If you haven’t been watching the F1 season so far, you’ve really been missing out – it’s been totally action-packed, and us here at Karting Nation are loving it! In last week’s race in Austria, Lewis Hamilton and his Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas were forced to withdraw from the race. Ultimately, this meant that the first place spot in the Driver’s Championship was reclaimed by Hamilton’s fierce rival Sebastian Vettel. Ahead of this weekend’s race, read on as Karting Nation tells you everything you need to know in our preview of the 2018 British Grand Prix.
What Time Does The British Grand Prix Start?
The 2018 British Grand Prix takes place this Sunday, 8th July at 14:10 UK time. Qualifying begins on Saturday 7th July at 14:00, with the practice rounds kicking off Friday, 6th July at 10:00.
History of the British Grand Prix
First held in 1926, the British Grand Prix takes place at the world-famous Silverstone Circuit – a 5.891 km (3.66 mi) racetrack which consists of 52 laps. This equates to a total race length of 306.291 km (190.32 mi). Silverstone Circuit has been used as the venue for the British Grand Prix since 1948 – previously taking place at Brooklands, a circuit which was seriously damaged due to the events of World War II.
Silverstone Circuit is renowned for its series of tight bends and is known to be a true challenge for drivers. But, its impressive spectator facilities makes the British Grand Prix one of the most anticipated races in the F1 racing calendar – with an immense atmosphere guaranteed for those in attendance.
In terms of overall wins in the British Grand Prix, Jim Clark, Alain Prost, and current racer Lewis Hamilton remain tied on 5 career wins each on this particular circuit.
Who Won The 2017 British Grand Prix?
In the previous edition of the British Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton was able to claim victory on home turf with an overall time of 1:21:27.430 – finishing ahead of his teammate Valtteri Bottas (+14.063) and Ferrari racer Kimi Räikkönen (+36.570). Each of these racers have proven their worth on this circuit before. So, it wouldn’t be surprising for one or more of them to claim a podium finish once more.
Who Is Likely To Win The British Grand Prix?
It’s safe to say that Mercedes had an absolute shambles of a race last week in Austria. Both of their drivers had to withdraw from the race due to technical errors – something which Mercedes certainly aren’t renowned for due to their fantastic performances in recent years.
However, the Mercedes team will look to bounce back this week – with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel able to climb above his fierce rival Lewis Hamilton in the race for the 2018 title. Just one point separates the two drivers, with Vettel currently on 146 points and Hamilton on 145. After he claimed victory in France two weeks ago, Hamilton had the chance to further his lead after storming ahead of Vettel in the driver standings. But, last week’s events certainly did him no favours.
Young racer Max Verstappen was able to earn a first placed finish in Austria last week, and Daniel Ricciardo has been performing considerably well this F1 season so far. So, it would be foolish to rule either of them out for the win. In spite of this, Lewis Hamilton has won the British Grand Prix four years in a row. Does he have what it takes to make that five? You’ll have to tune in to find out!
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it folks! Karting Nation HQ can’t wait for the action to kick off this weekend- can you? Don’t forget, the main event commences this Sunday, 8th July at 2:10pm UK time. Qualifying begins at 2:00pm on Saturday, 7th July, and the practice rounds start this Friday at 10:00am.