British GP: Hamilton hunting more F1 history on home soil

Lewis Hamilton has the chance to become the most successful Formula 1 driver at the British Grand Prix should he win this weekend’s race at Silverstone.

Hamilton already holds a record-equalling five British GP victories, including four consecutive wins between 2014 and 2017, and can score his sixth – which would be an outright record - if he wins again on Sunday.

The Briton has claimed the last four pole positions at Silverstone and has six in total, more than any other driver in Great Britain.

Hamilton will be aiming to delight his home crowd once again this year as he goes in search of an unprecedented sixth win, having missed the chance to create history in 2018 after getting caught up in an opening-lap tangle with Kimi Raikkonen.

He recently issued a rallying cry and promised to fight for the future of the event at Silverstone, labelling the Northamptonshire track, which has been the permanent home of the British GP since 1987, as the “ultimate race circuit”.

With Silverstone’s F1 future secured with a new five-year deal confirmed at the circuit on Wednesday, Hamilton will now have multiple chances to take the outright record. 

Hamilton heads to Silverstone holding a 31-point advantage over Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas after finishing a lowly fifth place in Austria as both Silver Arrows cars suffered from overheating issues.

The result ended Hamilton’s remarkable run of top two finishes, as well as bringing Mercedes’ 100 percent winning record to a close. 

Ferrari not expecting Silverstone success

How Ferrari could do with a victory this weekend to end its barren and frustrating start to the campaign.

The Scuderia has endured a winless season so far and arrives in Great Britain off the back of so nearly claiming its first win of the year in Austria. Charles Leclerc appeared untouchable as he stormed to pole and led much of the race, only for a late charge from Max Verstappen to deny him and Ferrari.

Ferrari scored an impressive victory at Silverstone last season but team principal Mattia Binotto has been quick to downplay its chances this weekend.

Despite the high-speed nature of the 5.891km Northamptonshire track, which in theory at least should play to the strengths of Ferrari’s 2019 challenger, the team says it does not expect Silverstone to suit its SF90 “particularly well”.

Binotto revealed Ferrari will be continuing its recent aggressive development push in a bid to reduce the deficit to Mercedes, having already introduced significant aerodynamic updates at the last two races in France and Austria with varying degrees of success.

According to Binotto, Ferrari will bring “a further small aerodynamic modification” to Silverstone as it seeks increased understanding of its complex car.

With Mercedes and Hamilton comfortably heading both world championships, a first victory of the season would act as a timely boost for Ferrari if it is to have any hope of avoiding an 11th successive year without any silverware.

Can Verstappen keep up sublime form?

Verstappen’s stunning recovery drive in Spielberg earned him and Red Bull a first win of the season and continued his remarkably consistent start to 2019.

The victory lifted the Dutchman up to third place in the championship standings to become the nearest challenger to the Mercedes pair, with Verstappen sitting 71 points adrift of current points leader Hamilton.

He has not finished lower than fifth in the opening nine rounds of the campaign and has already registered three podium appearances.

Verstappen’s impressive form has prompted praise from Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, who said after the Austrian GP that he had “thought for a little while” that Verstappen is the best driver in F1.

Ahead of the British GP, Horner reiterated his stance, adding that Verstappen’s drastic turnaround over the last 12 months means he has arguably become the best driver in the world, even ahead of Hamilton. 

Back-to-back wins for Red Bull might be out of reach at Silverstone, given the circuit characteristics are not the most favourable for its RB15 package, despite encouraging recent engine gains made by power unit supplier Honda.