One weekend, two races…
The Burning Questions
Will the Sprint Qualifying format be a success? A disaster? Somewhere in between?
Can Mercedes get back on terms with Red Bull at one of Hamilton’s most successful tracks?
Will their long overdue upgrades make a big difference?
The Track
The Stats
- Track Length: 5.891 km
- Laps: 52
- Race Distance: 306.198 km
- Maximum Speed: 330 km/h
- Lap Time at Full Throttle: 72%
- First Grand Prix: 1950
- Race Lap Record: Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 2020 | 1:27.097
- Outright Lap Record: Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 2020 | 1:24.303
- Most Driver Wins: Lewis Hamilton | 2008, 2014, 2015. 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020
- Most Constructor Wins: Ferrari/McLaren | 1951, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1990, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2018/1973, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2008
The Trivia
- Silverstone hosted the inaugural Formula 1 race in 1950
- Will now host the inaugural sprint race in 2021
- The circuit is built on the site of a World War II airfield
- Lewis Hamilton’s seven victories at the track are the most home wins by any driver
- In 17 British Grands Prix, Jenson Button never once stood on the podium
- There is yet to be a grand prix at Silverstone in which all of the top three on the grid finished the race in the same order
- The 2003 British Grand Prix was interrupted when an Irish priest ran on to the circuit – he was later sentenced to two months in prison
The Weather
The Quotes
Ross Brawn | “I am very optimistic. I think it will be a very good event, a great race. And I think the drivers will go for it, because do we think Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton are going to have a different mindset going into that first corner, because it’s a sprint? I don’t think so.”
Sebastian Vettel | “So [the] pole [statistic] goes to the winner of the sprint race, apparently. I didn’t know that. I think that’s wrong. If this is a one-off, then it doesn’t do much harm, but if we end up having 10 sprint races next year or in the future then I think it’s just a bit weird. Pole position should go to the guy who goes fastest on one lap.”
Lewis Hamilton | “[An eighth title is] what I dream of and am working towards. I am massively driven. But it’s a tall order. Their performance has gone a little bit out of reach but we are working as hard as we can to close back up.”
Lando Norris | [On being mugged at Wembley] “It’s tough, it’s been a tough few days since to kind of get over it and make sure I’m sleeping well and everything. So, I’m not in the perfect condition but I’m happy I’m here and I’m still healthy and reasonably good.
The Friday Form
Practice 1 Top 5
1 | Max Verstappen | 1:27.035 | 23 Laps
2 | Lando Norris | 1:27.814 | 26 Laps
3 | Lewis Hamilton | 1:27.815 | 30 Laps
4 | Charles Leclerc | 1:27.828 | 26 Laps
5 | Valtteri Bottas | 1:27.897 | 30 Laps
Max Verstappen dominated a frantic first practice session as the teams and drivers tried to get to grips with the new Sprint Qualifying format.
With qualifying this evening ahead of a second practice session tomorrow, most teams focused on their single lap pace and Verstappen blew the competition away. On hearing his gap to the Dutchman, Lewis Hamilton asked, “Where does that come from?”
Lando Norris continued his impressive form, producing a lap good enough for second on the slower, medium tyre. The McLarens appear strong once again.
It may immediately look like Verstappen’s race to lose but with the huge unknown quantity of the Sprint Race, anything could happen this weekend.
The Photos
The Predictions
Podium
Sprint Race Winner
Pole Position
Fastest Lap
Driver of the Day
