The British Grand Prix will be held this weekend at the ancestral home of F1, with the first ever F1 GP held there in 1950 (and won by Dr Farina in the Alfa Romeo).
This is a circuit that the drivers universally like, a circuit that allows cars to pass each other (even without the DRS), and a Grand Prix where it is likely to rain at some point. After all, it is in England, and they cannot possible go three days on the trot without a good drenching from above!
Silverstone for the British GP.
The new “arena” part of the circuit used last year for the first time goes from Abbey to Brooklands corners, moving the infield and adding an extra 760m to the track length. You will be heartened to read that Herr Tilke was not involved. Interestingly, this modification was actually built for the MotoGP series, but now incorporated in the F1 series after Bernie, the patron saint of King Midas Enterprises, gave it his blessing. Yes, that is the same Bernie who has masterminded such yawnfest circuits as Bahrain and Singapore. But don’t start me.
Hamilton will be trying for the win (or at least trying to avoid being skewered by Maldonado), team mate Jenson Button will be desperate to win another and shove it up his team mate, Boy Vunder Vettel wants to raise the magic finger again and Mark Webber will try to repeat his result from Valencia, but actually qualify well and get on the podium, while Alonso the Savvy Spaniard will complain about something, and then try a scoop up another win! Felipe Massa, who must be on borrowed time, will complain that his car feels different every time he drives it, while Narain Kathikeyan will be tail-end Charlie as usual.
The Qualifying is at 7 p.m. on Saturday 7 and the race is 7 p.m. on Sunday 8 July. We watch the racing, on the new super-big screen in Jameson’s Irish Pub, Soi AR, next to Nova Park. We get there around 6 p.m. and have something to eat (the Sunday specials are great value) and a small drink or two before the start. Why don’t you come and join us.
