British Grand Prix: the weekend’s major issues

The duel at McLaren for the title

McLaren clearly dominates a good part of the grid this season, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who have shared eight victories over the first eleven races.

But Austria was the scene of their closest race duel so far, with Lando Norris having to fend off Oscar Piastri’s attacks throughout the first stint. In the end, Lando Norris prevailed, turning an impressive pole into a victory and reducing the championship gap to 15 points.

Despite his retirement in Canada after contact with Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris has scored one more point than his teammate in the last five Grand Prix (with two victories and two second places).

At Silverstone, where Lando Norris will receive massive support from the British public – even though both McLaren drivers are popular – the next chapter of a fiercely contested title duel promises to be captivating, with a battle that could last until the last race of the season.

Improvements at Ferrari

The Austrian Grand Prix marked the arrival of numerous technical developments among the leading teams. Ferrari notably introduced a new floor, which Charles Leclerc described as a real progress.

This allowed him to secure his third podium in four races, ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who was fourth, enabling Ferrari to reclaim 2nd place in the constructors’ championship.

New improvements are planned – perhaps as soon as this weekend – and Silverstone will be a good test to measure the effectiveness of these developments.

Ferrari did not shine last year on this circuit, in changing conditions, and could still face unstable weather: a great opportunity to assess progress on several fronts.

Red Bull and Mercedes in search of results

Despite an orange wave of support, Max Verstappen was unable to defend his chances in Austria, eliminated in the first round after a collision with Kimi Antonelli. Yuki Tsunoda finished last, two laps down. A weekend to forget for Red Bull, despite being in form recently in Canada.

Mercedes also suffered: George Russell, winner in Montreal, could only manage a distant fifth place, more than a minute behind Lando Norris. Kimi Antonelli’s retirement further worsened the team’s performance.

But both teams have often been competitive at Silverstone. Mercedes is hoping for cooler temperatures, which would suit its car better, as was the case during Lewis Hamilton’s victory here last year.

The driver market heats up

Before their poor performances on Sunday, George Russell and Max Verstappen made headlines in Austria. George Russell mentioned potential discussions between Mercedes and Verstappen for the future.

At the end of his contract this season, the Briton stated that he felt calm, but his remarks have reignited speculation. Toto Wolff praised the Russell-Antonelli duo, without ruling out the possibility of Max Verstappen joining.

As long as a new contract is not signed, rumors will persist, with potential domino effects on other seats. If Max Verstappen were to leave, Red Bull would have to find him a successor, and British fans will keep an eye on Arvid Lindblad, an F2 title contender, who will make his debut in FP1 at only 17 years old thanks to an exceptional Super License granted by the FIA.

A unique appointment on the calendar

Silverstone hosted the very first F1 World Championship race 75 years ago. Since then, the circuit has become a legendary fixture on the calendar.

Fast, technical, and spectacular, it is adored by drivers, who can fully exploit modern single-seaters there, particularly in the legendary sequences of Maggotts, Becketts, and Chapel.

As in Austria, the atmosphere there is unique: fans camp on site, concerts set the rhythm for the evenings, and the stands vibrate to the sound of engines.

Five British (or partly British) drivers will be on track: Lando Norris, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Alex Albon, and Ollie Bearman.

Add to that the support races of F2, F3, and F4, and you have a weekend of madness not to be missed.