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Single point for Nakajima in Britain

Kazuk Nakajima
By Andrew Hooper July 7 2008
The 2008 British GP would see the AT&T Williams team score a single point for an eighth placed finish from Kazuki Nakajima. Team-mate Rosberg was ninth. The race was run under difficult wet conditions. Nico would start from the pit lane and his race would see him damage his nose in an accident with Glock. Kazuki's race was also eventful spinning once but at least both drivers finished the race.
 
 British GP Race Review
 

With the AT&T Williams teams drivers qualifying in fifteenth and eighteen positions, with Kazuki Nakajima leading team-mate Nico Rosberg, the sixty lap 2008 British Grand Prix was going to be a challenging time. making it ever more difficult would be the fact that rain had fallen on the circuit in the lead up to the race. As the team and drivers prepared for the start of the race it was apparent that the track was still very wet despite there only been a few spots of rain as the cars formed up on the grid. Some drivers were out using the intermediate tyre, including Hamilton and Raikkonen.

NakajimaWith only fifteen minutes prior to the start light rain would start to fall. There was every likelihood that these would turn into heavy showers. As for the Williams team Nico Rosberg would start his race from the pitlane is wheeled from the garage into the pit box in the pitlane following work to the suspension on his FW30 after problems on Saturday. His car was originally fitted with dry tyres but these were changed to wets. Kazuki would start the race from his grid position. With intermediates been the popular choice the grid would move away on the formation lap with Kovalainen leading from Webber.

They would form up on the grid and as the lights went out it would be Hamilton who would pass his team-mate going into Turn one to lead the race. But Kovalainen was able to pass Hamilton going into Becketts. For Webber it would all go wrong as while running in fourth he would spin coming onto the Hangar straight. He was able to continue but was last. But he would not be the only one as Massa would spin at Abbey dropping to the rear of the field. Red Bull team-mate Coulthard and Torro Rosso's Vettel would spin off at Brooklands with both retiring as a result.

NakajimaAs Kovalainen lead Hamilton was 1.3 seconds behind him and Raikkonen in third. Fourth was Heidfeld followed by Alonso, and Piquet. Kazuki had run off the track but was able to continue. Barrichello had moved up six places and was running in tenth. Kovalainen would continue to lead but on lap five Hamilton would pass Kovalainen going into Stowe. Alonso had been able to pass Heidfeld for fourth. Massa had spun for a second time at Woodcote and was now last. In seventh was Trulli. Lap six and Hamilton's lead was out to 1.8 seconds. Raikkonen was still in third. Nico was down in seventeenth as he and Webber challenged fifteenth placed Fisichella.

As the track started to dry Hamilton was able to extend his lead and would set a fastest lap with a 1m:34.445. Kazuki was down in fourteenth and Nico sixteenth. Lap nine and Webber would pass Kazuki for fourteenth, while Hamilton's lead was out to three seconds. Lap ten and the order was Hamilton from Kovalainen, Raikkonen, Alonso, Heidfeld, Piquet, Trulli, and Kubica. Webber was moving through the field passing Bourdais for thirteenth. Over the team radio the Williams team were telling Kazuki to adjust his brake balance forward. Webber would pass Sutil for twelfth as he was to set a fastest lap with a 1m:33.810. On lap eleven Kovalainen would spin his car at Abbey allowing Raikkonen past. Hamilton was leading Kimi by six seconds with Kovalainen 3.8 seconds behind the Ferrari.

FW30 RearRaikkonen would start to close in onto Hamilton as on lap twelve he would set a fastest lap with a 1m:33.635. Sutil would spin his car at Abbey and off into the gravel. He would retire from the race. Webber would continue his push forward passing Barrichello for eleventh on lap thirteen. Nico was still down in sixteenth still trying to find a way past Fisichella. Lap fourteen and Hamilton's lead was down to 4.5 seconds. Webber would pass the second Honda of Button on lap fifteen, the Red Bull now in tenth. Lap sixteen and Hamilton would respond to the challenge from Raikkonen, setting a new fastest lap a 1m:33.268. Kovalainen was now 7.8 seconds behind Raikkonen. Lap seventeen and Massa would get past Nico at Vale taking his sixteenth place.

Raikkonen continue to push and on lap eighteen would set a new fastest lap, 1m:32.259. He was now just 3.3 seconds behind Hamilton. Lap twenty and the rain would start to fall again and Webber was in the pits to make his first stop. The next lap and Kovalainen would stop with the team changing to another set of intermediate tyres. He would return just in front of Kubica in sixth. Lap twenty one and Hamilton's lead was just a second over Raikkonen, as Alonso would pit from third. Hamilton and Raikkonen would pit on lap twenty two with Hamilton staying ahead of the Ferrari. Raikkonen would not change his tyres. The next lap and Massa would pit from fifteenth. Both Heidfeld and Piquet would pit on the next laps.

NakajimaBut the rain would return on lap twenty three and over the next laps would become heavier. Hamilton was leading by 4.6 seconds as Kazuki would spin at Abbey dropping to fourteenth. Hamilton, on the fresher tyres, would extend his lead out to 9.6 seconds. Nico was still down in sixteenth and making no real progress forward. Lap twenty five and Barrichello and Nico would pit. By lap twenty seven Hamilton's lead was out to 21.8 seconds as Raikkonen struggled in the wet conditions. Kovalainen was now just 1.3 seconds behind the Ferrari. The order was Hamilton leading from Raikkonen, Kovalainen, Heidfeld, Piquet, with Kubica moving into sixth as Alonso pitted. Lap twenty eight ad the rain was heavier as Fisichella would spin at Becketts and as a result retire from the race.

