoters a chance to move the race start forward. If you listened to what Hamilton said, visibility was almost nothing but then that could have been because of the slow speed the cars were going behind the safety car. --- |
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Lap 4 |
"I can't get my right brake temperature up," says Hamilton. He tells Mercedes its not a sensor problem, too. Concerning in this sort of weather. "If the rain doesn't get heavy, I think we'll be good to go soon," says Ricciardo. Seeing a replay, it looks like Alonso just slowed to a halt. Pretty unexciting on board of his retirement - power failure most likely. |
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Lap 5 |
Maldonado sets a fastest lap! A monumentally fast 2:42.594... Definitely looks like there could be a race in the next few laps. Sooner rather than later is better, too, with more rain forecasted for later on.
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Lap 6 |
Bottas is told it will be a race to lap 40 because the forecast suggests rain may be returning later on now. That would be just enough for full points, as well. One question is whether anyone under fuelled by a lot in order to have a light car, in the knowledge we wouldn't have a full race. "The conditions are fine now, it's perfect to drive now!" says Vergne. He's right, come on, let's get this race started. There will be one more lap, at least, behind the safety car though.
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Lap 7 |
"Charlie, the track is fine! We've already done two laps and the track is fine" says Hamilton. I love that he addressed Charlie directly. Come on Charlie, that's enough now. Let's get this race started - they will be pitting for intermediates before long. |
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Lap 8 |
Button has just told McLaren intermediates are now good to be used. What more does race control need to hear?
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Lap 9 |
"Jenson, if the safety car comes in we think people may follow it in for intermediates" says McLaren to Button. Race-defining calls need to be made now - including this decision: Safety car in this lap Ricciardo, meanwhile, says conditions still favours full wets. I'd say the majority of the front-runners will stay out on wets for a few laps at least. Rosberg starts to back up the pack as the grandstands applaud the message from race control. Here we go! |
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Lap 10 |
Button and Maldonado have pitted for intermediate tyres, which no other driver has done. Vettel passes Magnussen into the hairpin but the Dane fights back and regains the place. Massa complains the weather is "so bad, so bad!" Vettel makes a slight mistake at the Spoon and can't get close enough to Magnussen to re-pass. Perez passes Kvyat into ninth on the run down to 130R. |
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Lap 11 |
Rosberg sets a fastest lap, he's 1.3s ahead of Hamilton with Bottas a massive five seconds behind the 2008 world champion. Maldonado has gone off the track somewhere on the circuit. Button's sector times not quicker than the leaders but he's quicker than the likes of Williams in his sector times. "You are matching the Mercedes Jenson, this pace is good. This is good pace," McLaren tells Button. Lots of intermediate tyres coming out in the pit lane. |
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Lap 12 |
The Mercedes stay out, but Bottas, Ricciardo, Magnussen, Raikkonen and Perez come in. There's chaos in the pit lane, lots of cars making their way down there. Kvyat, Gutierrez, Grosjean, Kobayashi, JEV all diving in too. Button has made a huge gain here! He looks like he's jumped the Williams drivers... what will happen when the Mercedes drivers pit? Rosberg is told intermediates are slower at the moment. Hamilton is going to want to pit before Rosberg, you'd think, so he doesn't have to wait behind him on the same lap. |
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Lap 13 |
Rosberg sets another fastest lap of the race, but that's immediately bettered by Hamilton - a 1:52.563. Massa, Vettel, Hulkenberg and Sutil all pit for intermediates. Still no pit stop for the Mercedes pair in front. Button looks like he's inherited net third out there! Wonderful call by the Brit. Vettel has managed to jump Ricciardo in the pit stop madness! Will we see Red Bull team orders now Vettel is on his way out? Rosberg is called into the pits. The gap to Hamilton is just 1.7s, so will they pit them both. |
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Lap 14 |
