The British Grand Prix is one of the most iconic races on the F1 calendar. The historic Silverstone Circuit has been the home of the British Grand Prix since 1948 and continues to offer plenty of thrills and spills, thanks largely to its high-speed straights and challenging chicanes.
The 2024 British Grand Prix is nearly upon us, and already, the anticipation is palpable, with the F1 World Championship starting to heat up nicely.
Who is Favoured to Win the British Grand Prix?
Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen will undoubtedly be the favourite in the latest F1 odds to win back-to-back British Grand Prix races. Verstappen leads the way at the top of the F1 Drivers’ Standings, nicely ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Verstappen already has six race wins to his name in the 2024 F1 season, but there are one or two signs that other teams are narrowing the gap between themselves and Red Bull.
Both McLarens have been mightily impressive since their new package of car updates arrived in time for the Miami Grand Prix. Interestingly, Lando Norris landed his first race win at this grand prix, finishing almost eight seconds clear of Max Verstappen. Ferrari are also inching closer to Red Bull, with Charles Leclerc finishing just a couple of seconds behind Verstappen at Miami.
As for the recent Canadian Grand Prix, Norris was once again the main danger to Verstappen, along with the Mercedes of George Russell. Given the ergonomic updates, we may likely see a more evenly contested second half of the F1 season, starting with the British Grand Prix.
Race Info
The 2024 British Grand Prix is raced over 52 laps, with a total race distance of more than 190 miles. The circuit is 3.66 miles long, which explains why there are only 52 laps. The current lap record for the British Grand Prix was set by Max Verstappen in July 2020, posting a time of 1:27.097.
In February 2024, Formula 1 confirmed a new ten-year deal with Silverstone and the circuit’s owner, the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC). The agreement will ensure the British Grand Prix remains on the F1 calendar until 2034 at the earliest.
When is the British Grand Prix?
The 2024 British Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday, 7th July, at the iconic Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire. It will be race number 11 in the 2024 F1 World Grand Prix Championship. First and second practice will be on Friday, 5th July, with third practice and qualifying set for a day later on the Saturday.
Who Won Last Year?
Red Bull maestro Max Verstappen won the 2023 British Grand Prix. He started in pole position and never looked like relinquishing his grip on the race. Nevertheless, he only finished 3.798 seconds ahead of second-placed Lando Norris (McLaren). In fact, British F1 fans were delighted to see two Brits on the Silverstone podium, with Norris joined by third-placed Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes.
It was Verstappen’s first British Grand Prix win, with Hamilton winning seven of the last ten since 2014.
Other Leading Contenders
We’ve already discussed the rise of the McLarens and Ferraris, so Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc are the most likely rival to Verstappen at Silverstone this year. Norris is in great recent form after winning in Miami and clinching second in Canada. He’s a very popular driver among British F1 fans, so the atmosphere will likely be red-hot at Silverstone if he’s in contention for victory.
Leclerc also has a recent win under his belt, landing the Monaco Grand Prix in May. It was a dream come true for Leclerc, who is Monegasque and has always wanted to win his home grand prix.
It would be remiss not to mention Lewis Hamilton, whose love affair with the British Grand Prix dates back to 2008 when he won on board the McLaren. Hamilton and Mercedes have struggled in the last 18 months, falling behind the likes of Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and even Aston Martin in terms of on-track performance. Hamilton has rarely been at ease with his car in the last season or two, which explains his departure for Ferrari next season. Hamilton is unlikely to trouble the podium at Silverstone this year.
Our British Grand Prix Picks
- Max Verstappen to win the 2024 British Grand Prix
Despite McLaren and Ferrari gaining on Verstappen’s Red Bull, it’s still difficult to look beyond the Dutchman to win at Silverstone. Verstappen has been in imperious form for the last couple of seasons, and barring a major mechanical error with his car, he’s always likely to be in the shake-up for the race win. - Lando Norris to finish on the podium
With a race win in Miami followed by a narrow second-place finish in Canada, Norris returns to home soil brimming with confidence at the wheel. His McLaren appears to give him an extra spring in his step, with greater straight-line speed than before. The car’s updates have reduced drag and given them a real shot of overtaking even the Red Bulls. This explains why Norris is second behind Charles Leclerc in the Drivers’ Championship without Verstappen betting market. - Oscar Piastri to finish on the podium
Norris’ teammate, Piastri, has also shown real promise again this season. He finished fifth in Canada after qualifying fourth on the grid. Another solid qualifying session for Piastri could put him in contention at Silverstone alongside Norris. This feels like a good moment for McLaren, who will be waiting to pounce on any Verstappen errors.
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