At Woodcote Heidfeld was able to pass Heikki and into second. As nearly half the race was completed Hamilton's lead was out to thirty seconds. Heidfeld was able to close in onto Hamilton, reducing his lead down to twenty three seconds. Kazuki had also pitted on lap twenty six from fifteenth. Lap thirty one and both Kubica and Piquet would pass Raikkonen. At the end of the lap Kimi would pit and take on new tyres, dropping to eleventh. It was thought that the Ferrari was fuelled to the finish. Lap thirty four and Hamilton's lead was 25.8 seconds over Heidfeld. Kovalainen in third was been challenged by Kubica.

RosbergOn lap thirty five Kubica would make a fantastic pass diving up the inside of Kovalainen to take third on the approach to Stowe. The rain would continue as Kovalainen would pits his McLaren on lap thirty six. Barrichello had moved up to fifth as the rain got even heavier. Lap thirty seven and Barrichello would pit only to have Button come in behind him forcing him to queue up in the Honda pit. On the same lap Nico would pit taking on the full wet weather tyre. As the rain continued to fall even Hamilton would have an off-track moment at Club. Massa would spin at Becketts as the conditions got worse. Massa was in sixteenth.

Piquet would spin off and retire with his car in the gravel, as on lap thirty eight Hamilton would pit taking on new intermediates. As the heavy shower started to ease Heidfeld would pit from second. Raikkonen had spun his car on the start & finish straight but was able to continue. Webber would spin at Abbey as the sun started to find its way out.

Rosberg PitstopThird placed was occupied by Trulli would had only made one stop. Barrichello was now in fourth having passed Alonso. lap forty one and Kubica would spin his car at Abbey and would retire stuck in the gravel. Nico would be running behind Glock challenging him for eighth but Nico would hit the rear of the Toyota damaging his nose. Nico would pit losing some thirty seconds. Barrichello had now passed Trulli for third. At the front Hamilton was leading by forty six seconds over Heidfeld. The order was Hamilton from Heidfeld, Barrichello, Trulli, Alonso, Kovalainen, and Raikkonen in seventh. Lap forty four and Barrichello was now up to second having passed Heidfeld out of Club using the advantage of his full wets.

But on lap forty seven Barrichello would have to pit again, taking on intermediate tyres and returning in fourth. Third placed Trulli would pit allowing Barrichello back into third. Kazuki was down in eighth and looking to at least score a single point for Williams. Kovalainen had passed Alonso for fifth place at Bridge corner. Lap forty nine and Massa would again spin coming onto the main straight. Nico was down in tenth. With ten laps left in the race Hamilton was leading comfortably. Massa would spin again rejoining the track. Lap fifty one and Kovalainen would spin at Brooklands, allowing Alonso through to fourth and Raikkonen to fifth. The order was now Hamilton, Heidfeld, Barrichello, Alonso, Raikkonen, Kovalainen is the top sixth with Kazuki Nakajima now seventh.

RosbergLap fifty two and Raikkonen was challenging Alonso for fourth. Hamilton would lap Raikkonen the next lap such was his domination of the race. Kimi would pass Alonso for fourth as Nico closed in onto eighth placed Trulli. But as the track conditions improved Trulli would start5 to close into seventh placed Kazuki. Kovalainen was now on the back of Alonso looking to take fifth. With five laps remaining Hamilton lead from Heidfeld, Barrichello, Raikkonen, Alonso, Kovalainen, Kazuki, and Trulli. Kazuki was warned that Trulli was closing and should concertante on this. Lap fifty nine and Kovalainen would pass Alonso at Luffield to take over fifth place. Kazuki was looking at the possibility of passing sixth placed Alonso as he was right with him but in the final lap Trulli was able to pass Kazuki and secure seventh. Kazuki was now in eighth while Nico was now ninth.

So with Hamilton taking what was a dominate victory the order was Hamilton followed by Heidfeld, Barrichello, Raikkonen, Kovalainen, Alonso, Trulli, and the final point going to Kazuki. Nico was in ninth..

 
Pos  Driver        Team                      Time
 1.  Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes      (B)  1h39:09.440
 2.  Heidfeld      BMW Sauber            (B)  +  1:08.577
 3.  Barrichello   Honda                 (B)  +  1:22.273
 4.  Raikkonen     Ferrari               (B)  +     1 lap
 5.  Kovalainen    McLaren-Mercedes      (B)  +     1 lap
 6.  Alonso        Renault               (B)  +     1 lap
 7.  Trulli        Toyota                (B)  +     1 lap
 8.  Nakajima      AT&T Williams-Toyota  (B)  +     1 lap
 9.  Rosberg       AT&T Williams-Toyota  (B)  +     1 lap
10.  Webber        Red Bull-Renault      (B)  +     1 lap
11.  Bourdais      Toro Rosso-Ferrari    (B)  +     1 lap
12.  Glock         Toyota                (B)  +     1 lap
13.  Massa         Ferrari               (B)  +    2 laps

Fastest lap: Raikkonen, 1:32.150

Not classified/retirements:

Driver        Team                      On lap
Kubica        BMW Sauber            (B)    40
Button        Honda                 (B)    39
Piquet        Renault               (B)    36
Fisichella    Force India-Ferrari   (B)    17
Sutil         Force India-Ferrari   (B)    11
Vettel        Toro Rosso-Ferrari    (B)    1
Coulthard     Red Bull-Renault      (B)    1
 

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