Imagery courtesy of BWT Alpine Formula One Team via www.alpinef1.com
Silverstone marks 75 years since hosting the first ever Formula One (F1) World Championship race in 1950. while the layout has evolved, its DNA remains unmistakable, high-speed sequences like Copse, Maggots and Becketts still define the challenge. The 2025 edition celebrates this legacy with tributes to past champions, classic car demos and a packed crowd ready for another chapter of motorsport.
The weather forecast promises classic British unpredictability:
Race day – overcast with a 30 – 40% chance of showers, temperatures hovering around 20-21 degrees Celsius and gusty WNW winds up to 30 mph
Cooler track temps could affect tyre warm-up and grip, especially through Silverstone’s fast corners
Team will need to stay nimble - a well timed pit stop or tyre switch could swing the race
Pirelli has opted for a softer compound mix than in 2024. C2 (hard), C3 (medium) and C4 (soft) – a step softer across the board. The goal is more strategic variety and less predictable one stoppers. With low degradation early in the weekend but potential rain on Sunday, expect a mixed bag of tyre strategies from aggressive undercuts to late race gambles on slicks or inters.
Lando Norris arrives at Silverstone riding a wave of momentum after his Austrian GP win cutting Oscar Piastri’s championship lead to just 15 points. With three wins already this season and back to back podiums at Silverstone in 2023 plus 2024, Norris is now Britain’s best hope for home victory. This year, he’ll be cheered on by the debut of the “Landostand” – a sold out, 10,000 seat grandstand at Stowe corner, complete with fan packs, exclusive merch and appearances from Norris himself.
Piastri may lead the standings but the pressure is mounting. After a near miss with Norris in Austria and a pit stop strategy misstep that cost him the win, the Australian is determined to reassert control. The McLaren duo have now delivered four 1-2 finished this season but their rivalry is intensifying. Piastri has five wins to Norris’ three but Norris has closed the gap with stronger qualifying form since McLaren’s front-end upgrades. Both drivers have clashed on track – Canada’s collision and Austria’s turn four near miss as well as team boss Andrea Stella has warned they must “race hard, but smart.”
George Russell, fresh off a win in Canada is looking to bounce back from a tough Austrian Grand Prix. Mercedes expect to be more competitive at Silverstone, where Russell took pole in 2024 and Lewis Hamilton won the race. Hamilton, meanwhile is chasing a record extending 10th British Grand Prix podium in a row but this time in Ferrari red. After a strong fourth place finish in Austria and promising upgrades to the SF-25, Hamilton is optimistic: “There is always magic here at Silverstone … I’m hoping and praying.”
After a punishing Austrian Grand Prix, Mercedes is banking on Silverstone’s cooler climate to revive their form. The W16 struggled in the 50 degrees Celsius track temperatures of Spielberg with Russell calling it a “perfect storm” of overheating and tyre degradation. But Silverstone’s forecast, low 20s with overcast skies could play to the car’s strengths.
Mercedes introduced cooling focused upgrades in Austria, including a revised engine cover and enlarged brake ducts
The team also experimented with setup in Spielberg using the race as a data gathering exercise for Silverstone
With Russell and Kimi Antonelli both out of contract for 2026, the pressure is on – not just for points but for future seats
Ferrari arrives with confidence after Charles Leclerc’s podium in Austria and Hamilton’s strong P4 finish. Their new floor package, introduced at the Red Bull Ring has improved load distribution and rear-end stability. The SF-25’s upgrades include a re-profiled diffuser, floor edge and tunnel expansion, all aimed at improving aerodynamic efficiency. Hamilton, a nine time Silverstone winner is chasing his first Ferrari podium at home, while Leclerc looks to close the gap to the McLaren duo.
Max Verstappen’s first-lap DNF in Austria was a gut punch—especially at Red Bull’s home race. Now 61 points behind Piastri, he enters Silverstone with swirling rumours about a potential Mercedes switch in 2026. Verstappen has a contract clause allowing him to leave Red Bull if he’s outside the top four by the summer break. Talks with Mercedes have reportedly intensified, though Verstappen remains non-committal publicly. With Russell’s contract extension on hold, Silverstone could be a pivotal weekend in the driver market drama.
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