No, they don't. Rosberg pits, Hamilton stays out and inherits the lead. Rosberg comes out clear in second, so that's not an issue, but it now will be how much Hamilton can get on his wet tyres during this in-lap. Bianchi pits from seventh, Button is third. What a call from the McLaren driver on a weekend his 2015 seat has come under even more speculation. Hamilton goes purple through the first sector, so clearly he's not struggling on those wet tyres. Ricciardo putting Vettel under pressure but not able to get close enough. Hamilton runs wide at Spoon! That could put paid to any hopes of beating Rosberg, who should come out ahead. |
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Lap 15 |
Hamilton pits for intermediates, top-toeing down the pit lane. Hamilton emerges behind his team-mate so that moment at Spoon possibly costly, but good strategising from Mercedes - Hamilton's stop just 2.8s despite not stopping fully in the lines. Rosberg complains about a lot of oversteer. Button is 15 seconds behind Hamilton but nearly seven seconds ahead of Bottas. The Red Bulls all over the back of Massa in fifth, the Brazilian really looks like he's struggling in these conditions. Ricciardo having to move over to avoid the spray from Vettel#s car in front. |
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Lap 16 |
Rosberg sets a new fastest lap, a massive 1:52.551. Hamilton two seconds down on his team-mate. Magnussen comes into the pit lane again, to take on new intermediates but he already had a set on - suggesting he may have sustained a puncture. Vettel makes a move stick down the inside of the hairpin on Massa. Wonderful stuff and now Ricciardo now has a look but can't make it stick around the outside of Spoon. But Ricciardo tries again on the exit of Spoon but Massa has the power to breeze away on the run down to 130R. Great overtake from Vettel there. |
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Lap 17 |
Vettel now scampering away from Massa, who is doing a great job at holding up Ricciardo - but he passes Massa on the outside of the Dunlop Curve, using Red Bull's superior downforce to make a move stick. More proof of Ricciardo's overtaking prowess. That drops Massa down to seventh. |
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Lap 18 |
Hamilton has narrowed the gap to 1.2 seconds as Mercedes tells Rosberg they are expecting some light rain soon. Magnussen is down in 21st after his second stop - which appeared to be due to some problems with his McLaren. Vettel now all over the back of Bottas - we knew Williams would struggle in the wet. Vettel tries it round the outside of Bottas at the hairpin - the opposite move to Massa - and he makes it stick again. Excellent stuff from the world champion. Now Bottas slips back into Ricciardo's grasp. |
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Lap 19 |
Hamilton now within a second of Rosberg after a good middle sector on that last lap. Ricciardo passes Bottas in identical circumstances to Massa! Excellent stuff, a rehearsed move from the lap before. So Red Bull flying out there, Button the next man on track but he's matching the Mercedes' pace at the moment. In clear air, though, we will see how the Red Bulls compare. |
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Lap 20 |
Hamilton is told there will be no rain until the end of the race - but then warned that's a "low certainty". Grosjean has had a moment off track at Turn 13 - which is Spoon.
Vergne has pitted for fresh intermediate tyres. |
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Lap 21 |
Rosberg keeping that gap over Hamilton, who has to keep moving out of Rosberg's spray - though it is less severe down the main straight than it was. Last lap comparison: Rosberg 1:54.002 Hamilton 1:54.138 Button 1:54.171 Vettel: 1:53.667 Ricciardo 1:53.708. Red Bulls starting to fly now. But Vettel still 13 seconds down on Button. Hulkenberg runs wide through the snake in the first sector while chasing Massa for seventh. |
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Lap 22 |
Ricciardo told Red Bulls are the fastest cars on the circuit, which they are, but there's a long way to catch Button and even longer to catch the Mercedes. Their advantage currently around half a second. Hamilton one second down on Rosberg - is he waiting patiently for an opportunity? Ricciardo slashes Vettel's advantage down to two seconds. Maybe he won't need team orders, after all. He certainly hasn't this season. |
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Lap 23 |
Mercedes lapping nearly a second slower than they were. Suggesting either a lack of grip out there. Or it could be that they fuelled lighter thinking there would not be a full race distance. Still no DRS enabled, by the way. Hulkenberg has gone off the track again at Turn 8. Rosberg is asked how hard he is pushing, he replies: "I'm flat out!" which suggests Mercedes is, in fact, struggling for grip. I wonder if Hamilton is flat out behind, as that gap is now around the nine tenths mark.
