Author: Barkha Roy
As the Formula 1 circus arrives at Silverstone for the long-awaited British Grand Prix, the 2023 season has proved to be full of surprises. Red Bull Racing has emerged as the dominant force, winning every race so far and leaving its rivals amazed at its performance. However, the historic Silverstone circuit has a reputation for producing exciting races, and fans are expecting another memorable clash.
The Silverstone circuit holds recent memories of epic battles, including the titanic clash between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in 2021, as well as the thrilling race-ending duel for the podium involving Charles Leclerc, Hamilton and Sergio Perez last season. The stage is set for another exciting contest this weekend.
To add to the intrigue, Pirelli is presenting a new tire specification for the remainder of the 2023 season, starting at Silverstone. With “extra resistance against fatigue”, teams and drivers will need to adapt quickly to the updated tire construction. Although limited running on the new tires took place during the free practice sessions at the Spanish Grand Prix, we expect all the teams to maximize their learning opportunities ahead of Saturday’s qualifying.
Although the rain has played a significant role in recent races, the Intermediate and Wet compounds remain unchanged, while only the slicks undergo modifications. The British weather can be unpredictable and, if rain does appear, the teams will have to rely on their experience with the existing rain compounds.
Despite the hopes of the home fans, it seems that Max Verstappen is enjoying unstoppable form in 2023. The Dutch driver secured his fifth consecutive victory at the Austrian Grand Prix and showed his dominance by also winning the Sprint race. Ferrari emerged as the team with the potential to challenge Verstappen last time out, with Carlos Sainz taking his first F1 win at Silverstone last year. However, consistency has eluded Ferrari, Mercedes and Aston Martin this season, making it uncertain whether they can replicate their previous successes.
For British driver George Russell, redemption is in his mind. Last year, his home Grand Prix on competitive machines ended abruptly at the first corner. Russell, along with his teammate Lewis Hamilton, hopes that Mercedes can correct the problems they faced in Austria and provide them with the performance they need to challenge the dominant Red Bull. A podium finish may be the most realistic goal for the British duo.
As the action kicks off with FP1 and FP2 on Friday, the weather is expected to be mainly sunny and dry, albeit with a noticeable wind. Southeasterly gusts of up to 40 km/h can pose an additional challenge for riders. Saturday’s FP3 may see a band of rain pass through the Silverstone area, making conditions damp, but gradually drying out. The rating is expected to be partly sunny, with rising air temperatures and wind gusts of up to 50 km/h.
On race day, it is likely to rain in the morning, clearing up around midday, with conditions becoming drier in the afternoon. The temperature is expected to drop to 22°C, accompanied by a light south-westerly wind. This unpredictable weather can introduce an element of emotion and strategy into the race.