2008 British Grand Prix
The 2008 British Grand Prix (officially the 2008 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held on 6 July 2008 at the Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, England. It was the ninth race of the 2008 Formula One World Championship. The race was held over 60 laps with a practice and qualifying round preceding the race.
| 2008 British Grand Prix | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race 9 of 18 in the 2008 Formula One World Championship
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| Race details | |||||
| Date | 6 July 2008 | ||||
| Official name | 2008 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix | ||||
| Location | Silverstone Circuit | ||||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||||
| Course length | 5.141 km (3.194 miles) | ||||
| Distance | 60 laps, 308.355 km (191.604 miles) | ||||
| Weather | Rain, later drying | ||||
| Pole position | |||||
| Driver | McLaren-Mercedes | ||||
| Time | 1:21.049 | ||||
| Fastest lap | |||||
| Driver | Kimi Räikkönen | Ferrari | |||
| Time | 1:32.150 on lap 18 | ||||
| Podium | |||||
| First |
| McLaren-Mercedes | |||
| Second | BMW Sauber | ||||
| Third | Honda | ||||
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Lap leaders | |||||
Heikki Kovalainen started from pole position alongside Mark Webber in second and Kimi Räikkönen in third on the grid. On the first corner, Lewis Hamilton rose from fourth on the grid to second overtaking Webber and Räikkönen. Hamilton shadowed Kovalainen for the early stages of the race, until he took the lead on lap five. The race was won by Hamilton, racing for McLaren Mercedes ahead of Nick Heidfeld for BMW Sauber in second and Rubens Barrichello third in a Honda. Räikkönen made the fastest lap of the race on lap 18. Hamilton's drive was widely acclaimed as one of Formula One's finest wet-weather drives.
Of the 20 drivers competing, 13 finished the race, with eight receiving world championship points. Hamilton's win tied him for the lead of the Drivers' Championship, alongside Felipe Massa and Räikkönen. In the Constructors Championship, Ferrari's lead was reduced to 14 points over BMW Sauber, with McLaren a further 10 behind.