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Lap 24 |
Rosberg's lead now down to seven tenths. Grosjean squeezes past Sutil at Degner 1, nice move for 14th. Looks like there is a problem for Raikkonen in the pits, the team struggling with a front right but he eventually gets away but will rejoin behind the large battle for 14th. DRS enabled |
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Lap 25 |
Hamilton right up behind Rosberg and has a sniff at Turn 1! His last lap two tenths quicker than Rosberg, looks like Hamilton went in very deep at the final chicane on the final lap. Vettel has gained five seconds on the leaders in the last few laps - so Mercedes must have a cautious eye on Red Bull despite still holding a significant gap. Still nine seconds between Button and Vettel. Hamilton half a second behind Rosberg! |
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Lap 26 |
Rosberg looking frantically in both mirrors coming into Turn 1 and Hamilton nearly takes him on the exit of that corner. They are dicing so, so closely out there. Conditions still make visibility difficult. Hamilton didn't quite have the pace out of the corner to make it stick. He's absolutely flying compared to Rosberg. "So much oversteer!" complains Rosberg. Vettel has just gone purple through the middle sector. The world champion is flying. Mercedes may need to make a call to make sure these two out in front don't hit each other. Hamilton once again ignoring a message to hold steady and try later, clearly sensing an opportunity. |
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Lap 27 |
Hamilton is not close enough down the pit straight and he runs wide at Turn 1! Reprieve for Rosberg, looks like Hamilton's brakes might not be completely up to temperature. His left front looks incredibly hot out there but he's slashed the gap back down to four tenths. Rosberg struggling hugely with his Mercedes, it seems. |
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Lap 28 |
Hamilton enters the DRS zone right behind Rosberg but can't get close enough into Turn 1 again. He keeps it on the track this time round and, if Rosberg continues to lap some three tenths slower, he should take him at some point on this lap. Button has narrowed the gap to 16 seconds to Hamilton, with Vettel still eight seconds behind. Ricciardo currently the fastest man on track but is one second down on Vettel. In a non-world championship situation, Mercedes would ask Rosberg to move over here. But after Hungary don't expect that to happen any time soon. Hamilton so, so close to Rosberg coming round Spoon. |
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Lap 29 |
Hamilton gets a run on Rosberg in the DRS zone and takes his team-mate into Turn 1! Excellent stuff from the 2008 world champion, that's not an easy place to pass. Rosberg looked like he went overly defensive and in the end was a bit of a sitting duck. With clear air now it's advantage Hamilton to pull out an advantage. Seeing a replay of that - it's not quite Raikkonen on Fisichella in 2005 but it's a ballsy pass nonetheless. |
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Lap 30 |
Vettel pits for new intermediate tyres and comes out well clear of Bottas, so he's fifth and will now try to avoid the undercut from Ricciardo. Mercedes should consider bringing Rosberg in as he's already slipped 2.7s behind Rosberg. Perez dives down the outside of Gutierrez for tenth - crucial battle for points there, with Sauber yet to score a point in 2014. |
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Lap 31 |
Wow. The gap is now four seconds in front! Button just 12 seconds behind the German now.
