Webber disappoints British fans

Englishmen and women will want to forget the month of July in a hurry. After a lengthy 4 year wait, footballs’ finest hour, the World Cup, was unmasked in South Africa. England, once the darling of Europe in terms of its football accomplishments, is still in mourning as its world cup fire was extinguished by a ferocious German team. With their ambitions deposited in a landfill, British fans had to search elsewhere for subject matter to fuel their patriotism.

Bernie Ecclestone’s road show, Formula 1, provided the first opportunity to salvage lost cojones. The British Grand Prix held at the legendary Silverstone Circuit provided the platform. British drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jensen Button, driving for a British team, McLaren Mercedes, led the driver’s championship going into the grand prix.

At the 61^st running of the grand prix, the plan was to keep the British flag flying high, but from the outset, it appeared as if Red Bull Racing was destined to rain on that parade.

Vettel

Red Bull drivers Vettel and Webber lined up 1-2 on the grid, but Hamilton was nearby in third. When the red lights took flight, the drivers followed. Vettel’s attempt to secure first, by veering to the right, backfired. He was eventually bullied off track, where he fell victim to a punctured tire. This left Webber in front with Hamilton snapping at his exhaust pipes.

Webber’s Red Bull machine out-classed the field. Webber was in devastating form, at one with the machine and despite his best efforts, Lewis Hamilton could only run a distant second. Alonso had another horrible race and he should by now be wondering if he is cursed. Vettel dug deep and drove his heart out, slipping and sliding on worn tires as he drove to a points paying seventh position.

Webber

Webber should still be beaming with pride, as he battled what appeared to be favoritism in his camp (Vettel got the ‘improved’ car) and drove a brilliant race. He disappointed British fans by locking out their drivers from the top spot and discarded his spectacular crash in the previous grand prix as he raced to victory. The battle for the drivers’ championship could not be more intense – Hamilton-145, Button-133, Webber-128 and Vettel-121 points!

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer