F1

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.

TV/Live stream: Sky Sports F1/NOW TV & Channel 4
Sunday, July 18: Grand Prix (3pm BST)

F1 betting offer: GET HAMILTON AT 45/1 TO WIN THE BRITISH GP*(MOBILE ONLY)

Follow ALL the action from Silverstone with our live blog below…
TOP TEN AFTER PIT STOPS
1. LEC2. BOT3. HAM4. NOR5. RIC6. SAI7. ALO8. STR9. PER10. GAS
Credit: 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. LEC2. HAM3. BOT4. NOR5. RIC6. VET7. ALO8. SAI9. RAI10. OCO
TEN MINUTES UNTIL RESTART
A 3.42pm restart is in the books.
NOT A PRETTY SIGHT
Still no news of when the race will restart.

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SILVERSTONE is packed with F1 fans ahead of TODAY’S British Grand Prix.Lewis Hamilton looking to continue his stunning record at this track and stop the Red Bull charge.
Though the Brit will be starting the race from second place, with leader Max Verstappen claiming pole following his win of the inaugural sprint qualifying.

TV/Live stream: Sky Sports F1/NOW TV
Sunday, July 18: Grand Prix (3pm BST)

F1 betting offer: GET HAMILTON AT 45/1 TO WIN THE BRITISH GP*(MOBILE ONLY)

Follow ALL the action from Silverstone with our live blog below…
YOUR SAY
What were your thoughts on the first ever F1 sprint race? Let us know by voting below!

HAMILTON REACTION
Lewis Hamilton was audibly gutted after losing the sprint race to Max Verstappen.
He said after the historic event: “Every point counts, but I’m grateful to have finished and tomorrow we fight again.
“They’re just so strong, there was nothing I could do to hold onto him.
“They’ve done a great job with their engine, their starts are really good and we’ve lost a bit of performance in the starts.”

VERSCHOOR WINS F2 RACE
Richard Verschoor won the F2 race at the British Grand Prix, his first victory at that level.
The 20-year-old Dutchman was promoted from F3 at the beginning of the season and impressed in front of thousands of fans at Silverstone today.
Here’s Verschoor’s winning moment…

MORE ON RUSSELL
F1 bosses have explained their reason for punishing George Russell ahead of tomorrow’s British Grand Prix.
The Williams driver has been penalised for making contact with Ferrari star Carlos Sainz at turn six of the first lap.
Russell is alleged to have locked up and gone into Sainz, causing the latter to go into the grass and qualify in P11 – seven places behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The stewards ruling said: “Cars 63 [Russell] and 55 [Sainz] approached turn 6 with Car 63 on the inside, in the middle of the track, and Car 55 on the outside.
“Car 63 locked the front brakes briefly and then understeered towards the edge of the track at the exit of the turn and contacted Car 55, which was forced off the circuit and on to the grass.
“Car 63 is judged at fault for the incident.”
BREAKING NEWS – RUSSELL DROPS TO 12TH
George Russell has been given a three-place grid penalty ahead of the British Grand Prix.
The Williams driver had qualified in P9 – an impressive return considering team-mate Nicholas Latifi could manage only P17.
But he will now start the race in P12 for his role in the incident with Ferrari star Carlos Sainz during the F1 Sprint.

REMINDER – TOMORROW’S GRID
Here’s how the drivers line-up for the British Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon…

F1 CALENDAR 2021
F1 race organisers are certainly earning their salaries this year, with more changes to the calendar than in living memory.
Click here to see how the F1 calendar unfolds in 2021 with our race by race schedule

