Motor Racing
British Grand Prix preview
We are on the final leg of a Formula One triple header, and what a triple header it has been. Austria and the Red Bull Ring hosted last week’s Grand Prix, but it was not Red Bull’s ring this time around.
George Russell of Mercedes secured just his second win in F1, and a first for Mercedes in over a year. Max Verstappen of Red Bull topped the grid, but suffered a puncture during the race following a collision with Lando Norris of McLaren who was attempting to overtake Verstappen for the lead, causing Norris to retire from the race and Verstappen to fall down the order due to a penalty, eventually managing a fifth placed finish.
Bet on the British Grand Prix with William Hill
Silverstone Circuit overview
To finish what has been an informative and enthralling European triple header, the 20 drivers head to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix. The iconic circuit first hosted a Grand Prix in 1950, although the track has been slightly modified down the years, it hasn’t lost any of its speed and remains a very challenging assignment for the drivers.
The test caters to power, similar to Austria, with a number of legendary corners that can be taken at high speed. Maggots and Becketts, a challenging set of quick, sharp turns will particularly test the driver’s ability and the balance of the car before heading from Chapel to Stowe, where the drivers will really be able to get their foot down.
Drivers and teams to look out for
Lando Norris of McLaren lines up for his sixth home Grand Prix in F1, and he has a great chance of success this week. Currently priced at 9/4 to top the podium on Sunday, Norris was continually threatening to overtake Verstappen for the lead in Austria before attempting to make the move down the outside of the Red Bull, where Verstappen displayed his usual fierce defence seeing the cars collide, and both drivers dropping down the order.
What’s important here is that it’s clear that Norris’ McLaren has the pace to compete. He will be desperate to prove that on Sunday and right the wrong of last week’s race which he will feel he should have won. Oscar Piastri produced a brilliant drive in the circumstances to finish second, once again evidencing the speed of McLaren currently.
Lando and Max are well documented friends, but this is the first time that their relationship will have been pushed like this, and it will be interesting to see how this rivalry develops if the McLaren and Norris can continue this level of pace, especially with the home support behind Norris this week. Considering that and the performance of Piastri in Austria, the 7/4 for both McLaren drivers to finish in the podium appeals.
However, the Red Bull and Verstappen’s consistency won’t make it easy for Norris, especially with track conditions to suit the Red Bull meaning that the Dutchman remains favourite for the race priced at 4/6.
Despite the two market principals for the race taking each other out in Austria, George Russell wouldn’t have been bothered coming through to take the victory and he will once again fancy his chances in a resurgent Mercedes. However, he and teammate Lewis Hamilton couldn’t have had more polar opposite weekends.
Despite finishing in fourth, Hamilton branded his own performance as “pretty shocking” and struggled in Austria. He made progress in third place early on before being instructed to give the place back, before receiving a five second penalty for sliding across the pit lane entry when coming in for a stop, an unusual bit of complacency from the seven-time World Champion. He returns here to a familiar circuit though, where he has finished on the podium every year since 2014 and he’s 13/8 to finish in the top three this year.
