United Kingdom – Presentation: Come and take a little tour at home
Formula 1 continues its mini marathon with the third and final Grand Prix in three weeks, and the motorhomes settle at Silverstone. This event is special for the paddock because, for six teams, the British Grand Prix is a home race. Two weeks ago, Sebastian Vettel arrived in France with a 1-point lead over Lewis Hamilton, and this gap is the same upon arriving in England.
(b) Silverstone is certainly one of the best circuits. It is very fast and you have several large sections with quick direction changes. I really enjoy driving on this track. It’s probably one of the best with the new cars. Silverstone is a downforce circuit with high-speed corners. We all know that fast corners are the most impressive with a Formula 1 car, which is what makes Silverstone charming.
It’s a track where overtaking is quite difficult. We’re always at high speed so it’s complicated to follow another car. You need to have good straight-line pace, so if you’re much faster, then you’ll be able to overtake but it won’t be easy.
Mechanics, aerodynamics, downforce, grip, and ultimately speed. A Formula 1 car is all of that, and some circuits allow for a better expression of all this technology. The layout of Silverstone has evolved since F1 first came here, and its modern form excites drivers, as exemplified by Kevin Magnussen.
Copse, Maggotts, Becketts, as well as Abbey or Stowe, these corners combine curves and high speeds, and any motorsport enthusiast watching from their edges will be happy to admire the single-seaters passing by. Unfortunately, aerodynamic downforce is as much a blessing as it is a curse for today’s Formula 1, as the drag generated by each car makes it difficult for the following car to keep up.
Next season, the single-seaters will have less aerodynamics, so let’s enjoy watching them once more at the peak of what we’ve been able to see in recent years in terms of pure performance.
A tour of the property
There’s no place quite like Silverstone. Ready to visit one of the most historical #Fit4F1 venues on the #F1 calendar?#BritishGP https://t.co/2QHvzLSMv4 pic.twitter.com/Jq8oiPm8d9
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) 2 juillet 2018
For posterity
Currently leading the Constructors’ Championship, Scuderia Ferrari achieved its first Formula 1 victory on the British soil of Silverstone. In 1951, the Reds fielded three drivers: regulars Alberto Ascari and Luigi Villoresi, and José Froilan Gonzalez, competing in his second race. The Argentine was entrusted with a less powerful Ferrari 375 compared to those of the regular drivers. This performance disadvantage didn’t prevent him from securing pole position ahead of the Alfa Romeo 159s of Juan Manuel Fangio and Nino Farina.
At the end of a 90-lap duel between the Argentine compatriots on Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, Gonzalez and Ferrari dealt a defeat to Fangio and Alfa Romeo. The Alfetta, undefeated since the inaugural round of the Formula 1 World Championship on the same circuit in May 1950, finished 51 seconds behind a 375 now capable of winning.
Beyond the limits?
In Austria, the addition of a third DRS zone on the short Spielberg track had sparked video game-like reactions. Some drivers mentioned the game Mario Kart to justify the potentially excessive nature of this addition, what will be the case with the new zone at Silverstone?
In Great Britain, a third zone has been announced for the start-finish line, with the possibility for the bravest drivers to remain active in turns 1 and 2 if they do not slow down. The detection zone has been placed at the braking point of turn 16 (editor’s note, Vale-Club chicane).
Reactions to come from the drivers, wait and see…
Tarmac and mistral
Yellow, White and a bit of Ice Blue. Time to unveil the #Fit4F1 orders placed for the #BritishGP! https://t.co/KlEyg57ZCu pic.twitter.com/mFjgoRPYHF
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) 26 juin 2018
Often little used, the hardest tire brought by Pirelli each weekend does not delight the teams. At Silverstone, this trend is confirmed with the hard tire. Only five drivers chose to bring more than one set, with a distinction for Red Bull, which did so with both its drivers and thus opts for the most conservative choice on the grid.
The umbrella won’t be needed this weekend in the British moors. On Friday, the sky will be largely populated with clouds, which won’t prevent summery temperatures. For free practice 1, it will be 23 to 25°C, while for free practice 2 in the afternoon, it will be 26 to 27°C.
Saturday, the slightest cloud cover will affect the mercury. It will be around 25°C in the air, but the perceived temperatures will flirt with 30°C for the final free practice session and the qualifiers.
The gradual disappearance of clouds will be accompanied by rising temperatures, and Sunday afternoon will be the hottest moment of this British weekend, with 28°C in the air under a blazing sun.
The TV program!
