2007 EUROPEAN GRAND PRIX
Fernando Alonso MP4-22 06
Lewis Hamilton MP4-22 05
T-car MP4-22 04
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Fernando Alonso claimed
victory at a chaotic European Grand Prix. Fernando overtook
Felipe Massa four laps from the end and achieved the team’s
fifth win in the 10th race of the season. Lewis Hamilton ended
up ninth. Due to the changeable weather conditions, both drivers
made four pit stops. Fernando came in on laps 1 (10 sec),
12 (7.7sec), 37 (7.7sec) and 53 (7.1sec). Lewis made his stops
on laps 1 (10.4 sec), 6 (9.2.sec), 35 (9.3sec) and 54 (10
sec). Despite missing the podium and a points finish for the
first time in the 10 Grands Prix of his Formula One career,
Lewis maintained the lead in the Drivers’ Championship
with 70 followed by Fernando in second position with 68 points.
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes extended the lead in the constructors'
table with 138 points ahead of Ferrari on 111.
FERNANDO ALONSO
“This was a really exciting race for both the drivers
and all the fans. The conditions were unbelievable –
mainly at the start when we were just aquaplaning everywhere.
In the dry conditions the Ferraris were a little faster but
in the final stages when the rain started again, we were quicker
and I was able to overtake Felipe to take the lead. During
this battle we touched twice, but that is motor racing, and
we were fighting for victory. There was a close one in the
pitlane during my last stop where there was a lot of traffic,
and I was side-by-side with Giancarlo. All in all a good weekend
for me, and I gained valuable World Championship points for
both me and the team. In difficult conditions the team did
a great job.”
LEWIS HAMILTON
“This was an extraordinary weekend and a new experience
for me. Initially I made a good start and was sixth. I got
into fourth when the two BMWs went off, and I picked up a
puncture and had to pit. The team took advantage of this and
fitted rain tyres, but it just got too slippery and I went
off. I managed to keep the engine running, and a crane was
able to get me free – thank you Nürburgring Marshalls.
The race was then red flagged. After the restart I pushed
as much as I could to catch up, but when you are almost a
lap down you really have to rely on other people’s misfortune.
I was able to get ninth in the end after passing a Renault
on the last lap, but no points.”
RON DENNIS
“This was motor racing at its best. Fernando did a fantastic
job demonstrating why he is a double World Champion. First
of all, he kept the car on the road during the first downpour.
From that moment both him and the team made all the right
decisions. However his second stint following the switch to
dry tyres was hampered by a wing adjustment tool failing and
as a result he struggled with understeer, but fortunately
in his third stop we were able to properly adjust the wing,
and from there his pace was fantastic. Following the final
stop to fit the intermediate rain tyres he and the car came
into their own and it was great to be part of such a tremendous
drive and a great race win. Lewis’s race was truly eventful.
Following a great start which saw him move from 10th to fourth,
he picked up a puncture and immediately went into the pits.
Fortunately we were able to take advantage of this and fit
the intermediate tyres but he was a little ambitious in trying
to push forward in what were appalling conditions and spun,
but fortunately kept the engine running. On being lifted back
on the circuit he was able to continue. Following the red
flag period it took a while for the time keepers to establish
that he had to drive through the field and past the Safety
Car. Once this was done he decided to take the gamble and
fit dry tyres and refuel. Unfortunately before being able
to drive to the back of the pack, the Safety Car pitted and
he was quickly swallowed up by those cars that were still
equipped with rain tyres. After three laps the circuit dried,
and he was ultimately able to unlap himself and then set numerous
fastest laps to eventually finish one place out of the points.
To come away with Fernando closing the gap on Lewis and the
team extending its lead in the Constructors’ Championship
by two points is a great conclusion to a challenging Grand
Prix.”
NORBERT HAUG
“The best and most exciting race of the year. In rarely
seen difficult conditions. Fernando did a fantastic job and
achieved a well-deserved victory. He was a class of his own
in the rain. Lewis was the fastest driver in the field for
many laps with a car the mechanics had repaired over night
and I thank them for their great efforts. All of them worked
together – Fernando’s guys and Lewis’s guys
and the Mercedes engine colleagues too. It is great to win
on home soil, and I am sure the spectators here and in front
of the TVs enjoyed it a lot. Both drivers are at the top of
the overall ranking within two points and in the Constructors’
Championship, we extended our lead to 27 points. In the first
ten races we have shown reliability and everybody in the team
will work hard to continue this achievement until after the
end of the season.”
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