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On Sunday, July 7, 2024, at the Silverstone Circuit, the British Grand Prix, the twelfth race of the Formula 1 World Championship, will take place. For this Grand Prix, Pirelli, the sole tire supplier, offers teams a choice between C1, C2, and C3 compound tires, the hardest compounds available from the Italian company. Meanwhile, the FIA has established the two traditional zones where the Drag Reduction System, in use since the 2011 season when the mobile device was introduced to the category, can be deployed. The first zone is located between Turn 5 and Turn 6, with the detection point set before Turn 3. The second zone is between Turn 14 and Turn 15, with the detection point established at Turn 11. Compared to the 2023 edition, the circuit features several modifications. New drainage has been installed at Turn 1 on the left side, between Turn 5 and Turn 6, and between Turn 14 and Turn 15, also on the left side. The combined curb at Turn 3 on the right side has been removed, while the curb at Turn 16 on the left side has been replaced with grass. New gravel has been installed at Turn 14 on the left side, while the gravel at Turn 15, also on the left side, has been extended 6-8 meters towards the track. The asphalt runoff at Turn 16 on the right side has been reduced to 1.7 meters and filled with grass. The asphalt grip between Turn 18 and Turn 1 on the left side has been replaced with grass. A new tire barrier has been installed on the right side at Turn 15 and Turn 16 in the runoff area. The white line at Turns 9 and 15 on the left side has been moved further left to reduce the distance between it and the gravel to 1.5 meters. The white line at Turns 11 and 17 on the left side has been moved further left to reduce the distance between it and the gravel to 1.8 meters. The red curb has been removed at Turns 11, 12, and 13 on the right side, and at Turn 16 on the left side. Additionally, the FIA stipulates that any driver who does not correctly navigate the exit of Turn 18 will have their lap time and the subsequent lap time immediately invalidated by the stewards. On the eve of the British Grand Prix, public attention is focused on the potential evolution of the rivalry between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. While journalists are stirring up a possible rivalry between the two drivers, three days after the bitter conclusion of the Austrian Grand Prix, Lando Norris states that he believes he did nothing wrong but essentially tones down his comments compared to what he said at the end of the previous race:
"I reviewed everything and we analyzed things. Let me say that I wouldn’t change anything I did. I battled, and that’s what we want: we want to fight on track. We don’t want to complain, and we don’t want things to end the way they did, neither Max nor I. But sometimes, that’s just how life goes. We are fighting, we both want to win, and we will push to the limit, and someone will do it a bit more. At the same time, I am eager. He and I will have other battles on track, and I look forward to them. We love this kind of competition, we want to compete hard. But at the same time, we do it with a smile on our faces, and I think it’s good for everyone watching us".
Christian Horner, Team Principal and CEO of Red Bull Racing, defends his top driver, Max Verstappen, emphasizing that in 2021 the Dutch driver was penalized equally to Lewis Hamilton when the two exceeded the rules in what was a duel beyond logic:
"Verstappen fought hard in 2021; in the last two years, it wasn’t necessary because he won with a significant margin. Recently, the rivalry with Lando Norris has been growing because the two have been dueling wheel-to-wheel for several consecutive races. At some point, it was natural for something to happen between the two, and it happened in Austria at Turn 3. I don’t find it fair that Verstappen is labeled this way by Andrea Stella, but it must also be considered that statements can be made in the heat of the moment. In 2021 Verstappen was sanctioned when he did something wrong, and the same happened to Lewis Hamilton. Tough drivers are like that; Andrea Stella should know this better than many others since he worked with Schumacher".
Andrea Stella, Team Principal of McLaren Racing, responds to the Red Bull Racing Team Principal on the eve of the British Grand Prix, saying:
"I think these kinds of statements are quite unacceptable, and in a way, I believe they reflect the integrity of the person who made them. First of all, the entire battle was very entertaining, and it’s a shame it didn’t last until the checkered flag. The fight was tough, but at some point, there were maneuvers that should have been immediately addressed to make it clear to the drivers that they were under scrutiny. I am particularly referring to Max’s braking maneuvers. This would have made them race more cautiously. In general, we have a lot of respect for Max; what he is achieving is incredible, and he is a great driver. He doesn’t need to defend himself in this way. I understand that the work of the FIA and the Stewards is difficult, but this could be an opportunity to review what happened and make stricter what needs to be stricter, to ensure that the battles can last until the checkered flag".
Lando Norris continues to emphasize that there are no issues between him and Max Verstappen and that he hopes to battle again with his friend-rival:
"We want to fight hard, and we both know that, but we absolutely don’t want things to end the way they did again. We want to make sure to avoid that in the future. We exchanged messages and will have a chat, of course, because I think it’s the right thing to do. But aside from that, what we talk about and how things go remain between us. Will we get past what happened? I think so, out of the respect we still have. I won’t let something like this suddenly blow everything up. Certainly, my adrenaline got the better of me in some comments. I don’t think everything I said was correct. But I was fighting for my second win. For Max, it’s his sixtieth. So the meaning for me is very different from what it is for him".
The British McLaren Racing driver adds:
"We have already reviewed everything several times, and I’ve learned some things. Many things I expected and already knew, but it’s still different because when you fight with some drivers, it’s different from others, especially when you fight for the top positions compared to when you’re fighting for lower positions. Max has a racing style that is different from others, and that’s one reason why he’s a champion, but overall, we’ve reviewed everything, and I’m excited to get back on track this weekend to do a better job. How does Max race? Without going into too much detail about his racing style, I think it’s clear how he races; there’s no need to talk about it. He’s tough and on the edge. I really enjoyed the whole battle with him and the fight on track; it’s a shame, though, that it ended like that. Other than that, I think it’s clear how it went from the TV footage, and I look forward to racing against him again this weekend. I spoke with Max, but I don’t think it was necessary for him to apologize. Some of the things I said in interviews after the race were more out of my frustration at that moment. There was a lot of adrenaline and emotions, but I said some things I didn’t necessarily believe in, and later in the week, I believed them even less. It was a pretty pathetic incident if we look at how it ruined the race for both of us, especially since there wasn’t a high-speed contact. It was probably the lightest contact we could have had, but the consequences were tremendous for both, especially for me. I don’t expect him to apologize, and I don’t think it’s necessary. I think it was a good race and a good battle, sometimes a bit close to the limit, but we talked and discussed it, and we’re both happy to race against each other again. It’s obvious that Verstappen didn’t want to get into an incident because he wanted to win the race. I can certainly do some things differently, but I don’t think he will change much, and neither do I. We could have definitely avoided the incident; I could have done things differently, like using the curb more. It’s something that applies to both of us".
Speaking of a possible FIA intervention, Lando Norris concludes:
"An intervention by the FIA? Avoiding an incident with someone moving under braking is the main issue because an incident can easily arise from such behavior, so we all have to be very cautious about that. It’s something I’ll have to keep in mind for the future, and maybe the stewards need to be aware of this because something can happen in those cases. Defending aggressively is fine, but there’s a point where a line needs to be drawn, and I think that line needs to be better defined. It’s hard to say if the penalty should be reviewed; sometimes it’s said it should be, but we drivers are the first to say it shouldn’t. Sometimes you don’t want the consequences to be considered, while other times, I think they should be. It’s hard to express because our incident was so minimal that I don’t think the penalty should have been huge, if it should have been given at all. I was taken out of the race and didn’t have the opportunity to win, while he could continue his race. In some ways, what happened should be considered, but understanding how much and in what way is complicated. It’s a topic we should all discuss with the FIA, but it’s not easy to have a clear idea".
