Silverstone, located just outside London, is the birthplace of Formula 1, hosting its first official race in 1950. It is renowned as the home of British motorsport.

Giuseppe Farina won the inaugural race at this circuit. The most famous corner names include Maggots and Becketts, Club, Chapel, and Copse. The circuit consists of twenty turns. In 2011, the start-finish line was moved to its current location. Some championships still use the old start-finish location, and the old pit boxes can still be found just before Copse.

British Idols in Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton holds the record for the most British Grand Prix victories, with eight wins to his name. He shares this record with Michael Schumacher, who also won the French Grand Prix eight times. Big names such as Lewis Hamilton, Nigel Mansell, Jim Clark, and Jackie Stewart all hold British nationality. The British Grand Prix has always been a fixture on the Formula 1 calendar since the sport’s inception in 1950.

Jenson Button, another British world champion, has never managed to win his home race. In 2009, Button arrived at Silverstone with a strong lead in the World Championship. Despite having the best car on the field, he could not finish higher than sixth place. It always seemed that Button had ‘home fear’; he never finished on the podium in his homeland.

Memorable Moments in the British Grand Prix

The British Grand Prix has seen many memorable editions. In 2003, a priest ran onto the track while cars were speeding by at approximately 200 kilometers per hour. The priest was eventually sentenced to two months in prison. In 2008, Lewis Hamilton dominated at Silverstone, winning with more than a minute’s lead over the second place. Only the drivers in second and third places managed to finish in the lead-lap.

Key Facts about the British Grand Prix:

• Established: 1947
• First F1 Race: 1950
• Location: Silverstone
• Track Length: 5.891 km
• Number of Turns: 18
• Most Wins: Lewis Hamilton (8)
• Lap Record: Max Verstappen (1:27.097 in 2020)

Recent Winners of the British Grand Prix:

• 2023: Max Verstappen
• 2022: Carlos Sainz
• 2021: Lewis Hamilton
• 2020: Lewis Hamilton
• 2019: Lewis Hamilton
• 2018: Sebastian Vettel

The Clash of Titans

When the Formula 1 field arrived at Silverstone in 2021, it was Max Verstappen who held the championship lead. The Dutchman had dominated in Austria and had pulled away from his main rival, Lewis Hamilton. This weekend also marked the first sprint weekend in Formula 1 history. Hamilton started from pole, but Verstappen took the lead before the first corner. For Hamilton, it was a make-or-break weekend. While Verstappen often races aggressively, Hamilton usually opts for a more conservative approach. However, at his home race, Hamilton was immediately on the attack, but his move backfired. As both drivers accelerated out of Luffield, Hamilton had the better exit. Side by side, they headed towards the famed ‘Copse-corner’. Hamilton was alongside Verstappen, but slid wide, touching Verstappen’s RB16B and sending the Dutchman into the wall at high speed. Hamilton received a ten-second penalty but still won the race. Verstappen had to be taken to the hospital, marking the beginning of a fierce rivalry.

Start Times for the 2024 British Grand Prix:

Friday, July 5

13:30 – 14:30: First Practice Session
17:00 – 18:00: Second Practice Session

Saturday, July 6

12:30 – 13:30: Third Practice Session
16:00 – 17:00: Qualifying

Sunday, July 7

16:00 – 18:00: Race