The British Grand Prix has been an annually held event since 1948, and has been part of the Formula One Calendar for every season since the first F1 season in 1950. Silverstone in fact held the first race in May of 1950, won by the Ferrari of Giuseppe Farina.
Although Brooklands and Aintree and have previously hosted the British Grand Prix, with the event alternating between Brands Hatch and Silverstone between 1963 and 1986. From 1987 the British Grand Prix has been exclusively held at Silverstone with the Northamptonshire track known as the home of British motor sport.
Rather fittingly it is a Brit that has the most British Grand Prix wins. Lewis Hamilton has finished in first position on seven occasions between 2008 and 2020.
In 2020 there will be two Grand Prix in Britain, the British Grand Prix followed by the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix one week later. Both race will take place at Silverstone.
Next Race: Sunday, 18th July 2021
The British Grand Prix will next race on 18th July 2021. Tips will be added shortly before qualifying starts.
Last Race: 2nd August 2020
- Winner: Lewis Hamilton
- Team: Mercedes
- Total Time: 1:28:01.283
- Margin: 5.856
Silverstone Circuit Map
Silverstone has had many alterations over the years but currently has 18 corners in circuit of just under 5.9 km. The track is known for being one of the fastest in F1.
More info...British Grand Prix Betting Tips
Note: The following tips are from the 2020 grand prix. Tips for next year will be added the week of the race.
The one-off 70th Anniversary Formula One Grand Prix will take place at Silverstone Circuit in Great Britain on Sunday. The race is a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the first ever Formula One season, which was also held at Silverstone. In this strange season of double-headers and cancellations, this will be the second Grand Prix on this track in seven days, as we were treated to a memorable 2020 British Grand Prix last weekend. That was won in dramatic fashion by home hero Lewis Hamilton and he will be hoping to avoid punctures this time around to complete a memorable double.
Of course this is a Grand Prix that every driver would love to win. The commemorative race will go down in the history books and the famous Silverstone Circuit will no doubt produce some more thrilling racing this weekend. World champion and current World Drivers’ Championship leader Hamilton is the overwhelming 1/3 favourite to make it four race victories on the spin, with Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas the second favourite at 7/2. Who will win the 70th Anniversary Formula One Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday? More to the point, can anyone stop Hamilton turning this campaign into a total procession?
Lewis Hamilton Fastest Lap & Race Winner – 15/8
The majority of last weekend’s British Grand Prix went by without incident, but the race sprung into life at the end, as so often can be the case in this wonderful sport. Both Mercedes drivers suffered punctures in the latter stages, with Bottas finishing outside of the points positions in 11th. Hamilton’s puncture came later than Bottas’, but the world champion held on for a nervy win. Max Verstappen was closing in on the final lap, who would have won but for a late pit stop in order to make a puish for the fastest lap. In the end the finish line came just in time for Hamilton with fans on the edge of their seats.
After picking up a disappointing fourth place in the first Grand Prix of the season in Spielberg, Lewis has been in red-hot form, going on to win each of the following three rounds and looking largely unstoppable.
The six-time world champion has already opened up a staggering 30-point lead at the top of the standings and few would back against him drawing level with Michael Schumacher on seven titles. Hamilton will be hoping that things are less stressful this weekend, but the British ace should make it four wins on the spin. Hamilton is priced at 15/8 to get the fastest lap and win the race and that looks more than fair.
Lando Norris Top 3 Finish – 8/1
Lando Norris has enjoyed an excellent Formula One season so far. Since finishing on the podium for the first time in race one in Austria, the promising young Brit has picked up two fifth place finishes, including last weekend in the British Grand Prix. The 20-year-old is really coming of age this season, and Norris starts the race weekend in fourth position in the World Drivers’ Championship standings. Overall, the Bristol starlet has collected a superb 36 points from four Grands Prix and we think he will only get better as the season unfolds.
Norris has mixed it with the big boys this year, even putting in the fastest lap at the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring last month. The youngster will be looking to impress on home ground again after battling to fifth spot in the British Grand Prix last weekend. Having finished third in Spielberg for his first podium a month back, can the McLaren man repeat that feat this Sunday? He will have to be at his very best and possibly have a little luck too but you can get 8/1 for Norris to finish in the top 3 of this historic 70th Anniversary Formula One Grand Prix and that looks generous to us.
