Formula 1: Lady Luck embraces Hamilton at Silverstone!

FIFA World Cup 2014

I digress. Briefly.Where there is smoke, there is fire. Football aficionados worldwide would have seen the smoke all along. They would have recognised and accepted it for what it was. If you know the game of football, that is, really know the game, which when translated means that you are not a ‘wagonist’, you would have known that the current Brazil team was rather ordinary.

When you watched the games – did you witness the characteristics – smooth-flowing football, crisp, precise, creative passing and abundant flamboyance –  that signify Brazilian football and by extension, Brazil’s World Cup teams? Honesty will force you to conclude – No!

Brazil had all of their eggs in a rather minute basket, which was wrapped in Neymar and with his unfortunate departure and Silva’s unavoidable exclusion, the plumes of smoke grew significantly larger as the German encounter drew near.

Brazil’s fans chose to ignore the signs and clung to emotions, passion and hope. The Germans saw through the smoke and callously dispersed nitro-methane throughout the smoldering Brazilian empire!

Tears flowed like the Nile, but I hope the lesson was learnt. At the World Cup, if you do not come prepared to play, you will not stay! Is Scolari still the coach?

Formula 1

I would hate to be a passenger on a boat directed by Lewis Hamilton’s emotions. On that boat, you would be tossed like salad and forced to ride the most insane roller-coaster known to man!

I have stated it earlier, that the 2014 season is Lewis’ best shot at winning the championship (again). His team has obviously blended the ‘right juice’ and the only thing visible to their competitors is the wide footprint left by the departing rear tyres as the Mercedes AMG machines summon the chequered flag!

The team has two drivers. Two drivers who have realised that a glorious opportunity beckons and as such they are delivering their best. We witnessed eight Rounds, prior to the British GP and the results board  show Rosberg and Hamilton trading P1 for seven of the eight Rounds! Ricciardo, thanks to his broad smile and sociable countenance, was allowed to creep into P1 at the Canadian GP when gremlins visited Rosberg!

Hamilton’s fans are usually quick to claim sabotage based on what they thought was happening during his final years at McLaren and they were about to shout similar sentiments at Mercedes AMG. For inexplicable reasons, whenever an electrical or mechanical malady visited the team, Hamilton’s machine is usually affected while Rosberg’s machine retains the ‘business as usual’ scorecard. But we know better.

Hamilton

In the days leading up to the British GP, it was widely felt that Hamilton had to deliver a spectacular performance inorder to remain a potent force in the Championship race. The yawning points gap was obvious and if extended, the consensus indicated a perilous future for Hamilton’s championship dreams.

Qualifying hid solace from Hamilton. The scenario which saw him lose pole in a flash of brilliance from several drivers, on a drying circuit, would have been too much for some. Hamilton was flung from P1 to P6! But, Hamilton is not a rookie. He is a World Champion and a seasoned campaigner.

When asked on the grid, a few minutes before the GP, What should Hamilton do (considering what happened during qualifying)? Mercedes AMG’s non-executive chairman, Niki Lauda, did not choose the diplomatic route. He suggested that Lewis had to forget about it, put it all behind him and drive the wheels of his machine in the race.

Vettel

Hamilton’s march to the front began in earnest when the red lights faded. After knocking wheels with Vettel, he wiggled a path to P4. His forward motion was paused by a wheel and carbon fiber shower, courtesy of Raikkonen, who was demonstrating his passion for rallying. The shower terminated the involvement of two drivers and triggered a red flag.

Lady Luck

Hamilton’s recovery saw him claiming 2 more spots -P2 – shortly after the race restarted. With only his nemesis remaining to battle the dominantly British fans held their breaths. The Mercedes duo, Rosberg and Hamilton, employed different tyre strategies and it appeared as if Hamilton, surprisingly, was winning the tyre war. Hamilton’s pace and tyre selection stymied Rosberg’s getaway. The coup was completed when Lady Luck embraced Hamilton on lap 47.  Rosberg’s machine, while leading, was visited by an alien element and Hamilton blew by. It was lap 47.

If anyone thought that Williams’ resurgence would be short-lived, a rude awakening awaits. Bottas drove the wings off the Williams machine, kicking several ‘name-brand’ drivers to the curb in the process. Bottas danced through the pack from P14 to P2!

Vettel’s fans must now be thinking that their driver is on the come-back trail. He finally decided to fight like a champion when he encountered Alonso. After several narrow misses he silenced the prancing horse and took P5.

In the final stages of the race, the man in pink – Button – drove as if he was inspired and possibly he was. He was driving at home with thoughts of his father and it showed. He was locked onto the heat signal from Ricciardo’s machine, but time did not allow overtaking attempts. He had to settle for P4.

Lady Luck forced Rosberg’s retirement and Hamilton romped to victory. The fact that Rosberg scored a DNF was the best result that Hamilton could have hoped for. Remember that yawning gap? It was eradicated. Rosberg now holds an insignificant points advantage – 4 –  and I am certain Hamilton has designed a plan to overtake his teammate at the next GP.

Who will lead the championship at the end of the German GP?

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer