There was misery, however, for Piquet, who spun away fifth place at Abbey, with Barrichello and Button queuing up in the pit-lane for
Honda but both being delayed as a fuel rig problem on the Brazilian’s car saw to it that no fuel actually went in – and meant he would have to stop again before the race was out.
Hamilton and Kubica both endured grassy moments with 24 laps remaining – though the incident did little to affect the former’s 25-second lead over Heidfeld – but all eyes were on Barrichello, who as the only driver on extreme wet tyres was now lapping some eight seconds faster than anyone else on the circuit, unlapping himself from Hamilton and passing Alonso for fourth position, Trulli for third and charging up behind second-placed Heidfeld in quick succession.
The next drama came as Kubica threw his points and even podium hopes terminally into the gravel trap with a high-speed off, leaving Heidfeld as BMW’s sole representative in the grand prix, whilst an error from Rosberg saw his
Williams clout the rear of Glock’s
Toyota, losing his front wing in the process.
With Button’s retirement, Hamilton – now some 46 seconds to the good after 45 laps – was left as the sole remaining Briton in the field, and lapping a gaping six seconds faster than
any other driver shod on intermediate rubber. Barrichello – now second – was three seconds quicker still – and such was his advantage that, though he lost out to Heidfeld when he did come in again for fuel and inters with 14 laps to go, he rejoined comfortably in front of the battle for fourth position, being disputed between Trulli, Alonso, Kovalainen and Raikkonen, with amazingly Nakajima sitting in the final points-paying position.
Trulli pitting with twelve laps to go and another spin from Glock dented Toyota’s hopes of a good result somewhat, whilst Massa spun for the fifth time going onto the pit straight – much as team-mate Raikkonen had done a handful of laps earlier – and Webber did likewise not long afterwards.
