With Fisichella spinning off and very nearly taking race leader Hamilton with him for good measure, Heidfeld continued to put the hammer down, lapping four seconds quicker than
either McLaren on lap 28, with the halfway stage approaching – and you couldn’t help but think that the action was a long way from over yet.
There was a sweet moment for Hamilton as he put world championship leader Massa a lap down in 15th place, whilst Heidfeld had soon pulled an incredible 18 seconds out over the struggling Kovalainen.
Behind them, Kubica was proving BMW’s wet weather prowess by moving up into fourth, ahead of the rejuvenated Piquet, an impressive Barrichello –
Silverstone being the scene of one of the Brazilian’s most famous triumphs in similar conditions for Ferrari five years ago – and the
Toyota pairing of Glock and Trulli, with the German getting rather frustrated with Massa as he lapped the
Ferrari, the Săo Paolista now running 16th and dead last.
There was little better news for the field’s only world champions Alonso and Raikkonen, the pair running together in tenth and eleventh places – albeit both going on to the end of the race without having to pit again.
Kovalainen’s nightmare continued, however, as the Finn found himself under attack from Kubica, who was lapping a staggering four seconds a lap faster than the McLaren and scythed up the inside into Stowe with 27 laps remaining, demoting Kovalainen to fourth. Piquet too would find a way by the pole-sitter before the lap was out, and though Kovalainen was quick to pit, he would rejoin outside of the points.
There were spins for Glock – who lost a place to team-mate Trulli in the process – Raikkonen twice, the Finn now a full 91 seconds adrift of Hamilton, and the hapless Massa once more, though all would live to fight another day.
