United Kingdom: Figures and Technical Data

The Silverstone Circuit is one of the oldest Formula 1 tracks, even though it was extensively renovated in 2011. The British track was originally an airfield, like other British circuits, notably Donington. It hosted the first Grand Prix of the first Formula 1 World Championship in history on May 13, 1950.

If the British Grand Prix has existed since the beginnings of the Formula 1 World Championship, Silverstone has not always been its host. The circuit located in the heart of the British countryside shared the event with the Aintree circuit between 1955 and 1962, and then with Brands Hatch between 1964 and 1986.

Long criticized by Bernie Ecclestone, the circuit has finally secured an extension of its lease until 2026. The British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC), the owner of the circuit, has recently undertaken work to create new turns in order to enhance the spectacle and create a sort of arena. New buildings have emerged, primarily the new pits nicknamed The Wing.

Silverstone Circuit is a fast track, with many high-speed corners, unlike the recent Grand Prix held in Monaco, Montreal, and Valencia. This British event will be an opportunity for teams to continue testing the new parts brought to Valencia and to try new ones, given the proximity of most factories.

The forces present should nevertheless remain the same, unless one of the teams makes an incredible find. Furthermore, with the possibility of rain, this could level the performances and once again offer a great spectacle with, perhaps, an unexpected winner.

Silverstone chassis side

Gianpaolo Dall’Ara, Technical Director of the Sauber F1 team:

« The Silverstone Circuit is very different from the last two tracks we visited. It has some high-speed corners that present a real challenge and requires optimized settings for aerodynamics as well as direction changes.

Silverstone has the charm of old circuits with a surface that is not perfect and quite bumpy in certain areas. It also offers some real challenges for the drivers. The straights are not very long, so it’s possible to run with a lot of downforce. The DRS zone is in the same place as last year, in a section that was built a few years ago. Its length is limited, which means overtaking is not easy.

We will run with Soft and Hard tires, which should suit us perfectly in my opinion, and tire overheating should not be a problem. Another important factor at Silverstone is the weather, it’s an aspect we consider when preparing for this weekend, and something we may need to adapt to during the race.

Silverstone engine side

Rémi Taffin, Head of Track Operations at Renault Sport F1:

« Silverstone is a fantastic circuit that always tests the limits of the engine, even with the addition of the new winding section. It falls into the category of power tracks, with two-thirds of the lap completed at full throttle in qualifying and an average speed exceeding 200 km/h.

We work with the objective of exploiting the gear ratios with maximum power on long straights. Contrary to what our British colleagues claim, it is well known that the weather is difficult to predict and selecting the gear ratios is particularly delicate. The terrain surrounding the circuit is flat, the wind blows strongly and it can change direction very quickly.

The new sequence disrupts the pace of the lap, as none of the corners are negotiated at more than 200 km/h. This reduces the average speed and highlights the car’s maneuverability and the engine’s response at low revs.

We have been very busy since Valencia. Not only because Silverstone is a big challenge given the expectations placed on the engine, but also because we had to investigate the issues encountered in Spain with the alternators. Everyone at Viry is working full-time to understand the problems, and this is a point on which we are collaborating with our partner teams. We have studied several solutions, such as improving cooling, using the alternator less harshly, or completely changing the part. In any case, we are doing everything necessary to be ready for Silverstone and to ensure it never happens again.

Silverstone on the tire front

Paul Hembery’s opinion, director of Pirelli Motorsport:

« Silverstone is one of the most legendary circuits on the F1 calendar, due to the high demands faced by drivers, cars, and tires. This is why we have chosen to test a new experimental hard compound that we might use in the future. The new tire has a slightly wider operating window, which should make it easier to understand the tires within the correct temperature operating range.

In a balanced championship, our priority is nevertheless to ensure that no team gains any kind of advantage. We want to keep tire performance at its highest level, and this is an opportunity for us and the teams to gather information on the potential effect of a new compound and to collect data for the future. Silverstone is a high-energy circuit that can host unpredictable weather. Solid tire performance and an effective strategy are vital ingredients for a great race.

The opinion of Lucas di Grassi, Pirelli test driver:

« I drove on the new Silverstone circuit during the 2010 British Grand Prix and it is very interesting: high speeds and high energy levels are its main characteristics, which has a significant effect on the tires due to aerodynamic downforce. Traction is also tested in the slower and more technical sections, particularly in terms of combined acceleration, when you turn and accelerate at the same time.

The Hard-Soft combination is excellent here, with the Soft being clearly the one to qualify with. The biggest challenge on the settings side is the unpredictability of the weather, and you often need to focus on your car and collect as much data as possible during all sessions. It’s always easy to get caught out by a setup that isn’t perfect for the track conditions during the race.

I tested the experimental Hard tire in Jerez earlier this year. It is a concept similar to the current Hard, but with improvements in grip and wear. It is particularly effective in warmer weather and poor track conditions; therefore, it could be a faster and more durable tire.

Silverstone in Numbers

**5:** This is the maximum number of Gs that drivers will experience at Silverstone (according to McLaren). It is also the number of victories by the two most prolific drivers on the British track, Jim Clark and Alain Prost.

7: This is the number of corners taken at over 250 km/h by drivers at Silverstone – only the Spa-Francorchamps circuit “does better”.

15: This is the number of victories achieved by Ferrari on English soil. The team from Maranello is ahead of McLaren by one unit thanks to Fernando Alonso’s victory last year.

64: This is the percentage of the lap spent at full throttle by the drivers.

223: This is the average speed for a lap around the Silverstone circuit – it is one of the highest of the season along with Spa-Francorchamps and Monza.

308: It’s the maximum speed that single-seaters should reach on the Silverstone circuit.

[Based on press releases issued by the FIA, McLaren, Mercedes AMG, Pirelli, Renault Sport F1, and Sauber F1]