The day after the Austrian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen faced heavy criticism from various pundits and journalists due to the aggressive way he drives and defends against his rivals. However, the Dutch driver doesn’t seem particularly concerned about these comments and says he is more worried about maintaining a friendship with Lando Norris:
"I don’t care about the criticisms directed at me; I go home and live my life. The only thing I was worried about was my relationship with Norris because he’s a great friend. We’ve cleared everything up between us, and now we’re moving on. Some people say I expected the contact but not the puncture? Imagine if I deliberately sought contact. You never want to risk an incident. As I said post-race on Sunday, it was important to let the emotions cool down. It’s normal for him to react differently when he’s fighting for his second career win, while for me, it would have been the 62nd. I remember well what the opportunity to win a second race meant to me. We watched the footage together and agreed on 99% of the things, which is a lot. The penalty? I don’t agree, but it doesn’t matter; there have been worse instances of movements under braking in the past. There’s always a human reaction when you realize you’re under attack inside or outside. Norris knows he can trust me not to squeeze him, whether inside or outside, and this goes both ways, even when I’m attacking him. The contact was minimal and ruined both our races. His dive-bombing on the inside? Everyone tries to gain an advantage in a duel. Regarding the rules on duels, it’s a bit like those that lead to car design—you look for a gray area and exploit it; otherwise, you’ll never succeed. I think there are already too many rules; just look at how much the regulations have grown compared to 10-15 years ago. Lando and I have had many battles on the track and in sim-racing, and we want to continue having them. The atmosphere waiting for me at Silverstone? Again, I only cared about discussing things with Norris because I value our friendship. We’ll have some updates, and we hope they work".
To conclude, Lando Norris emphasizes that many people probably don’t expect him to duel with Max Verstappen, as there have been moments in the past where the British driver simply let the Dutch driver go. However:
"But those were situations where he was a second faster, and I couldn’t care less if he overtook me. Those were races where I didn’t have to fight against him, and not fighting brought benefits to my races. It would have been stupid to fight him then. I didn’t have the chance to go wheel-to-wheel and race against him from the start to the end of a race. It could have lasted a lap. Since then, times have changed, and now we’re fighting for much more. So I’m fighting everyone harder and in a better way: I’ll still do what I need to do and be energetic when necessary. In Barcelona, I could have pushed him a bit onto the grass. It’s not easy to judge, and I didn’t want to put him on the grass. I wanted to squeeze him and make him feel uncomfortable. He said he would have done exactly the same with me. I think I’m ready to fight, give my all, and battle with him when needed, because that’s the level we’re at now".
Meanwhile, on Thursday, July 4, 2024, MoneyGram Haas F1 Team has signed Great Britain’s Oliver Bearman to compete for the US-squad on a multi-year contract beginning with the 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship. The 19-year-old Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy member is currently an official reserve driver for the team while contesting the FIA Formula 2 Championship for Prema Racing - Bearman collecting his first win of the 2024 campaign last weekend in Austria in the Sprint race to add to his tally of four victories from a stellar rookie season in 2023. Bearman, in his additional role as reserve driver for Scuderia Ferrari, made a memorable Formula 1 debut back in March in Saudi Arabia substituting for the sidelined Carlos Sainz Jr. - in doing so becoming the thirdyoungest racer in Formula 1 history. A mature performance from the then 18-year-old from Chelmsford saw Bearman classified seventh and firmly in the points on his one-off race appearance behind the wheel of the SF-24. No stranger to MoneyGram Haas F1 Team - the only American team competing in Formula 1, Bearman participated in two FP1 sessions for the Kannapolis outfit in 2023, in Mexico and Abu Dhabi respectively, followed by a full-day in the VF-23 at the end-of-season test in Abu Dhabi. Announced as an official reserve driver for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team in January of this year, Bearman’s work with the team this season includes six FP1 sessions, with the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend marking his third appearance in the VF-24 with Hungary, Mexico and Abu Dhabi to follow. Says Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal of MoneyGram Haas F1 team:
"It’s an exciting thing to be able to give a young driver as talented as Oliver Bearman his first full-time seat in Formula 1. He’s developed into an incredibly mature driver under the guidance of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy and the world saw that for themselves when he was called in at the last minute to compete at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Oliver proved he was more than ready for the task, and we’ve seen that for ourselves running him in the Haas cars in our FP1 sessions over the past two seasons. We’re looking forward to further developing him as a driver and reaping the benefits of his talent - both inside and outside of the car. Oliver’s a great guy and a very welcome addition to the team when he joins us for the FP1 weekends. Now we know that relationship is going to be longer-term, it’s a positive thing for all concerned".
Gene Haas, Team Owner of MoneyGram Haas F1 Team commented:
"I’m pleased we’ve been able to give Oliver Bearman this opportunity to drive full-time in Formula 1 - he’s undoubtedly an exciting rookie prospect, not just based on what he showed in Saudi Arabia but also through his time developing his relationship with our team. I’m personally excited to see how he grows as a driver, and we look forward to seeing him deliver for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team next season and beyond. This is an exciting time for the team. Oliver’s signing shows we continue to invest in talent - both on and off-track - as we continue to compete at the highest level".
States Oliver Bearman:
"It’s hard to put into words just how much this means to me. To say out loud that I will be a Formula 1 driver for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team makes me so immensely proud. To be one of the very few people who get to do the thing what they dreamed of as a child is something truly incredible. To Gene, Ayao and everyone at Haas, thank you for believing in me and for trusting me to represent your team. I’ve really enjoyed working with everyone since the first time we met in Mexico and I can’t wait to enjoy this moment with them and hopefully many more in the future. To Fred, Marco, Jock, Alessandro and everyone at the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy, quite simply, I wouldn’t be here without you. Thank you for preparing me since F4 for this incredible opportunity and know I will give it everything I have".
And speaking of the driver market, Mercedes Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff, responding to journalists' questions about why he is so fiercely focused on the desire to sign Max Verstappen instead of, for example, a driver like Charles Leclerc, the Austrian manager said:
"If I could choose between Verstappen and Leclerc? Leclerc is a Ferrari driver until 2028. But Verstappen… it’s not very clear. We keep all options open. Max? We are not waiting for a driver; we have never done that. The goal is to have a faster car; that’s what we can control. I think it’s very likely that Max could stay at Red Bull, but that doesn’t mean things can’t change".
Moreover, after publicly declaring that discussions with Carlos Sainz Jr. were closed since the Spanish driver would have had to wait until autumn, Toto Wolff surprisingly reignites the hopes of the Scuderia Ferrari driver by saying that if he has the patience to wait, he could be considered for a potential recruitment by the Anglo-German team:
"With Carlos, it’s a safe bet, especially if we have a competitive car, he could help us for the Constructors’ Championship. There are many arguments in his favor. I want to take all the time necessary to decide and keep all options open for as long as possible. When we talked, I told him I wasn’t sure he could wait for us because I don’t want to make a decision in haste. But Sainz is still a possibility; obviously, he has to decide what to do with other teams. Naturally, we considered him. But at that time, Fernando wasn’t interested in driving for Mercedes. And on top of that, he had a long-term contract with Aston Martin on the table. That’s the perception I had".
On Friday, July 5th, 2024, before the start of the first practice session, Pierre Gasly's car had its fifth internal combustion engine unit installed. Sergio Pérez, Daniel Ricciardo, and Yuki Tsunoda had their fourth units installed, while George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso, Logan Sargeant, Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu, Kevin Magnussen, and Nico Hülkenberg had their third units installed. Additionally, Gasly had his fifth turbocharger unit installed, while Pérez, Ricciardo, Tsunoda, Russell, Piastri, Norris, Stroll, Alonso, Sargeant, Bottas, Zhou, Magnussen, and Hülkenberg had their fourth units installed. Gasly also received his fifth MGU-H unit, with Pérez, Ricciardo, Tsunoda, Russell, Piastri, Norris, Stroll, Alonso, Sargeant, Bottas, Zhou, Magnussen, and Hülkenberg getting their fourth units. Gasly had his fifth MGU-K unit installed, and Pérez, Ricciardo, Tsunoda, Russell, Piastri, Norris, Stroll, Alonso, Sargeant, Bottas, Zhou, Magnussen, and Hülkenberg had their fourth units installed. Finally, Gasly received his fifth electronic control unit and sixth exhaust system unit, while Pérez, Ricciardo, Tsunoda received their fifth units, Bottas, Zhou, Hülkenberg their fourth, and Piastri, Norris, Stroll, Alonso, Sargeant their third units. All drivers except Gasly incurred no penalties. The French Alpine driver, however, had to start from the back of the grid due to exceeding the maximum allowable components limit set by the technical regulations. In conclusion, Piastri and Norris received their third gearbox and transmission units. During the first practice session, Lando Norris set the fastest time, over a second quicker than the best time in the same session in 2023, using Soft tires. Oscar Piastri confirmed McLaren's performance with the third fastest time. Lance Stroll placed between the two McLaren drivers. Norris also completed a race simulation, unlike his teammate who stopped due to hydraulic issues affecting the power steering. Max Verstappen set his best time with Hard tires and tested Medium tires in preparation for the race. The Ferrari drivers conducted comparative tests, with Charles Leclerc dealing with technical updates that required adjustments, experiencing challenging moments at Chapel and dealing with pronounced porpoising. Carlos Sainz Jr. worked with the previous aerodynamic setup. The session was briefly interrupted to recover Yuki Tsunoda's car, which spun at turn 7. At the end of the session, Isack Hadjar and Lando Norris were summoned by the stewards due to Hadjar impeding Norris at turn 2. Hadjar received a formal warning, and Red Bull Racing was fined €20.000 by the FIA. Lance Stroll and Charles Leclerc were also summoned for an incident where Stroll allegedly impeded Leclerc at turn 12. Stroll received a formal warning, and Aston Martin was fined €15.000 by the FIA.
