It was surprisingly chilly over the weekend at the German GP. But probably not as icy as the look you might have got from Seb post-race. Whilst his season doesn't exactly look to be crumbling just yet, it does look a bit like the first cracks are starting to appear...
It wasn't a great weekend for Trulli either - dropped in favour of the brilliantly cheery Karun Chandhok, wiser personages that I think he'll be in Jarno's car at the Indian GP at least too. Glock re-signed to Virgin for a couple of years, which hardly sounds like a recipe for a flourishing career, but he looked pretty chuffed about it nonetheless.
Qualifying saw Vettel off the front row for the first time this century (well, it feels like it, anyway) with Webber continuing his pole-bagging streak and Hamilton bunging in a scintillating lap for 2nd on the grid.
As the start of the race drew near, the temperatures had rocketed to a sweltering 13C, there were spots of rain and everyone was freaking-out big time about not being able to get their tyres up to temperature. Bad news for them - fantastic news for us in our snug living rooms.
The start neatly summed up the plot for the afternoon as Hamilton nipped ahead, Webber did OK and Alonso ran wide, whilst Vettel already looked out of sorts.
Heidfeld found himself in the wars yet again, with the accident-prone di Resta, whilst Seb lost out to Nando and then spun off to really put the icing on his special rubbish-flavoured cake of a weekend.
Quick Nick then departed yet another race is spectacular fashion as Buemi dozily ran him off the track, the hirsute German literally flying out of the race on lap 11. Fair play though - he did manage to wave his hand angrily at the lesser Seb whilst ploughing his was deep into a grave trap sideways.
The ding-dong battle between Lewis, Mark and Fernando was really hotting-up by the 13th time around the Ring, with Webber passing Hamilton, only for Lewis to snatch the place straight back. Seeking a break from the deadlock, Red Bull called Webber in on lap 15. Once Hamilton and Alonso had completed their stops, Webbo was at the front.
The 2nd round of stops mixed it all up a bit further, with Webber losing out to Hamilton. Fernando managed to get out ahead of both of them after his stop, but a massively on-form Hamilton simply drove round the outside of him.
Somewhere down the sad and lonely end of the field, Button's rubbish 7th place on the grid converted itself into another DNF and the team called him in permanently with hydraulic issues.
With 9 laps left, and all three of the big guns still needing to stop for the compulsory harder tyres, Hamilton blinked first. With 7 left Alonso dived in and rejoined behind Lewis before Webber stopped with just 4 laps left, only to come out a distant 3rd, his gamble on going faster with worn soft tyres negated by the cold temperatures.
Massa and Vettel were running 4th and 5th and finally pitted on the last lap, with Mr pointy-finger coming out ahead to salvage a reasonable points haul from a depressing home race.
Alonso bagged a lift back with Webber (bless my twitter chums who suggested Mark should brake a bit hard suddenly) for a Vettel free podium celebration, and the interesting thought that, if this form keeps up, we might actually have a battle on our hands towards the end of the season.
Too much to hope for? How about praying..?
(A new CD plopped through my letter box today. Well, I say new - it's from 1980. New Muzic's long forgotten "From A to B". You might remember Sanctuary, This World Of Water and Living By Numbers. No? As I was a kid with a crappy mono radio in those days, this is the first time I've ever heard these songs in decent quality and stereo. I feel like a teenager again. This is a good thing, as opposed to an arrestable offence. Hopefully.)
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