The 2008 Formula 1 season was a closely fought championship race between veteran drivers Kimi Räikkönen and Felipe Massa, and young Briton and 2007 world runner-up Lewis Hamilton. By the time racing moved to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix, the ninth race on that year’s calendar, Ferrari’s Massa had secured three wins for his teammate and reigning Formula 1 World Champion, both for Räikkönen, while McLaren’s Hamilton had also celebrated two wins
It was an eventful Grand Prix weekend, with more off-track drama than on-track action leading up to race day. As the Silverstone circuit celebrated its 60th anniversary, the FIA announced that the British Grand Prix would move to Donnington in 2010, while Red Bull’s David Coulthard, a member of the British Racing Drivers’ Club, announced that he would withdraw at the end of the season.
Saturday’s practice and qualifying sessions were eventful and action packed; taking place in constantly changing weather conditions. The morning brought heavy rain, soaking the circuit and leaving a wet track for the final practice session. Incident-filled qualifying handed a first Formula 1 pole position to Heikki Kovalainen, while his McLaren team-mate Hamilton had to settle for fourth on the grid.
Ominous black clouds blanketed the dark gray sky on race day, threatening another heavy downpour. During the formation lap it was apparent how wet the track was with a lot of spray coming off the cars. Expecting victory in front of a home crowd, Hamilton got off to a lucky start; Raikkonen was boxed in behind Kovalainen and Webber, allowing the Briton to burst from fourth position and briefly take the lead from team-mate Kovalainen. When their cars hit wheels entering the first corner, Hamilton’s Mercedes-powered McLaren took second place.
Drivers struggled to get a grip at the start and battled standing water on the track. The casualties came early: Webber spun into Hangar Straight and ended up at the back of the field, as did Massa, who spun out of Abbey Chicane. Coulthard, on his last start at Silverstone, and Sebastian Vettel spun in the gravel at Brooklands corner, forcing them to retire without completing a full lap.
Hamilton kept up the pace and put pressure on his teammate before coming out on top and taking the lead on lap five. As the track began to dry out, he picked up the pace and increased the gap with Räikkönen in second and Kovalainen in third. The rain returned just as the pit stops began, with cars aquaplaning and spinning on their way to retirement from the race. While Hamilton deftly kept his car on the road, Jenson Button, Giancarlo Fisichella, Robert Kubica, Nelson Piquet Jr. and Adrian Sutil fell victim to slippery conditions.
As the race progressed, the rains fell and subsided; then an unexpected downpour hit the circuit. Even the race leader was not immune, he lost control of his McLaren and crashed into the grass before continuing. But he handled the conditions superbly; his hunger for his victory on his home ground showed at every lap as he used his knowledge of the track to find and maximize grip.
The 23-year-old Hamilton, competing in just his second Formula 1 British Grand Prix, raced masterfully to victory; finishing 68.5 seconds ahead of second place Nick Heidfeld in spectacular fashion. The 90,000 attendees honked their horns and cheered loudly as the local hero, now tied for first with Massa and Räikkönen in the Championship, was presented with the Santander 2008 British Grand Prix winner’s trophy.
