SILVERSTONE is packed with F1 fans ahead of TODAY’S highly-anticipated British Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton is looking to continue his stunning record at this track and stop the Red Bull charge to the title.
Though the Brit will be starting the race from second place on the grid, with championship leader Max Verstappen claiming pole following his win in the inaugural sprint qualifying.
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- Sunday, July 18: Grand Prix (3pm BST)
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Follow ALL the action from Silverstone with our live blog below…
TOP TEN AFTER PIT STOPS
1. LEC
2. BOT
3. HAM
4. NOR
5. RIC
6. SAI
7. ALO
8. STR
9. PER
10. GASCredit: Getty BATTLE OF THE BRITS
Lando Norris has Lewis Hamilton breathing down his neck and going about a second a lap quicker.
And he puts up little fight as the veteran takes third place at Abbey.
LECLERC PITS
Ferrari do a better job of this one and the race leader spends only 2.6 seconds in the bay.
Charles Leclerc comes out with seven seconds on Valtteri Bottas and 13 clear of Lewis Hamilton, can the Mercs work their magic?
LAP 30/52
Do not rule out Valtteri Bottas for the win today.
With the fastest lap, the Finn is flying and 26.5 seconds behind Charles Leclerc.
Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz’s stop is very very slow – a 12.3-second tyre change wrecking the good work he did in going long in his first stint.
HAMILTON PITS
Here comes Lewis Hamilton, who serves ten seconds before his crew can change his tyres.
On go the Hards, eventually, and he comes out behind Lando Norris in fifth.
That leaves a Ferrari one-two, neither of which have stopped.
LAP 26/52
We are halfway and waiting on who will pit first out of the two leaders.
Charles Leclerc has put over two seconds between himself and Lewis Hamilton, but is still receiving instructions to avoid his engine cut-outs.
Credit: Reuters BOTTAS JUMPS NORRIS
That right-rear would just not go on for Lando Norris.
In comes Valtteri Bottas and the Finn is into de-facto third as he leaves the pits only a few car lengths clear of the McLaren.
MCLARENS PIT
Lando Norris with a slow stop!
That took about four seconds longer than it needed and it may cost the Brit a podium.
LAP 20/52
Lewis Hamilton not yet able to launch an attack, as Charles Leclerc puts in a new fastest lap.
Behind, Lando Norris is more than holding his own over Valtteri Bottas and the pair are over ten seconds clear of Daniel Ricciardo in fifth.
And a number of the backmarkers are in the pits for Hard tyres, having started on the Mediums.
HAMILTON ON THE CHARGE
The reigning champ may be sensing blood after that, as Charles Leclerc reports of ANOTHER momentary engine cut-out.
Lewis Hamilton is in DRS range, with the advantage down to under a second…
LECLERC PROBLEM
Charles Leclerc loses a chunk of time and tells team radio that his engine cut out.
Mercifully for the Ferrari star, it kicks back in and he’s only lost a few tenths.
The team provide a bunch of instructions over radio and tell him: “Everything should be fine now.”
WHAT WILL LEWIS DO?
Lewis Hamilton has a few options at his disposal.
Does he use up his tyres to try and catch Charles Leclerc, with the aim of overtaking him and driving off into the distance?
Or preserve his tyres, hang back a bit and wait until the Ferrari pits – at which point he gives it the beans.
It appears he’s favouring the latter right now.
We’re onto Lap 13/52. An hour after the start, we’re only a quarter of the way through the race.
TOP SIX ARE PULLING AWAY
The Mercedes, Ferraris and McLarens are putting a bit of a gap back to the midfield now.
Carlos Sainz in sixth is 4.8 seconds clear of Fernando Alonso in seventh, a gap that is growing while the Spaniard battles Daniel Ricciardo.
How the restart looked as Charles Leclerc held the leadCredit: PA LAP 8/52
Valtteri Bottas is fighting back at Lando Norris for a place in third – although it is de facto second with Lewis Hamilton’s penalty.
The Brit puts in the fastest lap in his Mercedes as he looks to make up the time.
BIG JOB ON FOR HAMILTON
Lewis Hamilton will have to fight his way through the pack after pitting due to that penalty.
Sergio Perez is also a guy to keep an eye on, starting from the back he is now 14th and on the charge.
Sebastian Vettel takes his place in 19th, replays show how he just lost control while battling for position and performed a 360.
LEWIS PENALTY
It’s a ten-second time penalty for Lewis Hamilton.
He will serve it when he pits.
LECLERC LEADS
As we begin Lap 5, over 45 minutes after the race began, Charles Leclerc has opened up a second lead over Lewi Hamilton.
VETTEL SPINS
Sebastian Vettel is off but keeps it out of the barrier.
GO GO GO… AGAIN!
This time Lewis Hamilton does not get the jump, but Lando Norris did and is third.
FORMATION LAP
We will have a formation lap and then another standing start off the grid.
Let’s keep it clean this time, eh lads?
Credit: EPA WE RACE AGAIN
The red flag period is over and the safety car leads the pack out of the pits.
‘RELIEF’
Christian Horner has confirmed that Max Verstappen was able to walk to the medical centre for checks.
It was an absolutely mega 51G crash.
TOP TEN AT RESTART
1. LEC
2. HAM
3. BOT
4. NOR
5. RIC
6. VET
7. ALO
8. SAI
9. RAI
10. OCOTEN MINUTES UNTIL RESTART
A 3.42pm restart is in the books.
NOT A PRETTY SIGHT
Still no news of when the race will restart.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