McLaren continued to dominate in the second practice session, with Lando Norris again setting the pace, faster than last year's pole position time. Oscar Piastri followed in second place, 0.3 seconds behind his teammate. Sergio Pérez was third fastest. Red Bull Racing showed good consistency on Medium tires but were slightly behind McLaren. Nico Hülkenberg finished fourth, benefiting from technical upgrades on the Haas car. As teams prepare for the British Grand Prix weekend, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown revisits the topic of last week's incident between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen at the Austrian Grand Prix:
"The duel in Austria resulted in an unfortunate outcome for what was ultimately a minor contact. Until someone tells Max that certain things are not allowed, he will continue to do them. It's about leaving a car's width, and Max did that. It's also up to us as teams to tell our drivers where the limit is. Until someone tells him otherwise, Max won't change anything".
Interestingly, just a few years later, Mercedes Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff defends Max Verstappen, emphasizing that regulations permit certain behaviors on track:
"Lando and Max have a good relationship; they will have spoken about what happened. Having said that, there are regulations that define the limits for drivers. If the rules are slightly vague or their interpretation changes, the best drivers take advantage of it. This is how Max drives. He pushes as far as he is allowed. We also exploit every opportunity with the technical regulations. That's how it goes".
Meanwhile, Lando Norris appears unfazed by the recent events and instead focuses on the task ahead, aiming to secure his second career victory:
"It's been a solid day. We've done a good amount of running and some nice laps, so I feel reasonably comfortable. We've made some changes over the morning which helped me get into a good rhythm, which is super important around such a high-speed track like this. I think we've got a few more to tweaks to make, but it's difficult with the challenges of wind and rain. It's been a clean two sessions, and that's a good start to the weekend, so I'm happy with that".
Lando Norris also adds:
"I still feel like I need improvements. As a driver, I don't think I'm yet at the level of Max and Lewis, because they have been at this level for much longer than me. Where can I improve? It's hard to say: if I knew exactly, it would probably be a bit easier, but it's about tiny details, about one or two meters, and a few hundredths here and there," the British driver stated. "Certainly, I'm not yet at their level. I feel like I still need to constantly challenge myself against them, but I think I'm getting closer and I'm getting there. You just have to gather all these little things and put them together, but the point is to do it every single race, for a whole season, and then do it for multiple seasons," Norris explained. "Most of the drivers on the grid can probably do a great job for one race or one qualifying, maximizing a weekend. But what separates them from the best and makes Max and Lewis what they are is maximizing every single weekend, with or without pressure, in different conditions, fighting with different teams or for a World Championship".
Max Verstappen's day did not end on the best note. Once again, the car did not provide the right feeling for the Dutch driver, who also spun during practice:
"I had a little spin today, but nothing serious, it just compromised that lap. FP2 went a bit better actually, there's still some work to do. In the end, we tried some things, changing from FP1 to FP2, and we need to analyze what will work best for tomorrow. We tried a few things, we need to analyze them and then ultimately choose the direction for tomorrow. Of course, I think the weather with the rain will also be taken into account".
Beyond the on-track work, tensions continue outside the Red Bull Racing box between Christian Horner and his father, Jos Verstappen. Recently, Helmut Marko attempted to restore calm within the World Championship-winning team. However, he also mentioned:
"We need calm to ensure success. I have a contract until 2026 and I will honor it, provided all my functions remain unchanged. This way, Max's exit clause won't be necessary".
This confirms the presence of an exit clause for the Dutch driver, should the Austrian manager leave the Anglo-Austrian team.
"As long as Red Bull provides Max with a car capable of winning and there is harmony within the team, he will always respect his contract. If Mercedes were to provide him with a car? If, if, if... it's not the case right now".
Marko also addressed rumors suggesting Red Bull Racing is facing difficulties with the design of the power units that will be used from 2026:
"Guess who spreads these rumors. We are sticking to our schedule. There is no plan B if the new engine doesn't work. Our engine must work or start working. There are many factors at play, such as fuel and battery. It will be exciting to see who will truly be ahead. In terms of horsepower, we will certainly be there".
To quash any speculation surrounding the Anglo-Austrian team, particularly the clash between Jos Verstappen and Christian Horner, Max Verstappen clearly stated that his father will remain close to him and such situations do not bother him:
"Given how I was raised, these things don't bother me. For me, they are minor disturbances. I know how to focus on the race and how to deliver the best performance, even if things happen around me. That said, it's always nice to have a friendly environment around. Earlier this year, everyone was talking about it (the Horner case, editor's note), but the situation had clearly improved until the Austrian Grand Prix. I'm confident it will also settle down. Sometimes you have to let some time pass and not get carried away by emotions. I always look at performances, but also at the people around me and the working relationship I have with them. We're talking about teamwork. It's very important for us to keep the group united and for now, it is so. Certainly, my father is not going anywhere. Naturally, he doesn't come to every single Grand Prix anymore because he has a family and races in rallies. But we are a family, he has always been there for me, and that will never change".
Returning to the insights from the first day of practice, Red Bull Racing's top consultant, Helmut Marko, highlighted the issues encountered during practice that prevented Max Verstappen from closing in on McLaren's friend-rival, Lando Norris:
"We are losing too much in slow corners, especially at 3-4, and you know that the 0.6s gap we have isn't due to the track evolving rapidly, but we are behind Norris in both short and long runs. Tire wear seems to be similar, so we need to work on that".
During the first day of free practice, it became evident that Charles Leclerc struggled to make the most of his car. Scuderia Ferrari conducted comparative tests between the Imola technical specification and the subsequent one. Specifically, the Monegasque driver used the latter specification, facing numerous unexpected challenges due to excessive aerodynamic load generation, particularly in the fast corners of the circuit:
"We have some data to analyze and everyone is focused on that to try to make the best decision for tomorrow. It was a very productive day, although unfortunately not particularly fast. We are evaluating everything now, so I can't yet say which direction we will go in, but we are working on it and I am confident that tomorrow we will make the best decision for us. Can we be in the fight? It doesn't seem so. Personally, I feel that Red Bull and McLaren are much further ahead this weekend, unfortunately. But let's wait and see, I hope I'm wrong. We will analyze the data collected to make the comparisons we need and decide the next steps with the team. At the moment, we are not completely satisfied, and for this reason, we will continue to work hard to try to solve the problems we encountered today and prepare for a good qualifying tomorrow. Now it's a matter of analyzing the data from both cars and making the best decision for tomorrow".
Carlos Sainz Jr. essentially confirmed what his teammate said about the work carried out by Scuderia Ferrari:
"It seems a bit of a nightmare for Charles. I think we are both doing tests to try to improve the car. Some will go in the right direction, others not. But it's Friday, so we try what we want and see how it goes. Certainly, McLaren seems to be a step ahead. In the last two weekends, McLaren has made one or two steps forward from us, and it seems that is the case this weekend too. Obviously, we are trying to do everything we can to understand this package and how to make it faster, but McLaren is on another level. Today was a day to try to understand what is happening in the last two races because we are not at the level we expected and where we wanted to be. At the moment, for this weekend, there doesn't seem to be a clear solution. Now we have to wait and see how many races we can do with this car without problems. It was an interesting Friday: today the goal was to gather useful data to get a complete picture of our car and I believe we succeeded. Now we will have to analyze all the data to be ready for tomorrow. There are decisions to be made tonight, but I think we can aim for a decent weekend in terms of overall performance".
