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Tyres NorthamptonGoodwood, Glastonbury, Wimbledon... it is beginning to feel like the start of a Great British summer. But, while the Festival of Speed is a terrific event, it's a mere appetiser for the main motorsport course this weekend – the Britsh Grand Prix. Formula One heads into a busy month of racing with two double-header events this July, and it all kicks off at Silverstone.
The famous circuit is popular with the drivers and has held many a memorable Grand Prix. The track's history includes moments like Nigel Mansell giving a lift to Alain Prost in 1992 and races like Lewis Hamilton's one-minute winning margin in the 2008 rain.
More recently, who could forget the dramatic 2020 finale when Hamilton crossed the line first with only three working Pirelli tyres on his Mercedes. Or last year's contentious crash between the championship contenders. Who knows what the 2022 British Grand Prix will give us.
The drivers all know the Northamptonshire track well, even in the modern era with limited testing. It's a staple in the feeder series championships, and the entire grid is well used to racing around the 5.891km circuit. Although Silverstone has undergone several configurations over the years, the current layout provides multiple overtaking opportunities into The Loop, Brooklands, and, of course, down the Hangar Straight.
The iconic corners of Maggots and Becketts have the cars put their Pirelli tyres under extreme lateral load with the high cornering speeds. We might see the drivers running closer than ever here, thanks to the 2022 regulation change. If so, the run down the subsequent DRS zone might have more action than usual, with cars running side-by-side into the high-speed Stowe corner.
Lewis Hamilton Winning 2021 GP
Pirelli will want to ensure no repeat of the late-race failures in 2020. As entertaining as they were to watch on television, if the tyres failed at different parts of the track, those involved might have suffered dangerous crashes. But, of course, there's no reason to think that'll be the case, with the subsequent Grands Prix at the track being far more standard affairs.
There are also the new 2022 tyre compounds from Pirelli this year, which the company designed to last longer and not overheat. We've seen that stability already throughout the season, but Pirelli is taking no chances and will bring the C1, C2, and C3 tyre compounds for the 2022 British Grand Prix. These three options represent the hardest trio of rubber on offer and contrast to the past three rounds' C3, 4, and 5 tyres.
As we Brits know all too well, there is also the everpresent threat of rain. The weather changed the starting grid last time out in Montreal, and it might happen again at Silverstone. There have been races in scorching heat here, and some with car parks that turn into mud baths. There's a chance of rain throughout the weekend, which might mean the Intermediate or Wet tyres appear.
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Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN
With five wins in the last six Grands Prix, it's starting to look like Max Verstappen could also win the remaining 13 rounds. Even in the race where the Dutchman didn't win, Red Bull still outmanoeuvred Ferrari to have Sergio Perez atop the podium. The Milton Keynes-based team might look impervious at this point of the championship, but some factors could play against them.
Despite it all, Ferrari still looks like the fastest team in F1 this year but has struggled on Sundays. Charles Leclerc's four-race pole position streak ended in Canada only due to him taking an engine change. That means he's coming into the British Grand Prix with a relatively new power unit at a race where the engine's output is vital. Remember, too, that Carlos Sainz was chasing Verstappen to the line in Montreal, showing that Ferrari has the pace to challenge Red Bull, even if the results don't necessarily show it.
And, finally, you can never overlook Lewis Hamilton at Silverstone. The seven-time champion may not have the world-beating car for 2022, but no other driver in history has taken as many British Grand Prix wins. Hamilton's eight triumphs have come from pole position, the front row, P6, with wet Michelin tyres, dry Pirelli tyres, and on three wheels. In short, the home hero has won on home soil in all circumstances.
Unlike 2021, F1 Sprint is not at Silverstone this year, so it's a more conventional 3PM start for Qualifying on Saturday and Sunday's Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz
Qualifying – On air: 2PM, Session start: 3PM Saturday 2nd July
Race – On air: 1:30PM, Session start: 3PM Sunday 3rd July
Channel 4 has the rights to show the British Grand Prix live.
Qualifying – On air: 2:10PM, Session start: 3PM Saturday 2nd July
Race – On air: 1:30PM, Session start: 3PM Sunday 3rd July
Qualifying – Quali looks overcast on Saturday, but – as you may expect from the U.K. – whether it rains remains unknown, with some forecasts expecting a 50% chance of rain and others forecasting a dry but grey day.
Race – Temperatures aren't looking high across the weekend, with Sunday possibly peaking at 21°C. Some forecasts suggest showers and wind, while others simply state it's partly cloudy. In short – it's a very British weekend.
