Hollywood dazzle at Silverstone with presence of Brad Pitt and feature film crew
Formula 1 heads back to one of its most famous sites as Silverstone hosts the 2023 British Grand Prix this weekend.
Last time out in Austria, Max Verstappen continued his dominant form with a fifth straight win this season, extending his lead in the world championship to 81 points, with team-mate Sergio Perez in second.
Lewis Hamilton endured a mixed weekend in Spielberg, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished on the podium. Hamilton, George Russell and Lando Norris will be eyeing strong results this weekend at their home race, with recent upgrades for both Mercedes and McLaren renewing optimism in both camps.
On Friday at a bright and sunny Silverstone, Max Verstappen was quickest in first and second practice. Carlos Sainz won last year’s action-packed race for Ferrari, his first and only win in F1.
Follow British Grand Prix live updates with The Independent this weekend – qualifying starts at 3pm (BST).
F1 BRITISH GRAND PRIX – QUALIFYING
Show latest update
Any chance of rain?
The forecast does show dry conditions for the start of qualifying, but it does remain overcast at Silverstone.
A spot of rain would certainly shake-up the chain of events…
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson8 July 2023 14:37
British Grand Prix preview – Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes struggle as British Grand Prix gets Hollywood sprinkling
By Kieran Jackson at Silverstone
On a Silverstone weekend where the presence of Brad Pitt and the Apple Studios crew is the talk of the town, the as of yet untitled Formula 1 film’s executive producer – the sport’s very own A-lister – struggled at his spiritual home on Friday.
Lewis Hamilton remains without a win in 19 months since Saudi Arabia in the penultimate round of the 2021 season. Last year, a thrilling British Grand Prix won by Carlos Sainz saw the eight-time winner come close, but the 38-year-old remains on an unprecedented winless streak.
This weekend, despite Mercedes bringing an upgraded front-wing, the practice pace simply wasn’t there for Hamilton or his team-mate George Russell. In both sessions, both drivers finished outside the top-10.
Kieran Jackson8 July 2023 14:30
Here’s the Constructors’ Standings ahead of the weekend:
3) Aston Martin – 172 points
10) AlphaTauri – 2 points
Kieran Jackson8 July 2023 14:09
British Grand Prix: 20 years since Irish ‘lunatic’ invaded the track at Silverstone
Exclusive by Kieran Jackson
“Oh my goodness me!” screamed ITV’s lead Formula 1 commentator James Allen, words struggling to comprehend the sheer craziness of what was being witnessed. “We’ve got a lunatic on the track!”
When a group of protestors from Just Stop Oil invaded the circuit last year during the opening lap of the British Grand Prix, it wasn’t Silverstone’s first run-in with track invaders. Contrarily, 20 years ago, the 2003 British Grand Prix was 10 laps in before deranged Irish priest Neil Horan sprinted up the fiercely quick Hangar Straight.
Many drivers had to swerve to avoid him as Horan, dressed in a brown kilt, madly ran into the racing line of F1 cars speeding at 200mph while waving banners which read: “Read the bible” and “The Bible is always right.”
Kieran Jackson8 July 2023 13:48
Charles Leclerc sets pace in final British Grand Prix practice before rain arrives
Charles Leclerc finished fastest in a rain-hit final practice session for the British Grand Prix.
The Ferrari driver set the pace in the dry running before heavy rain arrived at Silverstone.
Williams’ Alex Albon took second place, one spot ahead of Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso, with Pierre Gasly fourth for Alpine and Lewis Hamilton fifth.
Kieran Jackson8 July 2023 13:06
FP3 CLASSIFICATION
Here are the full results from third practice:
Kieran Jackson8 July 2023 12:46
Charles Leclerc fastest in FP3
So that’s your lot for practice this weekend – and for once it’s not Max Verstappen at the top of the standings!
Charles Leclerc quickest in that session before the rain came, with a 1:27:419 beating another impressive showing by Alex Albon in second by 0.173secs.
Fernando Alonso was third, three-tenths off the pace for Aston Martin, with Pierre Gasly fourth and Lewis Hamilton fifth, 0.529secs off Leclerc.
6-10: Sainz, Sargeant, Verstappen, Russell, Tsunoda
Red Bull won’t be too bothered, though, even if Sergio Perez was only 14th-fastest.
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson8 July 2023 12:33
Most now giving it a go on inters
They won’t improve their time but, just in case it rains later or tomorrow, most are now out on track on intermediates.
Plenty of spray coming out the back of all the cars at the end of the straights, it remains quite wet out there.
Kieran Jackson8 July 2023 12:27