The same cannot be said for the Mercedes team, as Lewis Hamilton is more than satisfied with the performance of his car, showing significant improvement since the Canadian Grand Prix.
"The car felt generally good today. We're still a little bit behind the ultimate pace at the front but today was encouraging. I don't think the times are fully representative of where our speed was, but nevertheless, we know we've got work to do tonight. We will therefore do what we can to try and find more performance and hopefully that can get us a little closer to those ahead. It is always great to be here at Silverstone. The size of the crowd seems to grow every year and it was awesome to see all their support. Hopefully we can give them something to cheer about over the rest of the weekend".
Confirmation that Mercedes is finally working in the right direction also comes from George Russell:
"FP1 was a strong session with the car feeling great. FP2 was a slightly more challenging hour, and we need to pick through why that was. It was much windier, and I don't think we got the tyres in the right window, so that could explain a chunk of it. The conditions are likely to change across the weekend, with more rain possible too, so we will have to be adaptive. I hope the fans didn't get too wet this afternoon; as always, it was fantastic to see their support in the grandstands. After today's running, I'd say that the competitive picture looks similar to the past few races. McLaren and Max look a step ahead and it's close between ourselves and Ferrari. We will work hard overnight to try and take a step forward and see where that leaves us tomorrow".
On Saturday, July 6, 2024, before the start of the third free practice session, the fourth gearbox and fourth transmission were installed on Alexander Albon's car, while the third gearbox and third transmission were installed on Nico Hülkenberg's car. However, neither driver will incur any penalties. The third and final practice session was characterized by the presence and fall of rain, which ended before the start of FP3, forcing the drivers to use intermediate wet tires. The rain returned to wet the track again before the end of the practice session, preventing the drivers from improving their times. The fastest was George Russell, who narrowly beat Lewis Hamilton. Behind the two Mercedes was another British driver, Lando Norris. The wet track conditions forced drivers into making some errors: the most severe was by Pierre Gasly at Turn 16, with his Alpine ending up in the escape road. The need to recover the car necessitated a temporary interruption of the session. The rain, which fell during the Formula 2 race, forced the drivers to mount intermediate wet tires at the start of the qualifying session. In Q1, the first valid time was set by Esteban Ocon, but it was Lewis Hamilton, with a time of 1’37"759, who set the fastest time, while George Russell was 0.041s behind his teammate. Shortly after, Max Verstappen set the fastest time, while Charles Leclerc could only manage fourth place, just ahead of Alexander Albon. Lando Norris was second, while Oscar Piastri could only manage seventh place, still ahead of Sergio Pérez, who was 0.8s behind Max Verstappen. Later, Lewis Hamilton lowered the mark to 1'37"134, with George Russell 0.081s behind. As time went on, the track conditions improved, but the forecast of imminent rain led the drivers to quickly set a valid time, and even consider switching to slick tires. Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri climbed to third place, while Sergio Pérez spun and ended up in the gravel at Turn 16. The need to recover the car, which would still continue the session, led the race direction to stop the session with a red flag. The session resumed at 4:19 p.m., while Lance Stroll was placed under investigation by the stewards for entering the track while the pit lane light was red. The improvement in track conditions was evident when Valtteri Bottas set a time of 1'32"431, 4.7 seconds better than Lewis Hamilton's. The Finnish driver's mark was soon beaten by Nico Hülkenberg, who set a time of 1’31”929, then by Oscar Piastri, who set a time of 1'30"895.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen made a small driving error in a section where the track was still wet from the rain, damaging the floor of his Red Bull Racing car. The rain was very brief, so much so that Lewis Hamilton climbed the standings to fourth place, while Esteban Ocon moved up to ninth. Daniel Ricciardo also improved, while Charles Leclerc was only tenth. George Russell, meanwhile, set the seventh fastest time. With a few minutes remaining in Q1, Carlos Sainz Jr. was at risk of elimination after his time was canceled. Subsequently, the Spanish Ferrari driver moved up to second place. Max Verstappen, also low in the standings, moved up to fourth, while Charles Leclerc could only manage ninth. Lance Stroll moved up to second place, before being beaten by Alex Albon. Logan Sargeant also moved up, to sixth, but Fernando Alonso did better, reaching third. Subsequently, with a time of 1'29"547, Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time of the session, with George Russell just behind his teammate. Daniel Ricciardo and the two Ferrari drivers, as well as Guanyu Zhou and Yuki Tsunoda, also moved up. Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen, Esteban Ocon, Sergio Pérez, and Pierre Gasly did not advance to Q2. During Q2, the first reference time was set by Alex Albon. Shortly after, only Fernando Alonso, among the first drivers to hit the track, managed to improve on the Thai driver's time. Nico Hülkenberg was just 0.066s behind Fernando Alonso, while Yuki Tsunoda set the fifth fastest time. Among the top drivers, the fastest was Oscar Piastri, who set a time of 1’27"631, while Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen were sixth and fifth, respectively. Later, Carlos Sainz Jr. climbed to the top, setting a time of 1'27"540. However, shortly after, Lando Norris set a time of 1’27”432, taking first place. The Mercedes drivers were slower: George Russell was only fifteenth, while Lewis Hamilton did not complete his first fast lap. With his second fast lap, the former World Champion climbed to third, while his teammate only managed ninth. Meanwhile, Alex Albon moved up to fourth, Logan Sargeant to ninth, and Lance Stroll to fifth. Fernando Alonso also improved, taking the lead with a time of 1'27"279. However, Carlos Sainz Jr. soon bettered Alonso's time, only for Oscar Piastri to take the lead with a time of 1’26"945. Nico Hülkenberg did even better with a time of 1'26"847, as did George Russell, who set a time of 1'26"766. Lewis Hamilton was 0.004s slower, while Lando Norris set a time of 1'26"559. Oscar Piastri was second, while Charles Leclerc was only ninth; Carlos Sainz Jr. did better with the fifth fastest time.
Max Verstappen, with his car damaged following an off-track excursion during Q1, finished sixth. Subsequently, George Russell climbed to second place, while Lance Stroll moved up to tenth place, thereby eliminating Charles Leclerc. In addition to the Monegasque driver, Logan Sargeant, Yuki Tsunoda, Guanyu Zhou, and Daniel Ricciardo also failed to advance to Q3. In Q3, Max Verstappen set an initial benchmark with a lap time of 1'26"350, but this was quickly bettered by Oscar Piastri. Lando Norris then posted the fastest time, clocking in at 1'26"030. Carlos Sainz Jr. placed fourth, ahead of Fernando Alonso and Alex Albon, before Lance Stroll positioned himself ahead of his teammate. Nico Hülkenberg confirmed his speed with the fourth-fastest time. Lewis Hamilton subsequently moved up to second place, while George Russell claimed the top spot with a lap time of 1'26"024. For their second fast attempts, the drivers entered the track very late, risking not completing their out laps before the end of Q3. In the first sector, the track seemed slower, and no one managed to improve their times. Nico Hülkenberg recorded the fifth-best time, but shortly after, Max Verstappen managed to surpass him, moving up to fourth position. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time with a lap of 1'25"990, but George Russell managed to do even better, securing pole position. It seems incredible, but George Russell has managed once again to take pole position with a Mercedes that finally seems competitive. While it's true that both the new resurfacing and the mild weather helped, the Anglo-German team has once again secured the top spot on the starting grid:
"This is one of the best feelings ever. The car was amazing, it came to life. Being both on the front row was something we never thought possible a few races ago. These conditions put the car in the perfect window. There are no guarantees for tomorrow, but the last time we had both cars on the front row was 2021, if not earlier. The car was on rails. In Q3 I felt the greatest pressure ever in an F1 qualifying, but as soon as I tackled the first two corners, I felt comfortable. The wind picked up on the last lap. It was tailwind in turns 3-4 but gave us more downforce in turns 6-7. Not using the new softs in Q2 guaranteed us two sets for Q3 without sacrificing one for tomorrow. Race? The weather will play a big part. It will be a long race. Points are earned tomorrow, but we are in a good position to fight for the win".
