The British Formula 1 Grand Prix is set to run on Sunday at 10 a.m. ET. It will be the twelfth race of the season and the second of the European swing that keeps the series on the Old Continent until October.
Silverstone is one of F1's most iconic tracks, where power is king and courage is tested. It could easily prove the turning point of the championship.
Find my Formula 1 betting preview and British Formula 1 Grand Prix prediction below.
British Formula 1 Grand Prix Preview
Lando Norris threw a spanner in the works at the Austrian GP as the British driver followed up on his impressive Saturday pace to deliver arguably the most convincing win of his career. It wasn't a gimme, far from it. Norris had to defend from teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri for several laps, at one point even having to pull off a switch-up overtake.
It also showed the pressure can get to the Australian, with Piastri nearly taking out both cars with a move from deep that had him locking up his brakes. He got a telling-off from the usually very laissez-faire McLaren box, although the cars were allowed to continue racing after that.
There were reports after the race informing that Norris had received an update to his car that Piastri had refused. A new front-end setup is reportedly providing drivers with significantly more feedback, something the Brit had been requesting, although it does theoretically come with some degree of performance loss in the form of increased tire heating and degradation.
In any case, while I still think the Aussie has the advantage, this could open up a championship that was looking increasingly in Piastri's hands if Norris can sustain Austria-level performances. That's why the British GP can tell us so much about what's to come.
Silverstone is one of F1's premier venues, a historic race with some of the noisiest and most vocal fans. As a track, it's one of the most entertaining on the calendar, with wide sections that allow for close fighting and long straights for overtakes.
It's a middle-of-the-road circuit in terms of aero load, but the primary concern will be tire wear. With plenty of fast, sweeping corners, several of which are connected — think of the Maggots, Beckets, Chapel complex — lateral forces are massive, and the front tires will suffer increased stress. Tire provider Pirelli seems to have missed the memo, as they're bringing a softer set of compounds than last year. It may all be for nothing, however, as rain is expected on Sunday.
In terms of upgrades, the team looking most eagerly to make a step up will be Red Bull: they are bringing a new floor, but they're not alone. Aston Martin and Haas are also introducing a barrage of updates, while Sauber is bringing a new front wing that could help them continue to bridge their gap to the midfield.
Formula 1 Predictions: British GP
Max Verstappen – Race Winner (+150, BetMGM)
The fact that the pole sitter is at plus money for this one speaks loudly to how superior the McLaren cars are. The Dutchman spent most of this weekend deflecting questions regarding a potential move to Mercedes rather than driving, but disregarding the defending champion at your own peril is still a mistake.
Many read conformity in Verstappen's nonchalant reaction to Kimi Antonelli taking him out of the Austrian GP. He showed how much he cares on Saturday, storming to pole in a much-improved Red Bull car. He might be on the fringes of a championship push, but he'll sell his crown at a dear cost.
Yuki Tsunoda Top 10 (-105, BetMGM)
While Verstappen has often carried a sub-par Red Bull car to contention, the true sign of the new floor working for the car is in Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda's result. Yes, a Q2 outing would've been a disaster for Checo Pérez last season, but considering the struggles of Liam Lawson and Tsunoda himself at the helm of the car, it's a step in the right direction.
Come Sunday, the Japanese driver has plenty of room to stretch his legs, with another driver carrying under-performing machinery, Pierre Gasly in his Alpine, and rookie Antonelli ahead of him. With his drive very much on the line as Honda departs Red Bull next season, expect Tsunoda to look at any chance to earn plaudits and a potential seat at another team.
Isack Hadjar Top 10 (+125, BetMGM)
The order has been reestablished at Racing Bulls. After Liam Lawson's near-perfect execution in Austria, we're back to Hadjar being the lead driver in Red Bull's second team, over half a second quicker than his teammate. On non-top machinery, he's been the most impressive of the rookies, hardly putting a foot down since that initial mishap at Australia.
Racing Bulls was one of the cars that brought the least upgrades to the British GP, but there's only so much improvement you can get on what has already proven to be one of the best cars in the midfield. Unlike Tsunoda, Hadjar will need some fortune for things to go his way, but he's proven capable of getting to the points on more than one occasion. If his race craft is up to par and a few others drop the ball, he's continuing to add to his tally.