WHAT IS F1 SPRINT?
F1 Sprint finally happened TODAY at the British Grand Prix, with the new race format dazzling spectators and exciting the masses.
It’s set to be used three times this season – but how does it work?
Click here to find out more
Credit: Getty
VERSTAPPEN REACTION
Max Verstappen will start tomorrow’s British Grand Prix on pole.
He told the press: “Around here it is difficult to pass but we had a good start.
“I had a good fight with Lewis on the first lap, then we just tried to do our own pace. We were trying to push each other hard but you could see by the end of the race, the tyres were blistering hard.
“Nevertheless, Happy to have scored us three points. It’s a little bit funny to be stood here but you’ve scored a pole position, so we’ll take it. Again, it will be an exciting battle tomorrow.
“We start the race on lower fuel and then we can really push these cars through the faster corners, lap after lap, so it’s very hard on the tyres. But it’s the same for everyone, so we have to deal with it.
“We can’t touch the car. We are quick in corners, so hopefully we can do the same tomorrow. But the straight-line speed, after FP1, you can not make any changes, so it’s a bit tricky for us now, we’ll have to deal with it. I still think we can have a strong race.
“Big thank you to the fans. I know they are here for the British drivers, but it’s still great to see them cheering and giving support.”
BOTTAS REACTION
Valtteri Bottas has qualified P3 for the British Grand Prix.
He told the press: “We tried to do something different and the target was to try and get [Verstappen] in the first lap.
“It didn’t happen, I think he had a good start as well. In Turn One I was slightly blocked, I couldn’t really use the momentum but we tried.
“In the end, it’s nice to keep the place with the soft tyres, even though there was some blistering.
“Today shows that tomorrow is not going to be easy.
“If it’s going to be a bit warmer, then we might see more issues, but at least now we are definitely aware and anything can happen.”
YOUR VIEW
Come on then, let’s have the readers’ verdict!

DOUBLE DUTCH
Saturday has very much been a day for the Dutch at Silverstone.
The second F2 race was won by Richard Verschoor before Max Verstappen claimed F1 sprint qualifying.
Can a Brit win on home tarmac tomorrow?
Credit: Getty
Credit: Getty
REPORT
Catch the full lowdown from today’s sprint qualifying with Ben Hunt’s report here.
GOOD DAY FOR THE OTHER BRITS
Lando Norris starts fifth in tomorrow’s race with team-mate Daniel Ricciardo for company on the third row.
And while George Russell lost a place to finish ninth, he held his own and is well set for a shot at a point in the Grand Prix.
First, he’ll await the result of an investigation into his collision with Carlos Sainz on Lap 1.

FINAL STANDINGS
Here is how sprint qualifying ended, which will be tomorrow’s grid – barring any penalties.

TOO SOFT
Valtteri Bottas started on the softer tyre than the front two, but it provided little help in chasing them down.
He notes: “The target was to get [Max] at the start, it didn’t happen. But we tried and I still managed to keep the place.”
LEWIS REACTS
Lewis Hamilton is very audibly gutted after that, the sprint race certainly mattered to him.
He adds that qualifying on a Friday was great fun but that race may not have been great entertainment, with the Brit suggesting he’d keep a somewhat rejigged sprint format.
He says: “Every point counts, but I’m grateful to have finished and tomorrow we fight again.
“They’re just so strong, there was nothing I could do to hold onto him.
“They’ve done a great job with their engine, their starts are really good and we’ve lost a bit of performance in the starts.”
MAX THANKS THE FANS
There are no doubt a few Max Verstappen fans out at Silverstone.
The Dutchman says: “I know the British drivers have a bit more support but it’s been great to see and I want a great battle at the front.”
LORRY LOAD
The top-three drivers jump on a truck for a ‘victory lap’ around Silverstone, during which Jenson Button grabs their reaction.
Max Verstappen, donning his retro wreath, says: “We had a really good start and a good fight with Lewis.
“We tried to run our own race but they pushed us hard and our tyres were blistering quite bad towards the end.”
TOP TEN ON THE GRID FOR SUNDAY’S RACE
1. VER2. HAM3. BOT4. LEC5. NOR6. RIC7. ALO8. VET9. RUS10. OCO
Credit: AFP
‘GOOD JOB’
Max Verstappen somewhat understated after claiming three points towards his first world title, one more than Lewis Hamilton took today.
He tells team radio: “That was nice.”
ALONSO HOLDS ON
Fernando Alonso takes seventh after making up four places in the race, a tally nobody could better.
Kimi Raikkonen, in 13th, also took four with Sebastian Vettel and Esteban Ocon also gaining places.
VERSTAPPEN WINS
The first-ever F1 sprint qualifying crown goes to Max Verstappen!
PEREZ OUT
Sergio Perez is told to retire the car – he’s down in 18th after spinning across the gravel.
LAST LAP
The sprint qualifying is nearly over, about 25 minutes after it began.
Will there be any late drama?
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SILVERSTONE is packed with F1 fans ahead of Sunday’s British Grand Prix.We’ve a weekend of exciting racing ahead, with Lewis Hamilton looking to continue his stunning record at this track and stop the Red Bull charge.
And the Brit champion has pole for today’s sprint race after a terrific drive during qualifying.