Accompanying George Russell on the front row will be Lewis Hamilton. The British driver, seven-time World Champion, confirms Mercedes' newfound form, achieving an unthinkable result at the start of the season:
"Thanks to this crowd. I’m proud to be here. George did a fantastic job. We didn’t expect to be both on the front row, but it’s really extraordinary for us and the team. The car was fantastic today, and the whole team deserves this result. It was crucial to get the tires up to temperature at the right time and be well-positioned on the track. There’s still room for growth. George managed to find it, but I feel confident for tomorrow; with this car, we can work together to keep Lando behind us".
When asked about possible repentance regarding his decision to leave Mercedes, which has become competitive again, to go to Scuderia Ferrari, where the team in Maranello seems to have lost focus, Lewis Hamilton replied:
"Would I have gone to Ferrari with this Mercedes? Yes. Having monopolized the front row is fantastic for the team, it’s been a long time. I was more cautious with my setup, prioritizing balance for the race rather than a single lap. For me, it was a calm session. The rain? It’s probably when I perform best".
There’s a sense that Lando Norris may have missed another chance to climb up the World Championship standings, making a mistake that could have seen him contend for pole position:
"I was the fastest almost until the end. Overall, I’m happy though: having three Brits in the top three is really nice. I did some good laps, but George and Lewis did an excellent job. I made a mistake on the last attempt, but third place is still good. It might rain tomorrow, so it could be an exciting race. I’m fast and excited to be here: I hope to put on a great show with George and Lewis. I hope we’ll have some great battles tomorrow".
Max Verstappen also made a mistake. The Dutch driver couldn’t control his car, ending up in the gravel and damaging the car's floor. This severely penalized him, making it seem like a miracle he managed to secure at least fourth position:
"The gravel incident? I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. We went out late and didn’t expect it to rain. Those ahead of us had already passed that area, while I hit the rain, so I went wide. I was a bit unlucky entering Copse. I avoided hitting the barriers, but from that moment on, I suffered a lot of damage to the floor. The team did a great job trying to limit the damage, but some parts couldn’t be glued back. From that point on, we struggled with the car's balance. I’m happy to be in fourth position. Honestly, I would have liked to be on pole and we could have fought for it, but that’s how it went. We’ll go for an aggressive race, let’s see if we can put pressure on those ahead of us. I think the Grand Prix will be very competitive; the others did a good job and were fast. We made some changes, and the car was better in qualifying, but we couldn’t find the rhythm".
Christian Horner, Team Principal and CEO of Red Bull Racing, confirmed Verstappen's comments, saying after the qualifying:
"Max lost about 0.3s due to the damage to the floor. The mechanics did an incredible job repairing the car, they did the best they could, but the downforce was lower. Max did what he could with the tools he had and I think his last lap was exceptional. To finish fourth with the damage he had and so close to pole time was a really great lap from him. There’s also the balance issue that comes with it, so he was very close to second place. Mercedes was very fast in these cool conditions and it will be an interesting race tomorrow. The important thing is that tomorrow’s weather is consistent, either dry or wet. We’re enjoying a splendid summer, and I think conditions will be similar tomorrow".
Red Bull Racing’s external consultant, Helmut Marko, confirmed:
"Max went off at turn 9 and suffered damage amounting to about 100 points of downforce loss. Therefore, fourth place is sensational. We introduced an update that added six points, and this accounted for about 0.5s. The floor will be repaired or a new one will be fitted, and if we can convert these points into time, then we will be among the top".
It’s a different story for Sergio Perez, again eliminated in Q1 after an error at Copse turn, where he ended up in the gravel and forced the Race Direction to display the red flag. An episode that confirms his crisis period and will force him to start from P19:
"Tomorrow Sergio needs to reach the points zone. It will obviously be tough starting from that grid position, but it’s really frustrating to lose him in Q1. Yesterday in FP2, he seemed in good shape, as he did this morning, but unfortunately, that mistake condemned him. There are two Mercedes and two McLarens, but not Red Bull. It will be tough, but we need to get Sergio back in form as quickly as possible and closer to the top of the grid. The constructors' championship is hugely important; he didn’t have a great day, but we’ll do our best to recover tomorrow".
Helmut Marko’s comments added to this, talking about Sergio Perez and his negative period:
"You can use the excuse that he was the first to go out on slicks, but then he was unlucky to go out on the wet with the rear tires. It doesn’t help to get out of this crisis. Thank God you can overtake halfway, but from P19, I don’t see any chance of finishing in the points. The floor will be repaired or a new one will be fitted, and if we can convert these points into time, then we will be among the top".
Charles Leclerc once again missed out on Q3 by just a few tenths of a second. While it's true that Scuderia Ferrari is going through a difficult period, with technical comparisons and lack of focus, it's also true that the Monegasque driver hasn't been able to capitalize on the team's work, and due to his error, he couldn't qualify beyond P11:
"It was the first time driving with this setup in dry conditions. Overall, we are struggling this weekend, but I believe that what we did yesterday will help us in the long run. However, it seems today we are paying a bit of the price for it. Are we using the Imola specifications? Yes, we are. The balance was slightly better, which is the main reason we went back to the old package. I won't go into too much detail, but we have definitely lost some performance since Monaco. We are analyzing the situation, and that's also why we are doing all these tests. We concluded that it was the right choice to go back for this weekend, mainly because of the balance. We will make the right decision for the future very soon. What we did yesterday was very useful in helping us make the right decision for the future".
Ferrari's situation compared to the other three teams alternating at the top race after race is so critical that even the possibility of a wet race doesn't scare Charles Leclerc. On the contrary:
"Anything can help us. The worst thing would be a normal race with the same strategy for everyone. So, I welcome the rain if it comes. Some nice English weather? Exactly, it would help us".
Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari HP, commented bitterly on the qualifying result. The French manager is convinced that the final result could have been different if both drivers hadn't made mistakes:
"Yesterday we used both versions on the two cars and decided to go back to the old specification because we had more bouncing with the new one in high-speed corners, but I'm not sure that's the explanation for today's poor result. It was clear yesterday that there was bouncing with the new spec, so we decided to revert to the old one, at least for this weekend. Due to the track configuration and the number of fast corners, it made perfect sense. In Q2, there were nine cars within 0.1s. Overall, we put everything together, but we are not in the best condition either on the single lap or race pace. Charles made a mistake in turn-3 that cost him three tenths, and when you have eight cars within a tenth, it becomes a bit difficult. And then, as you saw, there was a lot of confusion at the pit lane exit: Carlos had an out-lap battle with Piastri and Alonso, which is not the best way to prepare for the lap. He was doing well until turn-4, then he missed the apex by five or six meters, and in the end, we couldn't put everything together. I believe it's more a matter of operations. We were 0.1s off Russell in Q2 and then missed Q3 entirely. We didn't win the World Championship after Monte Carlo, and we didn't become complete idiots after today. We need to calmly put everything together to have a clean and good qualifying, something we couldn't achieve today. We shouldn't draw conclusions about our pace and potential; we couldn't put everything together. Do I want dry or wet? I'm not sure what I would choose, but I think it will be a bit chaotic, which would be better for us. Maybe some opportunities will present themselves, and we need to seize them. Let's focus on our performance without making absurd bets and risks. I'm happy for Nico and Haas. I don't care who is ahead of us because we need to be ahead of everyone. I actually prefer to have them ahead; it's not frustrating".
So he adds:
"We didn't do a good job overall today, and in these circumstances, when there are eight to ten cars so close, you can't make mistakes, and this means we need to put everything together, from mechanics to engineers to drivers: we all need to be perfect, because if we're not, we lose those two or three tenths, and that's a problem".
Carlos Sainz Jr. isn't holding back when talking to journalists about what's happening inside Scuderia Ferrari. The Spanish driver explains that the old technical specification, used in Imola, no longer guarantees performance but limits the porpoising issues the SF24 has suffered from since the beginning of the year. The Maranello team expected to face difficulties at this circuit, but they didn't fully understand the level of difficulty, as the Ferrari cars even qualified behind Nico Hulkenberg's Haas, who is always good at qualifying in Q3 but still with a technically inferior car:
"It's not surprising, considering we've recently struggled on high-speed tracks. We knew that coming to the queen of high-speed tracks, we would have a difficult weekend. Returning to the Imola specs hasn't given us any extra performance, it just gave us a bit more consistency at high speeds since we have a bit less bouncing. We had to make the car as consistent or predictable as possible at high speeds. Since the beginning of the year, we've encountered bouncing issues. This is still an inherent weakness of the car, but the new update was clearly worse than the old one, and for Silverstone, we decided to keep the old one. I believe the direction to follow is clear, but it's necessary to understand if we can bring it to the track and give us what we need. I think we can; we showed it last year when we made very good development throughout the year. We showed it again over the winter when we made this car clearly more consistent and better. But certainly, the recent steps have not been what we expected".
