British Grand Prix: can Hamilton rise to the occasion at Silverstone?

Historic Silverstone

Formula 1 is returning to its spiritual home with Silverstone set to play host to the British Grand Prix.

The inaugural Formula 1 World Championship grand prix took place at Silverstone on May 13 1950 and Britain has featured on the calendar each season.

Silverstone has evolved over the last seven decades but the majority of the layout remains identifiable to the circuit that was used 72 years ago.

Silverstone is a fast and flowing circuit, with several corners taken flat out in Formula 1 machinery, including Abbey, Copse and the fearsome Maggotts/Becketts complex.

It has been the scene of several iconic moments in Formula 1 history, including in 2021, when title rivals Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen famously came to blows, turning a simmering but cordial relationship into one that rapidly deteriorated. 

Eight of the 10 teams are either based – or have a base – in the region around Silverstone informally dubbed ‘Motorsport Valley’, making it a home event for the majority of those inside the paddock.

A ninth success for Hamilton?

Mercedes remains third-best but last month’s Spanish Grand Prix provided optimism for the squad that its W13 has potential.

In warm conditions at a flowing high-energy, high-speed track Mercedes found a window in which its car was rapid – and Silverstone shares several characteristics with Barcelona.

Mercedes’ pace in Canada – a circuit at which it had expected to struggle – was also encouraging, even if it still trailed 2022 contenders Red Bull and Ferrari.

Ultimately, Mercedes is still lacking some pace, but Silverstone is surely the team’s best chance yet of winning a grand prix in 2022. That could be good news for home spectators who have become accustomed to witnessing British success during the Hamilton era.

Hamilton has taken a record eight British Grand Prix victories – including each of the last three years – and will be hungry to try and extend his benchmark at a circuit where he thrives.

Team-mate George Russell has typically performed strongly at Silverstone, last year qualifying eighth in a car that had no right to be so high up on the grid, and is now equipped with a more competitive car.

Britain has a third representative in the form of Lando Norris, who last year classified fourth for McLaren, meaning there’s every chance there could be three Brits inside the points this year.

Matters could be harder for Britain-born Alexander Albon, who competes under a Thai license, but Williams has an upgrade package that it hopes will cure some of the car’s weaknesses.

Max Verstappen has won five of the last six races but has never tasted success in the British Grand Prix

Strong venue for Leclerc

Silverstone has been a strong circuit for Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. He was third at Silverstone in 2019, a result he somehow replicated in 2020 despite Ferrari having only the sixth-fastest car. Last season Leclerc led the majority of the race before finishing runner-up to Hamilton for his sole podium of a largely subdued season.

Reigning champion Max Verstappen has never won the British Grand Prix – but he has taken victory at Silverstone. Verstappen won in 2020 when Silverstone was drafted in to host a second race, known as the 70^th Anniversary Grand Prix, while last year he claimed pole position.

Red Bull Racing is also on its strongest run of form since 2013, having taken six wins on the bounce, including five of those courtesy of Verstappen.

It has been less of a happy hunting ground for their respective team-mates. Sergio Perez last scored a top 10 finish at Silverstone in 2018, and missed both 2020 races through Covid-19, while Carlos Sainz has had just three top 10s from eight Silverstone starts, none of them higher than sixth. They will have to take a step up if they want to keep alive their already slim title ambitions.

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Leclerc @ 3.5

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