AS far as British Grands Prix go, the 2022 edition will live long in the memory. And no one else will remember it more vividly or fondly than Carlos Sainz.
The Ferrari driver, in his 150th race, has finally climbed to the top step of the podium. It wasn’t a straightforward victory, but it was a popular one, up and down the paddock.
Saturday had already proven to be a stand-out day for Sainz, who secured his first pole position in tricky, changeable conditions. Max Verstappen would pounce quickly at the race start, however, and snatch the lead.
But the racing action was short-lived, as moments later race control red flagged the race. A horrific crash for Zhou Guanyu saw the Alfa Romeo barrel roll its way across the turn one gravel trap and slam into the catch fence that lines the perimeter of the track.
There were anxious moments, as everyone waited for news on Zhou’s condition as the extraction team removed the driver from the wreck. Nevertheless, testament to the safety of F1, and the HALO, Zhou escaped a horrifying incident without any injuries. Further down the field, a second crash off the start line pitched Alex Albon into the concrete pitwall and necessitated a precautionary trip to the hospital for the Williams driver. He, too, escaped injury.
The first-lap melee also laid claim to George Russell. The Merc driver, with significant damage to his car, climbed out of his cockpit and ran over to Guanyu’s wreck. Russell’s car was transported to the pits on the back of a truck and he was not allowed to restart the race, due to receiving outside assistance.
Nearly one hour later, the race commenced in the original starting grid order because the field had not reached the second safety car line. This time, Sainz was able to maintain the lead, but teammate Leclerc scrapped with Checo Perez for third place. Both cars lost pieces of their front-wings, but Perez seemed to be worse off and was forced into the pits, dropping the Mexican driver to dead last.
Meanwhile, Verstappen in clearly the quicker car, was tenths away from Sainz and seemingly primed for an overtake. He didn’t have to work hard though, as a slight mistake from Sainz, in the Maggots-Becketts complex, allowed Verstappen into the lead. But his ascendency was short-lived as Verstappen pitted with what he thought was a puncture.
He emerged well down the field with a car he termed “100% broken” with floor damage.
As Ferrari took their time to figure out a strategy between their two drivers, Hamilton was closing, from third, on the pair of them. The solution was to pit Sainz on lap 20, releasing Leclerc. Five laps later Leclerc pitted from the lead, while Hamilton pitted on lap 33. Meanwhile Ferrari had released Leclerc from behind Sainz and he was easily extending the gap over Sainz and Hamilton.
But a few laps later the safety car was deployed to enable the recovery of Esteban Ocon’s stricken Alpine. In true Ferrari fashion, Leclerc was left out on old hard tyres while Sainz and Hamilton both fitted new softs. The restart saw Sainz take the lead and head off towards a welcome first career win.
Behind the dice between Perez, Leclerc, and Hamilton sent the capacity crowd into raptures as the three swopped positions turn after turn in a display of the absolute finest of F1 racing.
Perez completed a stunning comeback from last place to second. Hamilton secured a fine third place while Leclerc held on to fourth. In fifth was Fernando Alonso with Lando Norris in sixth. Verstappen just held on to seventh from a feisty Mick Schumacher in eighth. Schumacher’s result secured his first points. On his birthday, Seb Vettel was ninth, ahead of Kevin Magnussen in tenth.