Speaking to Spanish journalists, Carlos Sainz Jr. adds:
"I think we were a bit asleep in the final part of Q3. We went out late and couldn't do the lap we wanted. We found ourselves on the outlap with Alonso and Piastri, and it was a mess. We didn't prepare well, and it cost us at least a couple of positions. Currently, in the car, we have neither confidence nor pace. On these high-speed tracks, it's clear we are not doing well. It seems obvious to me that those in front are running away from us. When you look at where Mercedes was six Grands Prix ago and where it is now, it's clear that there is something we are not getting right. We need to get back in the right direction".
A few minutes before the start of the Austrian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen revisits the aftermath of the race, emphasizing that he is not interested in others' opinions, whether critical or complimentary. He focuses only on what is conveyed to him by his team:
"I don't listen to what others say, whether they criticize me or praise me. I'm here with my team and the people involved in my successes: they are who I listen to and talk with to judge my performances. Everyone can have their opinion and that's okay. It certainly won't affect how I live, on track or off".
He adds, speaking about pundits and journalists:
"80-85% of the media in F1 is English. So, the dominant force is there. Ultimately, most of them would prefer a driver of their nationality to succeed and, in case of an incident, it's natural they side with their compatriot. And most former drivers are British, so they tend to have a one-sided perspective".
Regarding the British Grand Prix and the future of the current season, after qualifying concluded, the Red Bull Racing Dutch driver says:
"I never thought I'd say it, but I'm rooting for Hamilton. From a global perspective, Mercedes worries us less than McLaren. We know McLaren is fast on every circuit, in any conditions, but I'm surprised by Mercedes' step forward. They have been consistently fast for several weeks now. This weekend, they've been quick in every single session".
On Sunday, July 7, 2024, just before the start of the race, Sergio Pérez’s car has the fifth unit for the internal combustion engine, the third unit for the energy recovery system and the electronic control unit, and the sixth unit for the exhaust system installed. The Mexican Red Bull Racing driver, who qualified nineteenth, is forced to start from the pit lane because the new components were installed without the approval of the FIA technical delegate under the parc fermé conditions. Except for Guanyu Zhou and Esteban Ocon, who use Soft tires, all other drivers start the race on Medium tires. Pierre Gasly is forced to retire after the formation lap. At the start of the British Grand Prix, George Russell retains first position, followed by Lewis Hamilton, while Max Verstappen takes advantage of an unsuccessful overtaking attempt by Lando Norris on his fellow countryman to move into third place. With rain expected, by lap 15, Lando Norris manages to pass Max Verstappen, who is clearly struggling with his tires. The Dutch driver is then also passed by Oscar Piastri. As the rain begins to affect the circuit, the standings shuffle. Lewis Hamilton overtakes George Russell, who is also passed by Lando Norris. On lap 20, Lando Norris overtakes Lewis Hamilton to take the lead. With more aerodynamic downforce, the McLaren is faster in the wet conditions, allowing Oscar Piastri to pass George Russell, moving up to fourth place. A mistake by Lewis Hamilton allows Oscar Piastri to move his McLaren to second place. Wet conditions also bring Carlos Sainz Jr. closer to Max Verstappen. After 24 laps, Lando Norris has a 1.6s lead over Oscar Piastri, 2.8s over Lewis Hamilton, 5s over George Russell, and 9.4s over Max Verstappen. The increasing intensity of the rain forces the drivers to switch to intermediate wet tires. However, McLaren decides not to make two sequential pit stops, leaving Oscar Piastri out for another lap. The Australian McLaren driver drops to sixth place. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen moves up to third, behind Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton, but ahead of George Russell and Carlos Sainz Jr. The Dutch Red Bull Racing driver suffers more tire degradation, partly due to the track drying out quickly. On lap 34, George Russell is called to the pits: the British Mercedes driver is forced to retire due to a cooling problem with his car. On lap 38, the drivers return to the pits to switch back to dry tires. Lewis Hamilton switches to Soft tires, Max Verstappen opts for Hard tires, while Oscar Piastri (who has meanwhile overtaken Carlos Sainz Jr.) chooses Mediums. At this stage, the choice of McLaren to put Soft tires on Lando Norris’s car proves to be counterproductive. From the track, Lando Norris says:
"We need to pit, the Softs are better now… any slick tire".
From the pits, Lando Norris’s engineer, William Joseph, says via radio:
"We can choose Mediums to counter Verstappen or Softs to counter Hamilton".
At this point, Lando Norris is focused and does not resolve the issue, giving the team a vague indication and essentially leaving the decision to them:
"I’m thinking about Hamilton, or are you thinking about the Mediums? It doesn’t matter".
At this point, the engineer’s response is brief:
"Let’s go with Softs".
Lando Norris then returns to the pits, misses the braking point, and overshoots the pit stop box, forcing the McLaren mechanics to quickly move and fit the Soft tires. Due to this slower-than-usual stop, Lewis Hamilton takes the lead of the race. The leading trio—Hamilton-Norris-Verstappen—is within 5 seconds of each other. Max Verstappen appears to be the fastest driver: the Dutch Red Bull Racing driver reduces the gap to Lando Norris lap after lap, and with 5 laps to go, the World Champion overtakes his rival. Subsequently, Max Verstappen closes in on Lewis Hamilton but is unable to attempt an overtaking move. On the final lap, Carlos Sainz Jr., with a new set of Soft tires, sets the fastest lap of the race. Lewis Hamilton wins the British Grand Prix, his 104th career win, and secures his first victory since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2021, after a wait of 56 races and 945 days. For the British Mercedes driver, it is his first win in the British Grand Prix since the 2021 edition, and his ninth overall win at this event. On the podium, where drivers usually wait before the winner's celebration, Lewis Hamilton asks Lando Norris:
"Were you on Softs too?"
The fellow countryman confirms.
"But didn’t you have new Mediums? You would have been faster".
Lewis Hamilton concludes, to which Lando Norris can only agree with a hint of bitterness. Lewis Hamilton experienced an emotion so intense that it was almost unbelievable. The seven-time World Champion couldn't hold back the tears, joy, and happiness after finally returning to victory following nearly three years of hard and long waiting:
"I can't stop crying. Since 2021, every day, I got up and prepared myself, training physically and mentally, to reach this goal. Winning this race at my last British Grand Prix with this team was something I cared about deeply. I love them and owe them so much for all the hard work they've put in over the years. I will be forever grateful to all the team members. Thanks to the fans, they are incredible. I saw them lap after lap, and there's no greater feeling than finishing this way. When you don't win, it's tough for anyone, but the important thing is to get up and keep pushing even when you think you're at the bottom. There were days when I didn't think I could get back to where I am today. The team has always supported me, and my fans have always been there for me. God bless you all".
Later, after the podium celebration, the British driver opened up with a longer confession:
"I feel something fantastic inside me; my heart is really full today. It had been a long time since I felt like this, and I think it was a kind of relief that allowed me to enjoy the moment with my fans and my team. It's something incredible, an amazing feeling, and to be honest, it's almost as good as winning the championship. The 2008 win was hard to beat because it was all in the rain, but today, given the conditions, circumstances, and the determination I had on track, it was something more. There were a couple of opportunities to win, but I wasn't there: São Paulo 2022 and Austria last week. I had the feeling that my moment would never come again, and because of the emotional aspect, this is the most beautiful victory. I didn't even have time to thank my team because they did a fantastic job today, even in terms of strategy. We made perfect decisions, and the last one was decisive because it came at the perfect moment. There was excellent communication between me, Bono, and the guys, and then the pit stops were perfect. I think there was a good balance, but we were always on the edge because one mistake could ruin everything. It was one of the closest performances to perfection I've ever had".
