Formula 1 is back in the United Kingdom for the highly anticipated British Grand Prix. This weekend, drivers will fiercely compete for critical championship positions and points. The question remains: will McLaren continue their dominance, or will Silverstone deliver another thrilling twist in the 2025 season?
Race track and facts
The first major motorsport event organised by the Royal Automobile Club took place in 1926, but the Silverstone Circuit itself hosted its first Formula 1 race in 1950. Marking the official start to the Formula 1 World Championship. The Silverstone Circuit is 5.891 km long, with drivers completing 52 laps featuring 18 turns and two DRS zones.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen set the lap record (1:27.097) during the 2020 Grand Prix.
The circuit is well known for its iconic moments at past Grand Prix. In 1998, Michael Schumacher and Ferrari famously won the Grand Prix in the pit lane, as he was handed a stop-go penalty during the race. As he pitted to serve his penalty on the final lap, he crossed the line in the pits to win the race. This led the FIA to change the rules on how penalties are served in the future.
Lewis Hamilton won his first home race at the British Grand Prix in 2008 with McLaren. It was a rain-soaked afternoon that challenged the entire grid, but Hamilton delivered one of the most iconic wet-weather drives in F1 history. Fast forward 12 years, Hamilton stunned the Silverstone crowd once again, this time crossing the finish line on three wheels after a dramatic last-lap puncture.
Recap of last year’s race
George Russell started on pole, with his teammate Hamilton and McLaren’s Lando Norris behind in third. Russell held the lead into Turn 1, with Hamilton slotting into P2. Verstappen passed Norris early to take P3. Further back, Pierre Gasly retired after a mechanical failure on lap 1.
By lap 10, rain clouds gathered overhead, and the track began to dampen. Norris re-passed Verstappen with a bold move into Stowe. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, followed through shortly after, demoting Verstappen to 5th.
On lap 18, Hamilton overtook Russell for the lead at Stowe. Both Mercedes ran wide at Abbey as conditions worsened, allowing Norris to sweep past into P1. Leading his home race.
By lap 20, McLaren were running 1-2 with Norris and Piastri. Verstappen dropped time as he searched for grip. The Dutchman pitted first for intermediate tyres on lap 27. Hamilton and Norris followed one lap later. Due to a delayed pit stop, Piastri had lost the race lead. Meanwhile, Russell, who was running fourth, retired with a water system failure.
A slow pit stop harmed Norris on lap 40, and Hamilton snatched the race lead from him. Verstappen closed in on Norris and passed him on lap 48.
Hamilton won a historic ninth British Grand Prix with a perfectly executed tyre strategy. Verstappen finished in second, and Norris rounded out the podium for a British 1-3.
What could happen this weekend?
McLaren had a strong showing last year, but who will lead after the 2025 British GP? With Red Bull’s Max Verstappen showing dominant form this season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him back on the podium.
Russell never had a home-race victory in Formula 1, but last year, his chances were good with the pole position. Will 2025 be the year he finally wins his first home Grand Prix? His former teammate Hamilton won 9 Grands Prix at Silverstone. Can he win his tenth this weekend? He hasn’t had a single victory with Ferrari this year. Can he change that?
Four-time World Champion Verstappen had his race in Austria cut short due to a lap 1 crash with Antonelli. He missed out on crucial championship points but managed to avoid any additional penalties. With nine penalty points next to his name, three new ones mean he will be out for the next race.
Alpine’s Academy driver Paul Aron is making his F1 debut with Sauber in FP1. F2 driver and Red Bull Junior Arvid Lindblad will also make an FP1 appearance.