Last lap comparison: Hamilton 1:53.347 Ricciardo does not pit, so perhaps Vettel was struggling more with his tyres than Ricciardo - it wouldn't be the first time this season. Or was that a way of Red Bull avoiding a team order? |
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Lap 32 |
Hamilton now nearly five seconds ahead, his last lap alone nine tenths faster. Button pits for fresh tyres! All eyes on Ricciardo - who sets a personal best, a 1:52.699. Button has a slow getaway but eventually manages to - he gets out behind Vettel, who sets a fastest lap of 1:52.191 in the process! Those new intermediates working a treat for the world champion and Red Bull will surely call Ricciardo in now too. Big shame for Button after a great call early in the race, but don't write off the Brit just yet. Maldonado all over the back of Sutil - a sentence now F1 fan wants to hear - but he makes a smart move stick into Turn 1. |
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Lap 33 |
There's been some lovely passing in this race so far. Vettel sets another fastest lap, a 1:51.915, out there. Hamilton's lead in front is now 5.6 seconds! He's cruising away with this one, I wonder what Mercedes is thinking by not bringing Rosberg in... Unless of course they are saving something.... Nope! "Box, box, box!" is the call for Mercedes. Interesting that they bring in the man behind - probably don't think Hamilton needs to stop as desperately as Rosberg. It's nearly six seconds, his lead. |
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Lap 34 |
Rosberg pits from second then. Mercedes responding to the pace of Vettel. Rosberg gets out in third, behind Ricciardo, who is yet to pit, but comfortably clear of Vettel. Button now sets a fastest lap, 1:51.721. This is set up for a thrilling finish, you know. Magnussen runs wide at Turn 1 and has a little spin, losing a position in the process. Replay of Rosberg shows the right front was a bit slow coming off Rosberg's car. "My tyres feel OK still," Hamilton tells Mercedes, but he's laping much slower to those guys out in front. |
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Lap 35 |
Hamilton stays out then.... Very interesting. Mercedes should have brought him in because he's got traffic all over the place coming up, Rosberg on faster intermediates now too. There's nine seconds inbetween Ricciardo and Rosberg, where Hamilton would likely feed into if he was to pit soon. Button told he is now ahead of Ricciardo when the Red Bull decides to pit. Mercedes are out in the pits so let's assume Hamilton is coming in. No idea why they waited an extra lap. |
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Lap 36 |
Hamilton pits from the lead. He filters out into second behind Ricciardo - who is still on old intermediates - and comfortably clear of Rosberg but there's a big train of traffic ahead for these guys now. Seems like it's starting to rain a bit more steadily in the pit lane but nothing to cause any concern just yet. Hamilton told he may need to pass Ricciardo on track, so are Red Bull trying to stretch out this stint? He is already right up behind Ricciardo, however, and has the benefit of fresher tyres. Seeing a replay of Magnussen unlapping himself with a super move on Ricciardo at the start of the last lap. Cracking stuff. |
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Lap 37 |
And that last replay suggests Ricciardo was struggling on those tyres and indeed, he pits. So now Hamilton leads, four seconds ahead of Rosberg on track. Vettel some eight and a half seconds down on his fellow countryman in third. Seems the rain is starting to fall a bit heavier... Button has stopped gaining on Vettel, it seems. |
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Lap 38 |
So we are two points away from a full-points race now. Hamilton now leads by over seven seconds so he's cruising. Perez has just received the following radio message: "15 minutes of rain, Checo. 15 minutes of rain." It's all happening at Turn 1 for Magnussen, as he runs wide again. He looks like he's pushing like mad after that unscheduled pit stop earlier today. Vergne also follows suit with a run across the tarmac. In all this I've not mentioned Williams for a while, Massa has just pitted and re-joined just in front of Perez for ninth. I wonder if those two still remember their crash at Canada? |
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Lap 39 |
Hamilton is absolutely on it. That's a fastest lap, a 1:51.667, extending his advantage to 8.5s. Barring a huge change in weather or something else, this is his to lose. Vettel having a huge moment and running very wide through the Esses. He manages to get back on track but that's brought Button right into the mix, he's now just two seconds behind with Ricciardo looming in the distance also. Bottas re-joins from his pit stop in eighth, ahead of Massa. The race has fallen apart for Williams in the rain, as Bottas predicted. Hamilton tells Mercedes the rain is getting worse after being warned about other drivers running wide at Turn 1. Could there be another twist in this race yet? |
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Lap 40 |
If there is another twist, Hamilton has nearly 10 seconds in his pocket over Rosberg.It was another fastest lap from Hamilton, a 1:51.600. Ricciardo all over the back of Button's McLaren in fourth. Ricciardo launches down the inside of the hairpin but he went in too deep and Button is able to power back past the Australian on the run up to Spoon. Great racing. |
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Lap 41 |
This will be a full-points race - so all of that concern at the start of the race proving to be for nought. Hamilton's lead is 10.6s but the real battle of note is Button and Ricciardo for fourth. DRS has been disabled with the rain falling heavier. Hamilton tells Mercedes the rain is getting heavier and heavier but he is told he's still the fastest man on the track "so keep it on the black stuff". Ricciardo tries it again at the hairpin but Button is putting on a clinic in defensive driving, carrying more speed out of the corner to comfortably hold the Australian off. More rain has helped Button hugely, with that DRS disabled. |
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Lap 42 |
Magnussen pits for full wets. The visibility looks really bad out there all of a sudden, starting to get back to the levels it was earlier in this race. Ricciardo makes it stick down the inside of the hairpin this time! Super, super stuff from the Aussie. Magnussen now all over the back of Button to un-lap himself, but he doesn't let him coming through Spoon.
