Hartley’s run of bad luck continues
Brendon Hartley’s wretched Formula One run has continued after he failed to finish the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Hartley had to start in the pit lane yesterday after a spectacular crash during practice when the front suspension of his car was severely damaged.
The Manawatu driver emerged unscathed from Saturday’s incident, but tweeted later that it ‘‘wasn’t super fun having a suspension failure at 300-odd kph’’.
Hartley took his place on the start line for the main race – won by Germany’s Sebastian Vettel – but was unable to complete the first lap when his rebuilt Toro Rosso car limped into the pits.
His Silverstone setback extended his run of bad luck in the Formula One 2018 campaign.
Hartley crashed during practice for the Spanish Grand Prix, was forced out of the Canada Grand Prix after a collision on the first lap and had to retire from last week’s Austrian Grand Prix with mechanical trouble.
Vettel landed a blow in the Formula One world championship by winning rival Lewis Hamilton’s home British Grand Prix in a dramatic Silverstone race.
Hamilton started his Mercedes badly from pole position and was hit by the other Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen as he tried to cling on to third. He fell to 16th but recovered to second, ahead of Raikkonen who completed the podium.
Vettel in contrast was rewarded for a brilliant start in which he overtook Hamilton within metres on the opening straight. A late move on Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas, after two safety cars, then confirmed his 51st career victory.
It was championship leader Vettel’s fourth win of the season and extends his advantage over Hamilton from one point in the standings to eight after 10 season races.
"Thanks to the team for supporting me and also the people in the background because yesterday I was a bit damaged but much better today," Vettel said.
"I was a bit concerned [about my neck injury] going into the race but I was fine ... The neck held up and that was a race I enjoyed a lot and I think the people enjoyed a lot."
Hamilton started on a high after a dazzling final lap on Sunday brought pole position.
But like in Austria a week ago he soon ran into trouble and his hopes of a record- breaking race were immediately over.
A fifth consecutive home victory would have beaten Jim Clark’s streak of four and his sixth win overall would have moved him beyond Clark and Alain Prost’s record of five.
A slow start cost him places to Vettel and Bottas before Raikkonen ran into his rear and was given a 10-second time penalty.
"It was my mistake, so that’s fine," Raikkonen said. "I deserved it but kept fighting."
Lapping well around the 5.891-kilometre course, Hamilton soon moved into the points and was 25 seconds off Vettel by lap 9, with the German 5 seconds ahead of Bottas at the front.
Vettel has emerged the clear victor from F1’s first triple header of races having led Hamilton by a point going into the French GP on June 24.
He lost ground by finishing fifth there, while Hamilton won, but has outscored the Brit 40-18 in the last two outings.
The pair hold four world titles each and going into his home German GP on July 22, Vettel is suddenly clear in the race for number five.
Hamilton was visibly frustrated at the end and skipped his pre-podium interview.
"This is the greatest race of the year and the greatest crowd, I am sorry I could not bring it home for you today. I will not give up, believe me, I will not give up," he said.