Share

Rosberg's race win in doubt?

SILVERSTONE, London - British Grand Prix winner Nico Rosberg was summoned to appear before stewards due to the Mercedes driver's apparent failure to slow for yellow warning flags during the race.

Stewards asked the rosberg to report to them with a team representative.

Rosberg, who celebrated his second win of the season, finished the chaotic race 0.7 seconds ahead of Red Bull's Mark Webber.

Rosberg held off Red Bull's Mark Webber to claim his third career win by just 0.7 seconds but if he is found guilty, a time penalty would hand victory to the Australian.

ALL EYES ON PIRELLI

Formula 1's intense heat on Pirelli reached boiling point at the 2013 British Grand Prix, due to shards of exploding tyre rubber at the Silverstone circuit.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, just one of four drivers who had spectacular rear failures during the Silverstone race, was comfortably leading when he suffered a tyre blow-out.

Hamilton commented: "They (Pirelli) need to do something. It's unacceptable"

A sharp piece of raised kerb on the inside of turn four of the Silverstone circuit was to blame for tyre failures which overshadowed the 2013 British Grand Prix.

During a post-race inspection of the circuit at the Loop and Aintree corners, through which the cars drive before running onto the Wellington Straight, former Formula 1 technical director Gary Anderson identified a section of dangerous concrete that may have caused the punctures.

‘WE SAW TYRES GETTING CUT’

Anderson said: "We have heard a lot today about Turn Four and we have come to have a look at what could be causing these punctures.

"Looking at the part inside the kerb, it is green to match the grass, but it is actually concrete. The cars go over the section and the sidewall of the tyre could be getting caught on a sharp part of the kerb.

"It is about the height at which we saw the tyre getting cut and coming off."

Both turns are to the left and see the cars ride the kerbs on their left side, a fact that explained why all of the tyre failures produced left-rear or in one case a left-front tyre blowout.

PIRELLI RESPONDS

Pirelli boss Paul Hembrey said: "The guys are going out to have a look now at Turn Four.

"It is one of the things we are trying to understand as we have not really see anything like it before. I am not going to blame the kerbing, but it can influence it, you have to understand all the factors involved.

"We will work hard now to understand all the facts. They are what count. What you have just shown us (the kerb at Turn Four) we have already started looking at.

"When we have the facts we will react and make sure we get to the bottom of what happened with those tyres."


>
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()