TV/Live stream: Sky Sports F1/NOW TV
Saturday, July 17: Practice 3 (12pm), Sprint race (4.30pm)
Sunday, July 18: Grand Prix (3pm)

F1 betting offer: GET HAMILTON AT 45/1 TO WIN THE BRITISH GP*(MOBILE ONLY)

Follow ALL the action from Silverstone with our live blog below…
FORMATION LAP
The drivers cruise around Silverstone to allow the grid to clear for this 17-lap showdown.
WHO’S GONNA DO IT?!
Huge anticipation for this sprint qualifying event. Will it be an epic, changing the state of F1 as we know it? A flop? Or something in between..?

SPRINT QUALIFYING GRID
A reminder of how the front of the pack sets up for the sprint event in ten minutes’ time…
1. HAM2. VER3. BOT4. LEC5. PER6. NOR7. RIC8. RUS9. SAI10. VET
FAN-DEMONIUM
There are 140,000 fans across Silverstone today with Lewis Hamilton well backed for the win in sprint qualifying.
A wealth of papaya can be seen too, supporting McLaren, and arguably the biggest roar yesterday was for George Russell after his stunning qualifying run.
Credit: Reuters
NOT LONG TO WAIT
The first-ever F1 sprint qualifying is almost upon us.
Just a reminder: This 100km race will last 17 laps, or around half an hour, and will decide the grid for tomorrow’s race.
The top three will win points for the main championship – and Lewis Hamilton starts on pole.
Credit: EPA
VER-Y GOOD
We have the first (and maybe only?) Dutch driver named VER to win today.
That’s because Richard Verschoor has claimed the second F2 sprint race.
The first half of the race was spent almost entirely under the safety car after two incidents left a handful of drivers stranded.
British youngster Dan Ticktum makes up some ground in the title fight with third place here at Silverstone.
CRASH IN F2
An early safety car after a hefty smash on Lap 1 of the Formula 2 sprint race.
Ralph Boschung caught the grass ahead of the Wellington Straight and spun back across the track, collecting Alessio Deledda and wiping them both out of the race.

TURN IT UP
A Ferrari darting through Silverstone in glorious sunshine with packed grandstands… is there a better sight?

PLENTY OF ACTION
Lots going on here at Silverstone.
A pair of Spitfires have just flown over the track in a Battle of Britain display and in 20 minutes the second Formula 2 race of the day starts.
W SERIES JOY FOR POWELL
Alice Powell has claimed victory in the W Series race at Silverstone to go top of the championship.
Qualifying on pole yesterday, the Brit struggled off the line but fought back to take the lead off Fabienne Wohlwend with a stunning overtake at Club.
Jamie Chadwick comes home third to relinquish her lead in the title fight, with the next race in Hungary two weeks from today.
Powell tells team radio: “Thank you guys, oh my days. What a great crowd.”

CHRISTIAN HORNER EXCLUSIVE
Red Bull chief Christian Horner has revealed to SunSport’s Ben Hunt how he beat Mercedes to youth prodigy Max Verstappen.
He tells us: “It was at Hockenheim in 2014 and I went for dinner with Helmut Marko.
“He was saying how Niki Lauda was trying to sign Max for Mercedes and he was asking me my thoughts.
“Once I knew that, I said, ‘sure, let’s go for it. It is something Mercedes cannot offer him’.”
Check out the full interview here.
SESSION DONE – VERSTAPPEN LEADS THE WAY
Advantage Red Bull? Hold on, remember this was just a warm up. Nothing won here, we still have the sprint race later on.
But that is still encouraging for Red Bull, who have made changes over night.
Mercedes could have their work cut out.
Ferrari in 2 and 3 in what was a good session for the Italian team.

