10. 2013 – Explosive action
BBC Sport – F1 2013 British GP highlights- Nico Rosberg wins frenetic race from BigSmOke on Vimeo.
Rarely has tyre wear caused more chaos during a Grand Prix weekend than at Silverstone in 2013, with six drivers suffering tyre blowouts in rapid succession and the unknown cause – later speculated to be the serrated kerbs at Aintree – prompting the safety car to be deployed to regain some semblance of order.
Out front after a belting start, Hamilton was the first victim on lap eight, his left rear sheering on the Wellington Straight, allowing Sebastien Vettel into the lead. Two laps later it was Massa’s turn, the Ferrari spearing off-track into the run-off. Jean-Vergne, Sergio Perez, Esteban Gutierrez and teammate Fernando Alonso soon felt the sting.
Victory it seemed was assured for Vettel, until gearbox problems halted the Red Bull in front of the pits with just 19 laps to go. Cue a surprise win for Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg and an enormous cheer from the British crowd as runaway championship leader Vettel walked back to the pits, clearly furious.
