Alright, I've calmed down, the celebrations are over, I can now give everyone my view of this race all objectively and mostly from an impartial view.
I don't think I have to talk much about qualifying. Not to give myself too much of a pat on the shoulders, but I think a gap of ~1.5 seconds to second place says quite a bit. I'd say the thing that gave me the most pace in qualifying was my attitude to the lap.
"It either sticks or it won't - and if it won't, I still have one more try."
Anyway, I was hoping to have Juha beside me on the front row, because he had shown good single-lap pace in the McLaren (and because I am honestly afraid of how good Dave Miller's starts are) but it wasn't to be - so it was myself and Dave on the front row.
As we went into the
race session, I think I had the most embarassing moment of my year - I didn't think it was possible, but I did indeed stall my engine. The only thing that kept me from not being able to move at all were the 3 kph I was going, so just slap it back into 1st and hope she fires up, and fire up she did! Also, yes Jason, I know the pedal on the right is the one to press
Anyway, to no surprise, someone spun in the formation lap, and it turned out to be the newcomer Bence and I didn't know why until now, but he decided to go into the pits, which really riled me up because god damn, my engine is running hot! But, if you don't have a front wing, I can't blame you for going to the pits as soon as possible.
Now, the lights go green (faster than what I expected) and away we go and .... my engine is smoking. My engineer shouts at me "Your engine is running hot" and I just beg that the indestructible Honda V10 keeps itself together. It did, which sadly couldn't be said about Brian's Ferrari. That's the second time this year he had an engine blow before turn 1, and I honestly felt bad for him because that's just unbelievably bad luck.
Anyway, I was scared shitless that Dave Miller would just walk all over me with the pace he showed in practice, so I had to push hard as hell. Turns out he was faster at the beginning, shown by the dive-bomb he pulled on me going into Stowe - not too nice, since I got pushed wide and lost 2nd place to del Piccolo, but I didn't suffer any damage or anything, so I'm not badmouthing anyone here.
I then lost 3rd place to Anders because I lost it at Bridge and almost took flight into Priory. That was one moment the guys in the booth missed, and I'm kinda glad because that was the second most embarrassing moment this year for me.
Anyway, eventually I made my way past Anders (great and clean battle by the way!) after we went side-by-side through Stowe and Priory. Then also, del Piccolo lost it big time at Copse, so I was now in 2nd place again - and I was ... gaining on Miller? What? Well, turns out as soon as the fuel started burning off hard, I was faster.
Oh, talking about fuel, did you guys know I was short on fuel in the first half?? I was about 3 liters short according to my fuel delta, so I had to short-shift and lift-and-coast, all that while trying to chase down the leaders! Insane stuff!
So, I know everyone knows me as the balls-to-the-wall, no-thinking-all-attacking, "i-think-he-wants-to-play-bumper-cars"-ing hothead and I understand that. My drive to dominate hasn't given me a lot of friends this year so far. But I couldn't just attack Dave like no tomorrow. He was still faster than me on most parts of the lap. Except for Club and the last sector, and that's where I knew I could get him. So I tried my best, but it seemed Dave's tyres gave up, so he pitted.
I pitted the lap after, and me pushing so damn much, I overshot my damn pit stall! I can't believe it! So, a quick adjustment, and I make my pit stop. Lost the lead, and came out behind Miller. However, now the fight is on.
Anders pitted the lap after that, so it was Miller vs. Mikula, and it was an amazing fight. I loved it. I hope you liked that fight too, Dave. I wanna have more clean and exciting fights like this.
Anyway, let me put in my two cents about that incident, perhaps an incident that could get me yet another penalty, thus yet another race ban; however, I honestly hope the admins see it as a racing incident, since in my opinion, I didn't do anything wrong.
Lap 38, and I had a great run through the first sector. Went onto Hangar Straight right behind the Williams, got the big succ on the straight, and took the inside for Stowe. Dave holds his line, which was incredible since he was way out of the grove, and we go side-by-side towards Vale. I knew he was there, I knew I had to go wide through Vale, and I turned in late in order to give him as much room as possible. I knew there was this Williams, and I knew he'd be slower through Club, so that was my chance. But then he spins at Vale!
Now, Dave, I first thought you turned in too soon and hit the kerb, which turned you around, but looking at the broadcast, it looked like you turned in too late, thus too hard, thus lost the rear. Maybe there was contact, maybe there wasn't. I didn't feel any contact, but it might have been that you hit my sidepod and that turned you around. All I can say is that I gave you all the space I could give you and I felt bad initially that you came off so badly in that move. Anyway, I hope you see that in a similar way, and even more importantly, I hope I'll be allowed to race at Hockenheim!
While I'm at it, I wanna again apologize to Jonatan for having run into him. You missed a gear and I really didn't expect that. I heard your DFR scream up but by then, it was too late. I was hoping to be behind you through Beckets and then overtake you going down Hangar Straight, but it turned out different. I didn't get any damage from that one, and I hope you didn't either.
After that, it was quite a cruise to the finish. I wasn't the fastest car, since the three guys behind me turned faster laps than I did; I wasn't even the most consistent lapping car, because I couldn't keep myself within 2/10s of my last lap time every time around, but as soon as I got into lap 55 and saw Dave being more than 6 seconds behind me, I knew I would win this one. I slowed down as much as I could without completely losing pace, just to make sure I come home in the first place. So, there's that. My second win this year, and I hope it's not my last. I still have a championship to win.
Now, to finish this essay off, and I put more effort into this report than I ever put into any essay I had as homework, I have to say: Jason and Alberto, you two absolutely nailed this one. That was the best broadcast you two have ever done, in all the years I've watched the ISO/HSO broadcast you guys did together. Keep it up like that! Absolute 10/10.
Anyway, On to Hockenheim and...right now, off to sleep.