GREAT TO SEE FULL STANDS HERE AT SILVERSTONE
A crowd of 140,000 is expected today. Another 140,000 tomorrow. HUGE numbers.

UNDER 10 MINUTES ON THE CLOCK
And the running order is: Verstappen, Leclerc, Sainz, Ocon, Perez, Norris, Ricciardo, Hamilton, Bottas and Gasly for your top 10.

HAMILTON WANTS TO SAVE HIS ENGINE
He’s asked his race engineer to turn the engine down, effectively preserving its life.
However, Merc say they want to keep running at that power as the data they are gathering is proving useful.
MAX IS BACK
The Red Bull man is top of the time sheets again. And look at those sector times. He is quick everywhere.

A LITTLE OVER 20 MINUTES INTO THE SESSION
Verstappen leads Perez in a Red Bull 1-2.
Esteban Ocon is currently P3. Bottas P4, Mazepin in P5 and Hamilton in P6.
But this session is not necessarily reflective of pace – more of an experiment.
BIG CHEERS FOR RUSSELL
The Williams driver was eight in qualifying yesterday, as he reached Q3 for the second time running.
He was treated to a big cheer as he took to the track for the first time on Saturday.
He will have to wait a few weeks though until he discovers if he will be partnering Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes next year.

LEWIS HAMILTON IS GETTING READY TO HEAD OUT
The world champion took pole for the sprint race, beating Max Verstappen by just 0.075seconds in qualifying.
Can he take that slender advantage into this session?
GREEN LIGHT – FP2 FOR THE BRITISH GP IS GO
Now, not too get your hopes up, but this is likely to be a 60 minute tyre test.
But it is ok, the good stuff is coming later, with F1’s first sprint race to select the grid for the British GP.

SPRINT FINISH
Lewis Hamilton is fired up for today’s sprint race and has vowed to take the new concept very seriously – with points on offer for the top three finishers.
He said after qualifying: “It’s just all guns blazing,
“I need to bring out the lion tomorrow and give it everything. It starts with the start so we’ll be practising on that, we’ve got the long run practice in FP2.
“I mean passing the Red Bull is not easy, so it really helps to be where we are. But we’ve got to get off the line, and we’ve still got so many things and obstacles up ahead of us.
“The sprint race is going to be an interesting one, I think I’ve got the car where I need it, so we’ll see.”
WHAT’S ON THE AGENDA TODAY?
Formula One second practice is at noon before the sprint race at 4.30pm.
The first of two F2 races has already taken place this morning, Rob Shwartzman winning despite causing a red flag with a spin in qualifying yesterday.
Their second race, on live on Sky Sports, is at 2.45pm.
And the W Series has its second race of the weekend at 1.25pm, shown live on Channel 4.

NEVER FORGOTTEN
As we prepare to go racing today, F1 takes a moment to remember one of its own who sadly passed away on this day six years ago.

‘WEIRD’
F1’s trial of a sprint race format at this weekend’s British Grand Prix has led to a timetable overhaul.
F1 has elected to stick with the final free practice session before Saturday afternoon’s sprint qualifying, a move Max Verstappen has questioned.
He said: “What I find weird is you do qualifying and then you can’t change anything on the car.
“Then you have another free practice and then the sprint race. Then I think to myself: why not drop that second free practice, as it doesn’t really matter any more?
“It feels a bit weird to do a qualifying where there is nothing at stake. You don’t really get that pole feeling or whatever. But hopefully we can attack on Saturday, we’ll see.”
‘HAS THE TALENT’
David Coulthard believes George Russell can push Lewis Hamilton in the same way that Max Verstappen has in the title race this season.
“We saw George’s hunger and racing spirit when he came together with Valtteri in Imola. He probably overreacted there, which is just an opinion.
“But what we did see was his passion behind the wheel and that’s the sort of passion he’s going to need to beat Lewis.
“He’s not going to beat Lewis with pure speed, Lewis is one of if not the fastest drivers of the last decade, George I believe has the talent to match that speed.
“He’s going to beat him with that passion, that hunger, that ‘you might be Lewis Hamilton but when we go on track, I don’t care who you are’ Which is exactly what Max Verstappen delivers when he’s in the race car.”
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