Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone – Everything You Need to Know

The Formula 1 season heads to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix, the ninth round of the campaign, and for the first time since 2021 it returns as a sprint weekend. It’s a packed three days with extra points on offer, high-speed racing, and a title fight starting to heat up.

Mercedes arrive in strong spirits after George Russell’s win in Austria, where he fended off Max Verstappen in a tight finish.

Russell took his first win since the opening race in Australia and now sits 40 points behind teammate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli heading into his home race.

Verstappen also leaves Austria encouraged after a second-place finish in an upgraded Red Bull, saying it was the first time this season he genuinely felt able to fight for victory.

Antonelli came close to challenging late on, but admitted he “joined the party a bit too late.”

Full British Grand Prix schedule (BST)

Friday 3 July

Practice One: 12:30 – 13:30
Sprint Qualifying: 16:30 – 17:14

Saturday 4 July

Sprint Race: 12:00 – 13:00
Grand Prix Qualifying: 16:00 – 17:00

Sunday 5 July

Race: 15:00

How to watch

All sessions will be shown live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event, with full coverage across the weekend.

Free-to-air highlights will be available on Channel 4.

Silverstone Circuit – key details

Silverstone is one of Formula 1’s most iconic venues. Originally a World War II airfield, it hosted the very first F1 World Championship race in 1950 and remains a permanent fixture on the calendar through at least 2034.

It’s a high-speed, flowing circuit famous for corners like Maggots and Becketts, which demand precision and bravery in equal measure. Overtaking is very much possible here, especially when the wind picks up or the weather turns.

Reigning champion Lando Norris once called it “the best high-speed track in the world.”

What happened last year

The 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone was a chaotic, rain-affected race shaped by constant changes in conditions, Safety Cars and strategy calls, all in front of a record home crowd. It began behind the Safety Car due to rain in the air, with early gambles on slick tyres immediately shaking up the order before the field settled into a tense opening phase. Max Verstappen initially led before Oscar Piastri worked his way into control through the early chaos and interruptions.

As the rain intensified, the race became increasingly unpredictable, with repeated pit stops for intermediate tyres and multiple neutralisations keeping the field tightly packed and constantly reshuffling the running order. A full Safety Car reset the race before a crucial restart phase where Piastri’s race unravelled after a 10-second penalty for a Safety Car infringement. That opened the door for Lando Norris, who managed the changing conditions better in the final stages to take control and move into the lead. Behind them, Nico Hülkenberg delivered a standout drive in the chaos to secure his first Formula 1 podium in his 239th start, while the race eventually stabilised as the track dried and Norris brought it home for an emphatic home victory.

British Grand Prix: key stats

First race: 1950
Race distance: 52 laps (306km total)
Circuit length: 5.9km
Lap record: 1:27.097 (Max Verstappen, 2020)

Most wins

Lewis Hamilton – 9 wins
Other current grid winners: Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris

Most pole positions

Lewis Hamilton – 7
Others: Verstappen, Sainz, Russell, Alonso

Weather forecast

Good news for fans and drivers: the forecast is dry across all three days.

Expect sunny conditions, light breezes, and temperatures peaking around 27°C on race day.

Who could win this year?

Mercedes looked the strongest in Austria, but Red Bull’s latest upgrades have clearly added performance back into the mix, with Verstappen suddenly looking more competitive.

Silverstone’s fast, flowing layout could suit Mercedes again, especially if they replicate their Austrian pace.

But the home factor always matters here and Lewis Hamilton has won at Silverstone nine times, more than anyone else in history.

With McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull all showing flashes of pace, this one feels genuinely open heading into the weekend.