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Tyres NorthamptonThe two collided last Sunday, with the F1 world dissecting the laps-long fight since. If you're heading to the Northamptonshire circuit this weekend, you're in for a treat. However, neither won in Austria, with Norfolk's George Russell picking up the pieces instead. The Mercedes driver's dreams came true as he entered the Spielberg infield to find the two cars ahead of him trundling by with punctures, and he took the lead. Russell's second-ever F1 win will buoy his team just in time for the Silver Arrows' all-British driver line-up to race on home soil.
Whether the Verstappen and Norris friendship will wilt or thrive after their Austrian crash is the hottest story in the sport heading to Silverstone. The McLaren man felt his Red Bull rival was the one who must apologise after going from an assured podium to retirement in a matter of metres. Will the reigning champion offer an olive branch or change his driving style in Great Britain? Time will tell.
The British fans will no doubt cheer on all three British representatives, with Norris, Russell, and Lewis Hamilton all in with a real shot of picking up a podium. The three finished in the top four positions at F1's Canadian and Spanish rounds. There's no denying the fanatic home crowd has always made Hamilton, the only one of the trio without a 2024 victory, find something extra. The seven-time champion has a record eight triumphs in the British GP.
And there's another British hopeful jumping in F1 machinery for those watching to get behind. On Friday, Ollie Bearman, Ferrari's Saudi Arabian GP supersub, will be back in Haas machinery. FP1 will see Bearman's third 2024 running in the Haas VF-24 and his fourth appearance on the grand prix weekend. There's plenty of speculation he might have his 2025 F1 drive confirmed, too, and what better place to announce the news than at Silverstone?
The three hardest tyres in Pirelli's repertoire will feature over the British GP weekend. The C1, C2, and C3 trio should best handle the high-speed nature of the ex-RAF airfield that sees drivers at full throttle for some 80% of the lap.
As ever with a Great British summer event, there's the threat of rain hanging over all three days. Switching between wet, intermediate, and dry tyres was part of what made the Canadian GP such a spectacle last month. The same changeable conditions could appear during Sunday's race.
Russell's Austrian GP win means F1 2024 has had five race victors from its 11 races. Verstappen is still the only driver to boast more than one P1 finish, though, and will feel he's the favourite heading into the British GP. The triple champion has one hand on the 2024 trophy and is 81 points ahead of Norris in the standings.
Yet it's increasingly clear that it's Verstappen's incredible driving prowess behind the 2024 success, not the RB20 car beneath him. If Red Bull doesn't perfect their setup or another team brings a successful upgrade package, the Dutch driver's chance of victory will plummet. Sergio Perez, Verstappen's teammate, hasn't reached the podium since China in April, showing what a one-man team Red Bull Racing currently is.
McLaren seems the best poised to take advantage and appear to have the class-of-the-field car. Norris should've won in Austria and has come agonisingly close throughout the year. Oscar Piastri, the Australian racer across the garage from Norris, had his breakout race in Britain in 2023. Along with the Mercedes pair and Ferrari, who has become a little on the backfoot since winning in Monaco, seven drivers are in with a realistic shot of a British GP win.
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Whether camping in a Silverstone field or enjoying your home comforts, the British GP will have qualifying and lights out at 3 PM on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. For those without Sky Sports, this is the one race of 2024 that Channel 4 will broadcast live.
Qualifying – On air: 2:15 PM, Session start: 3 PM Saturday 6th July
Race – On air: 1:30 PM, Session start: 3 PM 7th July
Qualifying – On air: 2 PM, Session start: 3 PM Saturday 6th July
Qualifying – Highlights: 11:10 PM Saturday 6th July
Race – Highlights: 6:30 PM Sunday 30th June
Race – On air: 11:30 PM Sunday 30th June
Qualifying/Race – Don't be jealous of those lucky enough to have tickets for this weekend's race. The weather forecast has highs of just 17°C on Saturday and Sunday and a 50% chance of rain peaking at 3 PM – the scheduled race start. If you're heading there, pack suncream and a rain jacket.
