Nico Rosberg was the man at the top of the podium yesterday afternoon, when he cruised to a win at an eventful British Grand Prix.

While Lewis Hamilton started from pole position at his home grand prix, it was not to be his day when eight laps into the race his Pirelli tyres blew up. The Mercedes driver is furious and has described the tyres as ‘dangerous’.

He also said after the race that he does not expect Pirelli, the tyre manufacturer, and the FIA to sit down any time soon and only feels the governing body will take the situation seriously when someone gets hurt.

It has raised rumours that there could be a protest by Formula 1 drivers this season for fear of safety. 

But while Lewis dropped to the back of the grid after the tyre simply disintegrated, he proved once again that he is arguably the fastest and most skilful racer in the sport, carving his way through the field to finish an impressive fourth. He was even close to securing a podium, just on the back of Fernando Alonso.

If Lewis Hamilton had won the grand prix, he would have been place second in the Drivers’ Championship standings right now – he is fourth. As both Nico and Lewis started the race on option tyres, running prime tyres for the rest of the race, Lewis could have dominated had he not been hit by bad luck once again. 

“Of course, I’m disappointed by today’s race and I would have loved to deliver the win this afternoon for all the British fans here at Silverstone,” Lewis said. “The race started so well for us today. I felt comfortable out in front and was managing my pace. The tyre problem was such a shame and from then, it was just a case of giving it my all and battling as far up the field as possible.

“I had some good overtaking moves and, given another lap, I might have got Fernando and ended up on the podium. Everything considered, fourth place is pretty good after having been last on lap ten and we’ll take that. It’s a great result for the team today, big congratulations to Nico who came through a tricky situation to take the win for us. We’ve now moved up to second place in the Constructors’ Championship which is a nice reward for everyone at the factories just down the road from here.”

Speaking on the third win of his career and the second win in the last three races, Nico Rosberg said: “This is a great moment for me and our team to win in the home of motor racing at Silverstone. We have such great momentum in our Silver Arrows team and I’m very proud to be part of it. This win is for every single person who has been involved in building our car.

“It was a shame for Lewis today, and I had also a problem with my tyre but I was lucky because of the Safety Car. It was so special to win today, especially in front of fellow team members and their families as our factory is only ten minutes away from the track. The race was really exciting. I had to manage the tyres really carefully, I was told to avoid the kerbs. 

“At the end, it was difficult to hold Mark and to look after my tyres but I was able to keep the position, and take a great victory for us. Now we can look forward to another home race next weekend at the Nürburgring.”

Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn said it is ‘a very special feeling to win at Silverstone’ after a ‘dramatic afternoon’.

Time is running out to win another championship for the 2008 Formula One World Champion. He has the fastest car on the grid. But the tyres are dangerous and of a poor quality. The result at Silverstone sees Mercedes climb to second in the Constructors’ Championship.