[Alvin]

Some 2013 Silverstone Highlights:

• Epic right rear tire failures, IIRC 4 actual failures, and 2 near misses with 2 removed during Safety Car Yellow found to be right at the point of failure. Pirelli was noticeably silent as to the situation until AFTER the race.

• Hamilton; way ahead in the lead on lap 7 and into the pits for right rear tire failure. He did a good job regaining positions in the field…right to the end.

• Massa had done an admirable job of working his way through the field and spun out with right rear tire failure. Massa redeemed his four previous crashes (2 in Monaco, 1 Montreal, 1 Silverstone) by coming back from behind in the grid after the tire failure and finishing in the mfg points.

• Vettal appearing to be on another runaway lead when his car lurched to a stop due to loss of the gearbox…and suddenly it was anyone’s race to win and upset the mfg and drivers points. It was disclosed that Vettels’ right rear tire was one that had been on the verge of failure but had been changed out just prior to exploding (and the unrelated gear box failure) like the others.

• The mad dash to the last 7 laps with many options and possibilities of who would end up on the podium. It was truly exciting as my wife was pulling and shouting out for Alonso and Webber. Congrats to Nico Roseburg for his win.

• And Webbers’ announcement that he would retire from F1 at the end of the 2013 to accept the offer to race for Porsche in LMP1 racing was indeed fodder for speculation and an early start to the driver “Silly Season” with many prospective drivers in consideration to move to Red Bull to take Webbers empty seat in F1 for 2014 season.

• The “slap on the wrist” for Merc tire testing at Pirellis direction in Barcelona, with their exclusion from the Jr’ Driver Testing included in their penalty…and small undisclosed $ amount. Was pointed out that F1 would be unable to ban Merc as they were providing power plants for more than 4 teams in F1…

• Still in the air is the unsigned Contract for 2014s Specifications to move to V6 Turbo Engine incorporating 3 to 4 times more KERS than the current configuration. With much discussion of the new systems complexity and additional extreme cost. This about a system that “is designed to bring down the costs and complexity of F1”.

• Additional testing; 2 sessions Pre-Season, and 4 Seasonal scheduled; added to the 2014 schedule should relieve some stress of the unknowns of the tires and equipment for each and every team – that can afford to test…

• Pending lawsuit against Bernie Eccelstone, regarding his position, decisions and leadership of F1 in question.

That is the “short list”. Silverstone 2013 was indeed an exciting event Thurs – Sun; beginning on Thursdays Free Practice session 1 rain out, Qualifying, Pole position, and the race itself.