So he adds:
"There was a moment when I went wide, but apart from that, I had a fierce determination. I had the victory in my sights and made almost no mistakes, and once it got closer, the feeling kept getting better. But when I saw Max behind me, I hoped the finish line would come as soon as possible".
No matter what, Max Verstappen always manages to finish the race ahead of his direct rival, Lando Norris, and earn valuable points. At the start of the British Grand Prix, the Dutch driver had confessed that he was hoping for a Lewis Hamilton victory to take points away from his friend-rival. But there was no need for any help: Max Verstappen still managed to emerge victorious from the challenge:
"Today, we didn't have the pace. At the beginning, when it mattered, I was losing positions. I thought it was going to get very bad, and I believed we would finish in fifth or sixth place. But we made the right decisions, switching from slicks to intermediates and then back to slicks, always at the right moment. Even at the end, the team's decision to fit the hard tires instead of the soft ones helped me a lot. It could have gone much worse, but the right choices brought us to the podium. When it started to rain the first time, I had no grip and didn't want to take too many risks, while the others were attacking more. Then it started raining harder, and we had to switch to intermediates, making them last as long as possible. Then the sun came out, the track dried up, and we had to gamble, so we fitted the slicks. I am satisfied with how we operated; there was nothing more we could have done. We made the right decisions with the pit stops and the transitions from slicks to intermediates and vice versa, so I am very pleased with that. However, in terms of pure pace, we were not fast enough: Mercedes and McLaren were definitely faster than us, so we have work to do. On a bad day, finishing second is still a result to accept. We need to find more performance to get back in the fight because it seems like other teams have jumped ahead of us. The gap with the hard tires was significant, I tried to catch Lando and managed to do so. I pushed a lot and finished less than two seconds behind Lewis, and that's okay, but there was nothing more we could do. We squeezed everything out and achieved the maximum result".
For Lando Norris, it was yet another race without satisfaction. The British driver had hoped to make a comeback after losing the Austrian Grand Prix due to a collision with Max Verstappen's Red Bull Racing car. But after an extraordinary start, the tire choice in the final stint compromised yet another chance to secure his second career victory:
"Congratulations to Lewis. The race was decided with that crucial decision at the end. They did a better job, they deserved it. Congratulations to Mercedes, it was a tough and difficult race in challenging conditions. You're on a razor's edge and take a lot of risks in these situations. As a team, we made mistakes; we disappointed today. We didn't do a good enough job. Still, it's great to be on the podium at Silverstone. Winning here in the future? Yes, but you have to make the right decisions. I say this to myself too; I made wrong decisions today. I have no excuses for not doing a good enough job. If there's one place where I wanted everything to go perfectly, it's here. I'm still happy with the podium. I'll try to come back even stronger next year".
It's incredible how Mercedes, all of a sudden, managed to win two races in a row. Whether it’s due to luck or technical improvements, the fact is that the Anglo-German team is returning to the top. The Team Principal and CEO of Mercedes, Toto Wolff, cannot help but talk about this while celebrating Lewis Hamilton's victory, though not forgetting that George Russell was forced to retire during the race due to a cooling system issue:
"Five races ago, we hadn’t even achieved a podium finish, and today we’ve won two consecutive races, with the latest one well-deserved as we were the fastest in every condition. Today, we executed a race like three years ago, with two consecutive pit stops for both drivers switching from slicks to intermediates, quick and flawless, a strategy that worked with a pit stop before Norris'. The car is much faster, and the team has come out of complex moments, and we’ve always been convinced that we could return to winning. With Russell, we had a cooling problem. We hoped it could hold for 10 laps, but it didn’t. It was a small detail. Championship pursuit? I’m a man of probabilities, I’ve always been in the world of investments, but right now I don’t think we can think about the championship. However, in F1, it’s possible that with two cars pushing, as happened today, we might defy the odds and logic. Now Max sees that Mercedes is on the rise, but I don’t know what he thought. Today he saw it from behind, and maybe he thought about Mercedes for twenty laps. We are in a situation where we have Kimi waiting, yesterday he did an exceptional job, and it’s fantastic to have more than one solution. This is a gift we’ve given to Lewis and that Lewis has given to us. It’s a nice story that ends in his last home Grand Prix with us at Silverstone. I don’t think his choice to go to Ferrari is sad, people make decisions, but we are always calm about the direction the team and the driver take. We are adults and do everything to have a fast car for Lewis and George until the end of the season, but it’s true that we are leaving Ferrari a great driver. I am sure that for Ferrari it will result in a situation they desired".
While one part of the Mercedes garage is celebrating, there is also regret over George Russell's retirement, forced to stop due to a cooling system issue:
"I am absolutely gutted; about 10 laps before having to retire, I saw temperature alarms on the steering wheel. We had a problem with the water system, and unfortunately, it got the better of us. Congratulations anyway to Lewis and the team. He drove a great race and the victory is fully deserved. Both of us have worked hard to help the team develop the car, and it’s nice to see that this is paying off. I felt very good in the car. We knew it would be a long race with the weather conditions. When it started raining, we struggled a bit. We managed to regain our rhythm and it would have been an interesting battle until the end. However, it was an extraordinary weekend for us as a team. We can be proud of what we achieved and look forward with enthusiasm to the last two races before the summer break".
The victory of the seven-time World Champion in front of the home crowd elicits unanimous applause, just as it did for Lando Norris’s victory in Miami. Among those applauding the British Mercedes driver’s performance is Christian Horner, Team Principal and CEO of Red Bull Racing:
"It was a crazy race. In the first part with the Mediums, we were losing ground and I thought fifth place would be the optimal result because we were really struggling with the Mediums. Then we found the right timing to switch to intermediates and managed to pass Russell and Oscar to move back to third, but then we struggled with intermediates in terms of pace. Once the tire began to wear out, our pace suddenly picked up and we started catching up, and the most crucial point was choosing the Hard tires, which was perfect. We were surprised that others chose Softs given how vulnerable they were in the first part of the race, and Max’s pace was very competitive. He was gaining half a second per lap in the middle sector; it was a great comeback and we’re happy with the second place. The situation changes lap by lap and circuit by circuit; every 10 laps in different conditions, there were different faster cars. At one point, it seemed like a McLaren race, at other times it was Mercedes, and sometimes Verstappen. Then the car came alive and it was an incredibly strange race; understanding the tires and conditions made it exciting. I have to congratulate Lewis; it’s been a while since he won, and he drove very well. Winning in front of the home crowd is something I know is wonderful for him".
At the end of the British Grand Prix, the Team Principal of McLaren Racing, Andrea Stella, admits that the team made several mistakes, including leaving Oscar Piastri on track to avoid a double pit stop in the transition from slicks to intermediates, as well as letting Lando Norris decide on the specific tires to use for the final stint of the race:
"We congratulate Mercedes and Hamilton for the win because winning in these conditions is a complex of skills, not just being strong at driving in these conditions, but also making the right decisions. Speaking of decisions, we have a couple that we would make differently now that we understand the result. We would definitely stop Oscar on the same lap as Lando when we went to intermediates. The other call, more than for the lap, I’d say it might have been more convenient to go on a new set of medium tires because we had two sets of mediums and that was a possibility. We take these occasions to review and improve, and there are also some positive elements like a competitive McLaren, in addition to the battle for the win, and we will continue to grow in these areas".
So, the Italian engineer concludes by saying:
"The decision to switch to soft or hard tires was a decision we wanted to discuss with the driver because it had a lot to do with the track conditions. The question was: do you trust putting on Medium or Hard tires with these still wet spots? Or do you think Soft tires are needed? It was related to the track conditions. Maybe it was a question that shouldn’t have even been asked because, in hindsight, the right decision was there, and it was to put on a set of mediums; we had this option available, which was not available to Mercedes or Red Bull. At the start of the race when conditions were stable, Mercedes confirmed they were very competitive, but when there were a few drops of rain, the tire temperatures cooled, and that’s when McLaren emerged and overtook everyone. Then, if we go back to dry conditions towards the end, we saw that we had more trouble keeping the soft tires alive, whereas Hamilton was more consistent. The car that was more competitive in the various phases was the one that, based on its characteristics, managed to extract the maximum grip depending on the conditions. The effect of going outside the ideal range can become very nonlinear; it’s not just a linear reduction but a very sharp loss. This happened in the first stint when it started to rain, and McLaren emerged. We know we have this characteristic of maintaining a good tire temperature, and in those conditions, we emerged, but it’s all marginal. It’s a matter of a few tenths or the confidence that makes you overtake the car in front".
