British Grand Prix 2023 Predictions: Verstappen, Leclerc and Hamilton set for podium finishes

Phillip Horton

5 July 2023

Formula One has headed straight from Spielberg to Silverstone, which was the venue for the inaugural World Championship race held over 73 years and 1,000 races ago.

The British circuit has evolved as it heads through its eighth decade of existence, but it has retained its high-speed characteristics and tendency to put on an enthralling grand prix.

It is also a home grand prix for the majority of Formula One teams - most of them are located a short distance away. Aston Martin is located directly opposite the circuit, while Mercedes has facilities split across nearby Brackley and Brixworth, with Red Bull Racing based in Milton Keynes.

Alpine calls Enstone home, Williams has its factory at Grove, while McLaren’s futuristic campus is in Woking. Haas’ central base is in Banbury while even Italy-based AlphaTauri has some of its aerodynamic facilities in Bicester.

A strong Hamilton circuit

Lewis Hamilton has savoured extraordinary levels of success at most venues on the schedule, but especially on home ground at Silverstone.

Hamilton has claimed eight victories and a further five podiums at Silverstone, and he has also finished fastest in qualifying at the track on eight occasions. Even in Mercedes’ difficult 2022 season Hamilton thrust himself into contention at Silverstone and had a chance of victory until ultimately classifying third.

Mercedes has improved of late, with Hamilton regularly returning to the podium, and is planning on introducing a big upgrade package to complement the revised car it brought to Monaco.

Red Bull has dominated 2023 but don’t rule out Hamilton from trying to cause an upset at a circuit where he has historically thrived, willed on by a patriotic crowd. Britain also has interest elsewhere on the grid, with Hamilton’s teammate George Russell chasing his first Silverstone silverware.

McLaren’s Lando Norris displayed an upturn in form in Austria in the upgraded MCL60, which saw him take fourth place and suggested that he too could contend for higher results if the stars aligned.

Red Bull’s near clean sweep

Red Bull missed out on victory at Silverstone last year as Max Verstappen was thwarted by car-damaging debris, while Sergio Perez finished second in an eventful race won by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.

Across the last 21 grands prix Red Bull has taken 20 victories – beaten only by Mercedes’ Russell in São Paulo last year – and is still in pursuit of an unbeaten season.

The RB19 is a strong car in all conditions but at high-speed, aero-heavy circuits it is truly in its element. Add in a driver operating on top form and it’s hard to look past Verstappen/Red Bull to streak into the distance.

Verstappen has comfortably won the last five grands prix and has taken four successive pole positions in the process. He holds an 81-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship and is on course to wrap up a third straight world title with ease.