Formula 1 of overcoming: from the dramatic accident of the Chinese Guanyu Zhou, to Sainz’s first victory

The Silverstone circuit, the “Cathedral” of world motorsport, was the scene of this Sunday’s the most dramatic Formula 1 race in a long time. Not even the final round of last season’s championship in Abu Dhabi, in which Max Verstappen stole the title from Lewis Hamilton on the last lap, made the hearts of fans around the world race as much as the British Grand Prix, in which Carlos Sainz celebrated his first victory in the premier category.

From the first lap marked by the brutal accident of the Chinese Guanyu Zhou, who was trapped for a few minutes in his car, he overturned and got stuck between the fence and the barriers, and miraculously came out unscathed; until the last laps, in which the Spaniard from Ferrari ran in the lead, while behind, Checo Pérez, Charles Leclerc and Hamilton himself made the audience vibrate with impressive maneuvers and overtaking. The final of the tenth round of the 2022 championship was thrillingone of those that the great lovers of the Great Circus missed in those years of clear Mercedes domination.

A simplified view of the race will say that Sainz – who became the second driver in his country to win an F1 Grand Prix after Fernando Alonso, whose last victory was in May 2013 – started from pole, having set the fastest time. in qualifying on Saturday, in the rain. Who was the first to see the checkered flag, to sign his first victory in his 150th race with Ferrari. And that he was escorted by Pérez and Hamilton. But between those two moments too many things happened on the asphalt of the British circuit.

Verstappen accelerated very quickly and before the first corner of the opening lap he had already stolen the lead from Sainz. And Hamilton, who had started fifth, moved up to third, leaving Leclerc fourth. But the speed didn’t last long. Because at the start a collision between George Russell and Zhou ended up causing a sensation (involving at least three other cars) and sending the Chinese’s Alfa Romeo off the track.

The images were shocking: the car swerved and swerved until it collided with the barrier, crossed the defense and ended up overturned, on its side, trapped against the barbed wire of the grandstand. Zhou, who miraculously saved his life thanks to the halo that prevented him from banging his head, had to wait several minutes inside the car before the rescue team pulled him out.

The audience in the stands and the teams in the pits held their breath waiting for news after they were Witnesses to one of the most impressive incidents of recent years, which ultimately had a “happy” ending. Because Zhou left his car conscious and although he was transferred to a medical center to assess if he had suffered any injuries, he was unharmed and was present at Silverstone at the end of the race.

After the initial scare, the action resumed at Silverstone. From scratch, because the commissioners have decided to return to the starting grid – with Sainz in the lead – and to relaunch the race with the cars stopped.

Sainz made a much better start, managed to contain Verstappen and took the lead. But on lap 10 he made a mistake entering one of the corners and the Dutchman took the lead. Two laps later, the reigning champion had a puncture and saw Sainz pass him smoothly. He had to pit and was sixth. And that’s where his nightmare began, because he no longer found the best pace of him, with a car that, as he said, “is all one hundred percent”.

His team explained that the damage was not critical, but that he should have suffered a loss of performance. Mad Max, frustrated, did what he could and ended up “saving” the race with a seventh place, despite the fact that before the end he had another tire change (he mounted hard components) that didn’t work for him.

The only positive note for Red Bull: when Leclerc finished off the podium, he didn’t lose that much advantage with the Monegasque in the fight for the championship. He continues to lead with 181 points, 43 more than the Monegasque, who is third (Pérez is second, with 147).

With Verstappen out of action, Sainz, Leclerc, Hamilton and Pérez became the great cheerleaders of the race. The first three were, at one point, in front. The Briton in the Mercedes has even 17 and a half seconds ahead of Sainz on lap 26, when he was in the lead on the track; but he gave in after too slow a pause.

The four accelerated, pressed, swapped positions and provided a show worthy of the golden years of the category. And when the Safety Car made its second appearance on the scene, after Esteban Ocon’s Alpine pulled into the middle of the track, neither seemed a sure bet for victory.

During the neutralization, Sainz, Hamilton and Pérez entered the pits and mounted the soft tires. Leclerc remained on the track, with his hard tires, a strategy which later proved to be wrong and cost him dearly.

Back in speed, Sainz overtook the Monegasque – “I’ll be much faster than Charles …”, he had warned a few minutes earlier – and regained the lead, which was no longer starting.

“It’s incredible, my first win, 150 races later with Ferrari and at Silverstone. I couldn’t ask for more. It’s a day I’ll never forget. At first I didn’t have good pace with the medium tire, but I kept believing it. the Safety Car gave me the opportunity to aim for victory and I did it, I’m happy, “he said after crossing the finish line.

Behind then were Leclerc, Pérez and Hamilton, after the Mexican overtook the British even when the light turned green. And as Sainz began to take his first win, his teammate Checo and Lewis delivered two unforgettable laps.

On lap 46, Pérez gave his all against Leclerc. The Monegasque has opened wide in a curve to try to defend his position, the Mexican has wheeled at his side and seemed to overtake him … But the two have forgotten about Hamilton, who with the same infernal pace he had led him throughout the race, he took advantage of the inattention of his rivals and climbed to second place.

The Briton, the same, was unable to maintain that position, because in an area of ​​the circuit where there is curve after curve, he came back third behind Pérez and Leclerc.

On the next lap, it was the Monegasque and the seven-time world champion who gave the fans the chills in the stands, as they were the protagonists of a shocking heads-up for third place. The Mercedes man went ahead with another great maneuver and the Ferrari driver then overtook him, overtaking him on the outside at the Copse corner, one of the most difficult and fastest on the circuit. But he couldn’t keep up with his worn hard tires and the Brit overtook him again soon after, securing his second consecutive podium and third of the season.

“I gave it my all. I tried to catch up with the Ferraris but they were very fast. In the end they and Checo were too fast on the straights for us,” said Hamilton. “The team has put a lot of effort into it and it is really a great reward to be on the podium. We will continue to push.”

That fight between Leclerc and Hamilton gave Pérez a window to break away in second place. And even though he didn’t have the opportunity to fight Sainz for the win, Checo got a result he knew of feat. It is that after the first restart he had touched the Monegasque, had damaged his car and had to return to the pits, so he fell to 17th place.

“We didn’t give up and kept pushing, and eventually the opportunity presented itself and we tried it. It was a great fight with Charles, first, and then Lewis. It was an epic last lap, but it’s It was a good fight “, commented the Red Bull, chosen by the people as driver of the day.

This edition of the British Grand Prix will also remain forever in Mick Schumacher’s memory. The German, son of the legendary Michael and a Haas driver, finished eighth and scored his first career points in the premier class, in his 31st Grand Prix.

It all happened in Silverstone. Fears, intense fights on the track, right and wrong strategies, tension, emotions and drama. A confrontation close to tragedy, but fortunately it was not. And a historic victory for Sainz, celebrated throughout Spain. Unforgettable.