At the end of a nightmare weekend, Charles Leclerc can't help but be disappointed. After being excluded from Q3, the Monegasque driver's comeback was halted due to the team's totally wrong decision to call him to the pits to switch to intermediate tires just a few laps into the British Grand Prix:
"It's a nightmare that has been going on for at least three or four races, and we need to get out of it as soon as possible. Today, we had a good start, but around lap 20, I felt it was starting to rain heavily at turn 15. The guys on the pit wall told me that it would start raining heavily on the next lap, so I said that the strategy (to switch to intermediates) would be a bit aggressive, but that we would go for it. Unfortunately, the rain came eight laps later, enough to destroy the tires and force another pit stop. Nothing went right. With the information I had, the move seemed aggressive but not wrong. However, we were one of the few cars that stopped and ended up throwing the race away, so we need to analyze this, and I'll see if, with the information I had, I could have made a better decision. It's a difficult situation we find ourselves in at the moment. The update brought us the numbers we expected, but it also gave us quite a bit of bouncing at high speed. For a track like this, we decided it was probably better to have a bit less performance but more consistency, and I think that was the right choice. Moving forward, we will analyze all the data we have on the two packages and try to understand if there is something about the new package that we haven't figured out yet. I think we can still use the new version in Hungary; it's a very different layout, but I think we still need to evaluate all the information we gathered from the comparison and make the right decision because it might not be the same as at Silverstone".
At least Carlos Sainz Jr. managed to stay in the top ten and finish the British Grand Prix in fifth place:
"The first 10-15 laps were unexpected for me. I tried to stay close to Piastri with DRS, but the McLarens were too fast, and I couldn't keep up. From that point on, honestly, it was one of the best races we've had since I've been at Ferrari because we made all the right calls, whether it was pit stops or staying out on slicks. I'm disappointed that we weren't faster because today, when the track was wet and we were on slicks, we managed to catch Max in mixed conditions, and I thought a podium was possible. But afterward, in full wet or full dry conditions, we weren't quick".
A positive comment that adds to the one he made during the post-race press conference, where he further specifies the work done with the team over the weekend:
"To be honest, I had studied the weather conditions and everything else a lot with my engineers, so I was very confident going into the race that I would be able to make the right choices today. We did some good laps in FP1 and FP2 to assess the conditions, and today we were fully prepared and executed a perfect race. All the calls were spot on, as well as all the tire choices and radio calls. It's just a pity that we weren't faster in the first part of the race, in the intermediate stints, or faster at the end because I feel we would have been 100% in the fight for the podium or victory today. Still, we're very happy with the fastest lap at the end. It's clear that it's not enough; we basically have the same car as Imola, and since then, everyone else has made upgrades and probably added a few tenths to their cars. We had to go back, losing two or three months of wind tunnel gains and performance that we could have added in these three months".
In conclusion, the Spanish driver says he is confident that the team can soon find the right direction:
"So, it's clear that we haven't taken the right path recently. It seems that today was at least a return-to-basics approach. We're back to a car that we know worked well at Imola, and we just need to improve it from here, but unfortunately, our rivals are clearly a step ahead of us. We're finding our way back. We understand what we did wrong and the wrong direction we took. Now we need more time in the wind tunnel and at the factory to fix the new package that brings real performance, not the problems we've had in the last few races".
Scuderia Ferrari HP Team Principal, Frédéric Vasseur, remains calm even after a tumultuous weekend at the British Grand Prix. The French manager draws a parallel with last season, hoping that this event could represent a turning point similar to the Dutch Grand Prix for 2023. The first topic Frédéric Vasseur addresses, however, is the rash strategy used with Charles Leclerc, who came in for intermediate tires well before it was necessary, dropping to the back of the pack.
"We give the drivers information and suggest a strategy, but the final call is theirs. I will discuss this decision with Charles. Clearly, the choice was wrong, but at that moment he was ten seconds behind Carlos, knowing that to get back into the podium fight, being aggressive was necessary. I’m not disappointed because Hamilton and Russell also went long at Turn 1 on the same lap. It was close to being a great call. When you’re in the leading group, you don’t take these risks; you just copy what others do, which is what Carlos did".
At Silverstone, Charles Leclerc failed to re-enter the top ten. This event marks the third time in four races, and the second consecutive error in qualifying after Austria. However, Frédéric Vasseur urges journalists to stay calm:
"In recent races, the car hasn’t been easy to drive, and we’ve asked a lot from the drivers. On Friday, Charles had the new package, but then Saturday’s FP3 was wet, and he went into qualifying with the old one. He was doing well and was even faster than Russell before the mistake at Turn 16. I think we made a step forward this weekend, at least from a technical standpoint. Tonight, we have a much clearer idea of the situation than we did on Friday morning. Last year we were in the same situation at this point in the season, between Silverstone and Budapest. At Zandvoort, we stopped to do a full scan of the car and made a good recovery because in the following weeks we were there. The point is that when you have a problem, you can’t test to understand it. Sometimes you decide to compromise Friday sessions, sacrificing some time for the weekend with a medium-term perspective. We put ourselves in a difficult situation, but we knew this beforehand. We had decided this before the weekend".
And finally, the French manager says:
"The correlation in terms of aerodynamic load is okay. The bouncing sometimes appears out of nowhere, and it’s a bit of an issue for everyone. The phenomenon does not occur in the wind tunnel and it is not possible to predict whether it will be better or worse with new parts. In the past 16 months, all updates had good correlation with the wind tunnel. We had a problem with these, but it’s not the end of the world. The solution is to find a compromise with performance by developing a new package. In the next races, we’ll have to deal with this car, but sooner or later we’ll have a package with less bouncing. Silverstone was the worst track for bouncing due to the high-speed corners. We’ll have time to discuss it before Budapest".
Formula 1 is truly incredible. Sometimes it manages to deliver extraordinary emotions. Sooner or later, it was inevitable that Lewis Hamilton would return to victory. Perhaps no one predicted it would happen at Silverstone, at the end of a crazy Grand Prix, after a wait of two and a half years. Indeed, 945 days have passed since Lewis Hamilton's last victory in Formula 1, from the penultimate race of that 2021 World Championship, which marked the career of the seven-time World Champion. And so, Lewis Hamilton opens his heart to journalists, explaining that he faced really difficult moments during this long wait:
"With the adversities we’ve faced as a team and those I’ve faced personally, the constant challenge is to get up every day and do our best. There are so many times when you feel like you can’t do enough. And the disappointment that sometimes comes... You know, we live in an era where mental health has become a very serious issue. And I won’t lie, I’ve experienced it too. There have definitely been times when I thought it was over, that I would never win again. I’ve never cried for a victory, but it happened spontaneously. It was a really very beautiful feeling".
And even his dad, Anthony, recounts the difficult period his son Lewis went through:
"Being there with him at the finish was great because he had a lot of emotions to let out, and with me, he could do that. He constantly tried to pick himself up, and he did it on his own. Like all of us, he questions himself. It happens that you get up and question yourself, it happens that you ask if you are still good, if you are young enough, strong enough... I know Lewis, and for me, he still has everything he needs to race at the top. Sometimes, though, you need to remind him, and this victory was a huge confidence boost".
But finally, Lewis Hamilton returned to win a Formula 1 Grand Prix. And he did it with Peter Bonnington by his side, his race engineer who has faithfully accompanied him in all his seasons at Mercedes, both the dominant ones and the recent ones where nothing seemed to go right. It is no coincidence that Bono followed the British driver onto the podium in front of an adoring crowd.
"Key moment? I think it was the feedback he gave me on where we were with the balance during the initial stint. The car wasn’t great there; we knew where we had to correct it, and I think we put it in a really good position for the last stint to allow him to push. We knew the front tire would be weak, so we had to make sure we had enough front end to protect it, and he did a great job".
In the final laps, understandably, Max Verstappen’s attempt to come back scared Mercedes engineers, but even in this case, there was a single moment when Bono realized that his driver was really about to win again:
"I wouldn’t say there were no doubts, but I know that when the bit is between his teeth... as soon as he told me to shut up, then I knew the game was on".