Sprint race a new addition as Hamilton looks to bounce back on home soil
Friday, 16 July 2021
The Brit will look to secure his fourth win of the season.
Lewis Hamilton will hope returning home for the British Grand Prix and a new sprint race format can kickstart Mercedes' faltering challenge in the Formula 1® title battle.
Round 10 of the 2021 season takes place at Silverstone, a venue where Mercedes have won seven of the last eight races.
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Six of those triumphs came for Hamilton and he has a total of seven British Grand Prix wins, having also triumphed there for McLaren in 2008.
That is already a record for most F1® wins at a driver's home circuit and if he can secure an eighth victory, he will match Hungary – which is next on the calendar this year – as his most successful race.
Victory will not come easily, though, with Max Verstappen coming into the event after winning three races in a row for the first time in his F1® career.
The in-form Red Bull star has built an impressive 32-point advantage over Hamilton in the drivers' championship that could have been bigger were it not for his late tyre woe in Baku.
Verstappen has taken one more pole position this year (four) than in the rest of his F1® seasons combined (three).
The constructors' standings are also looking good for Red Bull, who are 44 points clear.
Two straight podiums for Valtteri Bottas have come at a good time as he fights for his Mercedes future, while Sergio Perez – who sits third in the drivers' standings – will want to recover from a ragged race in Austria.
LAST TIME OUT
Verstappen eased to yet another victory at the Red Bull Ring, as he won in front of huge support at the Austrian Grand Prix to complete a triumphant triple-header having won in France prior to the two races at his team's home circuit.
The Dutchman led from start to finish again after claiming pole.
Hamilton's hopes of reeling him in – dismissed as "out of the question" after qualifying – were hindered by another fine drive from Lando Norris, with the Mercedes great starting where he finished in fourth.
Bottas was the big mover, up from fifth to second, benefiting from keeping clear of controversy as numerous drivers – notably including Norris and Perez – tangled in costly fashion.
Norris claimed a superb third despite a time penalty and has now collected points in 14 consecutive races – his longest streak and the best ongoing run in the series. Fernando Alonso in 2007 was the last McLaren driver to enjoy such a stretch.
Carlos Sainz took fifth ahead of Perez, who was hit with two penalties.
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR AT SILVERSTONE
The new sprint event and revised race weekend format is undoubtedly the most intriguing aspect that will be closely followed at Silverstone.
Qualifying will take place on Friday, which sets the grid for the first-ever sprint race in F1® on Saturday, with all cars to be fitted with soft tyres.
The results of the sprint race, which will last 100km – around 17 laps – will then determine the grid for Sunday.
Points (three for the winner, two for second and one for third) will also be awarded in the sprint race, with drivers getting a free tyre choice for sprint race and the main grand prix.
Practice, meanwhile, will be cut from three sessions to two.
Aside from the new format, Mercedes are bringing an upgrade to the circuit, which Hamilton and Bottas will hope revitalises their fortunes in the battle against Red Bull.
🗣 "Having fans back will really make the difference at Silverstone and the British crowd love motorsport in general which means it is a special place to be." @Max33Verstappen ahead of the #BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/kKTK3eHYSC
— Red Bull Racing Honda (@redbullracing) July 14, 2021
TOP FIVE STATS
Super Silverstone – This will be the 55th race at the famous circuit, which has held more grands prix in F1® than all but two tracks – Monza (70) and Monaco (67).
Hamilton hope – Having finished fourth in Austria, Hamilton is bidding to avoid finishing two consecutive races outside the podium for the first time since 2017 (Mexico and Brazil).
Pole drought – Mercedes have gone five consecutive races without reaching the pole position in F1®, their worst run since 2019 (seven between Hungary and Mexico).
Mercedes misery – Toto Wolff's outfit are winless in their last five GPs, their worst run without a win in the Hybrid Era (since 2014) and as many races without finishing first as in their previous 17.
Red Bull flying high – The team have won six races in 2021 including the last five. The last time they won so many in a season was in 2013, when Sebastian Vettel won the championship for them.
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Drivers
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 182
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – 150
3. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) – 104
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 101
5. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) – 92
Constructors
1. Red Bull – 286
2. Mercedes – 242
3. McLaren – 141
4. Ferrari – 122
5. AlphaTauri – 48