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Lap 43 |
Phil says:" Is 'Keep it on the black stuff' driving advice?" I think it's just a reminder not to crash! Having been dispatched by Ricciardo, Button pits for wets, safe in the knowledge he has nearly 50 seconds on Hulkenberg in sixth. I've barely mentioned Hulkenberg, actually, but if he is on the same pit stops as those behind him, this would be a tremendous return to form after a mid-season wobble. *Maldonado under investigation klaxon* this time for speeding in the pit lane. It's getting darker and wetter out there. |
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Lap 44 |
Hamilton leads comfortably, it's 14 seconds between he and Rosberg now.
We haven't seen this incident, the medical car is scampering around the circuit. This will trigger a huge amount of pit activity.This could cost Button hugely as he's tucked up behind the safety car. Hulkenberg pits for intermediates.... interesting call in the worsening rain. |
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Lap 45 |
There's complete confusion out there currently, there's not a train of cars behind the safety car but a lot of cars travelling around the circuit slowly. Hamilton is still on the intermediates. The medical team have pulled a stretcher out of the medical car. Sutil appears to be standing behind the fence. There's also a Marussia down there as well, Jules Bianchi's car appears to have gone off at the same point. I'm sure this race will be red-flagged now as that medical car is still down there. Ambulance also down on track. I'm not going to speculate on who this is for but it looks concerning.... |
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Lap 46 |
Hulkenberg has pulled up at the end of the pit lane. Goes without saying, the race is continuing under the safety car. |
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Lap 47 |
The cars are back in the pit lane but I doubt this race will restart. Lots of concerned faces in the Marussia garage but we don't know what that medical car was for, at all. Sensibly, the broadcasters focusing on everything but that corner. The race will not be resumed meaning Hamilton wins, but that's the last of anyone's concerns right now |
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Lap 48 |
Hamilton makes his way from the car but his celebrations are muted. Rosberg finishing second with Vettel third, but really the results at the moment are the furthest from anyone's thoughts. |
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Race ends after serious crash at Dunlop curve involving Bianchi and Sutil. Medical car dispatched. Updates to follow... --- As I suspected, no champagne sprayed on the podium. A horrible way for a great race to end, we will have updates on ESPN as soon as we have them. --- Marussia says they heard no reply from Bianchi after his crash. Hugely concerning moments in Suzuka. Understandably, the reaction of the top three is muted as Rosberg makes his way into the back. Rosberg shakes Hamilton's hand but you can tell on the faces of everyone there is genuine concern. it's a subdued atmosphere at the moment. Rosberg and Hamilton talking closely and they both look very concerned. A dramatic race ending in very difficult circumstances. The medical helicopter has turned on its engines. There won't be any champagne on the podium, I don't think. Very muted celebrations all around. The crowd clap and cheer but they won't know the full extent of what has happened.
The British national anthem is playing for Hamilton, but he looks as stony faced as the rest. Not the circumstances you'd want to win under. The helicopter has taken off. No idea who it is for at this point, but indications point to a very serious incident at Dunlop. |
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The safety car leads the pack away for the first official lap. Two laps need to be completed by the race leader for any points to be awarded, 40 laps for full points to be given.
And the race has been stopped.The pit exit is shut, meaning they won't complete this lap as they form up on the grid - no, they come down the pit lane! Meaning they complete the second lap, so at least some points will be awarded.
Hamilton follows Rosberg closely into Turn 1 but has to pull out of his spray, he can't get close enough to pass.
Sutil in the wall! He has just skated off the circuit at Dunlop.
