2008 British Grand Prix Race Report
Adrian Sutil (car 20, VJM01/02):DNF 16:59.400 (10 laps)
Giancarlo Fisichella (car 21, VJM01/05): DNF 43:12.620 (26 laps)
Heavy rain showers, wet track conditions and standing water all contributed to an extraordinary British Grand Prix today at Silverstone, with just 13 finishers and only three cars finishing on the lead lap. Unfortunately, however, the very same conditions also conspired to bring the Force India Formula One Team's race to a disappointing double retirement.
Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella both raced competitively in the first half of the race, but spins into the gravel trap on laps 11 and 27 respectively put an end to the duo's challenge.
Adrian, who started 19th, was up to 11th position in the opening stages and racing with Bourdais and Button until he aquaplaned on a puddle of standing water coming down the Club straight and went off into the gravel.
Giancarlo climbed into the top 15 from his 20th slot on the grid, however moving off line through the Becketts complex to let a lapping car through caused a lack of traction and grip on the ice-like surface and he too went into the gravel.
The team will now regroup with a further three-day test next week at Hockenheim in advance of the German Grand Prix in two weeks time. Adrian will test the first two days, with Giancarlo finishing the test on Thursday.
Adrian Sutil (car 20)
'At the time of my spin, the track was starting to dry and it was tricky to tell where the wet patches were. This is what happened in my case - I just went on one of these puddles and aquaplaned off completely.
It was a shame as considering how the race turned out, we could have had a chance of moving up the order some more, but this is racing and you never know how it will turn out. I'm now looking forward to the test next week where we can try out some more new parts and then we go onto my home race in Germany.'
Giancarlo Fisichella (car 21)
'I just lost control going through the complex because there was a lot of graining on the tyres as a result of the heavy fuel load we were carrying to be as flexible as possible with the weather. Even two laps earlier, the track was starting to dry out and there was some more graining. The grip level was absolutely zero and I spun.'
Mike Gascoyne, chief technical officer
'A very disappointing end to the weekend. It is important in these sort of conditions to get cars to the end and pick up whatever places are available but unfortunately both drivers got caught out by the conditions.
On a positive note though, our pace certainly seems better with the modifications we made and we have some further updates for Hockenheim, so we need to move forward and have a better weekend there.'
Dr Vijay Mallya, chairman and managing director
'What a race today. It is the first time in many years that the winner - a very deserving Lewis Hamilton - lapped all up to third position. It is also astonishing that a car that qualified just two tenths away from us has finished on the podium. If we had finished then who knows what would have been possible?
Of course we didn't, but the conditions were extremely difficult and, as we saw, most drivers experienced some sort of problem. We should not dwell on this too much though, but rather move on to the next test in just two days' time and then the German Grand Prix, where I am sure Adrian will want to put on a good show in front of his home crowd.'
- Lucy Nell-
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