#711
Post
by tango15 » Sun Jul 18, 2021 9:21 pm
I was there! I can't really comment on the coming together, because I only saw it at a distance and then not very clearly. Of course Red Bull were exercised by the whole thing and one of their principals ( not the Spice Girl's husband), came on and made a number of derogatory remarks about Hamilton's driving and was quickly ushered off Silverstone FM. A few observations:
1) He took the ten second penalty on the hoof as it were, which surprised me a little, but perhaps such was Mercedes confidence in their driver that they thought there was a still a chance he could do something, especially as Leclerc was clearly having problems with his car.
2) The crowd were 100% behind Hamilton, though somewhat shocked when they saw the damage to Verstappen's car.
3) A the end of the race, Hamilton climbed over a gate and onto the grass in front of the podium, to thank his fans, who had cheered him all the way. After this, he climbed through one of the gates in front of the track, facing the grandstands, and waved to everyone. All this before he even hugged his team-mates and went onto the podium.
4) Bottas cut a very lonely figure on the podium. He looked like 'Valtteri No Mates' all there on his own, while Hamilton, Leclerc and the Merc team principal showered each other with what must have been very warm champagne - it had been sitting on the podium for at least half an hour!
5) Of course they played the National Anthem and it was nice to hear the people around me singing it - mind you, I was in the posh seats, but lots of people in the other stands seemed to be signing it, too!