Alain Prost at the wheel of a Red Bull in Silverstone!

From Friday, July 4 to Sunday, July 6, the Silverstone circuit will host Formula 1 for the 50th time in its history as part of the British Grand Prix. While the discipline has made stops on British soil at other circuits like Brands Hatch or Aintree, it is at Silverstone, on a former airfield, that it has stayed the longest.

To celebrate this event, the circuit will be the setting for commemorations throughout the weekend with various parades of single-seaters and former drivers. To this end, Frenchman Alain Prost, record holder for victories on the circuit with five wins, will take the wheel of a 2012 Red Bull, victorious at Silverstone in the hands of Mark Webber.

The quadruple world champion, winner of the 1983, 1985, 1989, 1990, and 1993 editions, holds a special affection for this legendary track as he states in a statement from Renault Sport F1, of which he is the ambassador: Silverstone has always been one of my favorite circuits, and I have fond memories of it. My first victory here, achieved with Renault in 1983, remains a very special moment. The spectators were so loud that you could hear their enthusiasm from the cockpit, despite the roar of the turbo engines of the time. I was fortunate to win four more times on this track, and the support received each time brought me great emotions. British spectators love motorsport, especially their national Grand Prix, that’s undeniable.

The former French driver, now a consultant for the television channel Canal +, doesn’t miss the chance to draw a parallel with today’s era: « It’s one of the few things that hasn’t changed in the discipline since I last raced on this track twenty years ago. I’m really looking forward to experiencing that very special atmosphere again. »

The British Grand Prix will be covered on Motors Inside with live commentary for the qualifying and the race.