British Grand Prix Recent Winners
| Year | Winner | Team | Time | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020* | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:19:41.993 | 11.326 |
| 2020 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:28:01.283 | 5.856 |
| 2019 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:21:08.452 | 24.928 |
| 2018 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | 1:27:29.784 | 2.264 |
| 2017 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:21:27.430 | 14.063 |
| 2016 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:34:55.831 | 8.250 |
| 2015 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:31:27.729 | 10.956 |
| 2014 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 2:26:52.094 | 30.135 |
| 2013 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1:32:59.456 | 0.765 |
| 2012 | Mark Webber | Red Bull | 1:25:11.288 | 3.060 |
| 2011 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 1:28:41.196 | 16.511 |
*In 2020 a second race was held at Silverstone in Britain, this was known as the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix
About the British Grand Prix
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The British Grand Prix is hosted by the Silverstone Circuit, based in Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire in England. The race is the oldest F1 races in the world and is paired only with the Italian Grand Prix as being part of the first championship season in 1950 (British Grand Prix deemed the first as it was the first race run in the calendar).
The track was first made in 1948 as they developed a former RAF airfield from the war into a racing track. In fact, from the air, you can still make out where the original runways for the airfield used to run, making it an iconic sight for any motor racing fan.
TRACK HIGHLIGHTS
The old airfield layout has definitely shaped how the track performs. From a driver’s perspective, the 5.8km track includes corners that are some of the most formidable in Formula 1. The track is relatively flat, but also flat out, with corners such as Copse, Maggots and Beckets requiring both bravery and finesse.
This is a circuit that the racing drivers revere and one that the fans can’t get enough of. In fact, in 2015, they were able to attract record crowds of over 350,000 fans across the weekend, making it one of the highest populated F1 events in the world.
The start/finish line sees cars travelling at high speeds as they approach turn 1. In fact, as they head through, they are flat out for the most part and working the wheel through turn 2, again flat out. The driver then needs to break relatively hard before heading into turn 3, all of which is part of the newer section of this racetrack.
Turn 4 works more of a feeder corner in that the line or aggression that needed to get through is all to gain maximum speed and traction through the back straight and into turn 5. The car then runs down the bank and toward the old pit lanes through the DRS zone.
Then they come to Brooklands, a long corner that isn’t necessary to make a perfect apex to get the best line for the lap. Drivers then try and take a wide middle part of the corner to get the best acceleration down and across the old start finish straight, before getting into some of the best corners on this racetrack.
Copse is the next corner that the drivers take on pretty much flat out at 200kmph, just kissing the apex on the way out. The drivers then come down onto Becketts, which is one of the most exciting series of corners in Formula 1, let alone at Silverstone.
A series of left and right handed sweeping turns sees cars travel through them at around 250kmph again, only lifting the throttle slightly to make sure they aren’t pushing too hard, which can cause them to spin off. After completing this, they come onto the Hanger straight.
In another one of the DRS zones, the straight sees cars hit 330kmph as they come down into a hard-right hander. The last few corners are often quite tricky for the drivers as they fight to get the optimum breaking zone. As the speeds are much slower, the downforce comes off the car and it’s very easy to lock up a front tyre under breaking.
Drivers will clip the apex on the way out and full throttle through the last corner as they head back up towards the start/finish line.
HISTORY
Silverstone was set up as a replacement for Brooklands, an oval circuit that was originally opened in 1926. But, the war saw huge damage to the track and so a new place was needed following the war for motor racing within the country.
The use of now disused Royal Airforce bases was a common theme throughout the UK, with many being developed into motor racing track, making use of the significant runways that had already been made. Silverstone was one of those areas and it staged its first race in 1948 hosted by the Royal Automobile Club International Grand Prix. Just 2 years later saw the track host the first World championship for drivers and the rest, as they say is history.
2008 – LEWIS PREVAILS IN THE RAIN
The 2008 Grand Prix at Silverstone was almost totally washed out. It had rained throughout the day and many thought that it might be called off, even though it had been dry throughout the qualifying and testing sessions, catching many teams out.
Hamilton qualified in pole position, got off to a great start and quickly got into the lead. What was remarkable is that cars were spinning off all over the place, but Hamilton was one of very few that remained assured and went on to win the dramatic race but just over 1 minute.
1987 – MANSELL V PIQUET
The 1987 was as dramatic as 2008, but for very different reasons. Mansell was trailing both Piquet and Senna in the drivers championship and looked to make some ground at his home grand prix. He qualified in second place, behind that of Pique in what was set up to be a classic.
Mansell was around 2 seconds behind Piquet on lap 35 and whilst initially were making just one stop on the tyres to see him through to the end, decided to change them, coming out some 30 seconds behind Piquet.
Mansell started an epic charge on fresh rubber, slowly picking his way back through the field and by lap 62 he was back right behind Piquet. He sold a dummy on the Hanger straight, before diving down the inside into Stowe. He finished the race and came to a complete stop, before being engulfed by fans. It turns out, he even blew out the engine, demonstrating what strains he was putting the car under to get the win.