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- Silverstone Showdown: Hard Tires, High Stakes, and Hamilton's Hidden History
Silverstone Showdown: Hard Tires, High Stakes, and Hamilton's Hidden History
๐ In The Headlines
1/ Pirelli's Hardest Compounds and High Pressures Set the Stage for a Thrilling British Grand Prix at Silverstone
(Sutton Images)
Pirelli, Formula One's exclusive tyre supplier, is gearing up for the demanding British Grand Prix at Silverstone with a strategic approach. The Italian manufacturer has selected its three hardest compounds (C1, C2, and C3) for the race, recognizing the circuit's high-speed nature and the intense lateral forces it generates. Additionally, Pirelli has mandated extremely high minimum starting pressures for both front and rear tyres, with 26.5 psi for the front and 23.5 psi for the rear. These decisions are influenced by Silverstone's challenging characteristics, including its 18 corners and high-speed sections like Maggotts, Becketts, and Chapel, which subject tyres to lateral forces exceeding 5G.
2/ Trust Issues: Wolff Reveals Rocky Start to Hamilton-Mercedes Partnership
(Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Lewis Hamilton's decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025 has shed light on the complex relationship between the seven-time world champion and team principal Toto Wolff. In a recent interview, Wolff disclosed that Hamilton was not initially a "very trusting person" when they began working together in 2012. Despite this challenging start, the pair managed to build a strong partnership over the years, leading to numerous championships and a record-breaking 12-season collaboration.
3/ Silverstone Shakes Up Track Limits: F1's Battle Against the White Line Continues
(Motorsport Images)
The Silverstone track has implemented changes similar to those recently deployed at the Red Bull Ring to address Formula 1โs ongoing track limits issue. The modifications involve adding gravel traps, reducing kerb sizes, and painting white lines on kerbs to clearly demarcate track boundaries. At Copse, the track limits are marked with a white line on the exit kerb, while at Stowe, the gravel traps have been moved closer to the track. These changes aim to make it easier for drivers to adhere to track limits and prevent excessive running wide. The adjustments were made following a review by the FIA, which identified Silverstone and the Red Bull Ring as the circuits most affected by track limits issues. The changes have been generally well-received, though some drivers, like McLarenโs Oscar Piastri, have expressed frustration over how track limits were enforced during qualifying at the Red Bull Ring.
4/ Max Verstappen Brushes Off Media Frenzy, Prioritizes Friendship with Lando Norris
(AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Max Verstappen has dismissed concerns over the media uproar following his clash with Lando Norris at the Austrian Grand Prix, stating he doesn't care about the criticism and only wants to maintain his good relationship with Norris. Despite the incident, which resulted in significant consequences for both drivers, Verstappen emphasized their mutual enjoyment of competitive racing and highlighted their long-standing camaraderie. He acknowledged that both drivers agreed on most issues and that their racing style, which involves pushing boundaries, is essential for success in Formula 1.
5/ Gasly Faces Grid Penalty at British Grand Prix: Alpine Takes Strategic Power Unit Gamble
(Lucas Peltier/USA TODAY Sports)
Pierre Gasly is set to start from the back of the grid at the British Grand Prix after surpassing his power unit allowance for the season. Ahead of the race at Silverstone, Gasly needed a new battery and control electronics for his Renault engine, incurring a 20-place grid penalty. To minimize future penalties, Alpine has opted to install an entirely new power unit, providing more flexibility for the remainder of the season. Gasly explained the necessity of the battery change due to prior issues and emphasized that starting from the rear was inevitable, prompting the team to maximize the opportunity with an extra engine. This decision also allowed reserve driver Jack Doohan to take Gasly's car for FP1.
๐คญ For The Lulz
credit: u/Celebrating2theMax
๐ Did You Knowโฆ
The 2022 Miami Grand Prix was the most-watched F1 race ever?
The inaugural Miami Grand Prix in 2022 set the record for the largest live audience for a Formula 1 race on U.S. television, with approximately 2.6 million viewers. It is the largest recorded viewership for F1 racing to date.
๐ท Pic of the Day
Carlos Sainz (McLaren MCL35) 2020 British GP (credit: u/alenpetak11)
โฌ The Current Standings
DRIVERS (points) | CONSTRUCTORS (points) |
---|---|
๐ณ๐ฑ Max Verstappen (237) | ๐ Red Bull (355) |
๐ฌ๐ง Lando Norris (156) | ๐ Ferrari (291) |
๐ฒ๐จ Charles Leclerc (150) | ๐ McLaren (268) |
๐ช๐ธ Carlos Sainz Jr. (135) | ๐ Mercedes (196) |
๐ฒ๐ฝ Sergio Pรฉrez (118) | ๐ Aston Martin (58) |
๐ฆ๐บ Oscar Piastri (112) | ๐ RB Formula One Team (30) |
๐ฌ๐ง George Russell (111) | ๐ Haas (19) |
๐ฌ๐ง Lewis Hamilton (85) | ๐ Alpine (9) |
๐ช๐ธ Fernando Alonso (41) | ๐ Williams (2) |
๐ฏ๐ต Yuki Tsunoda (19) | ๐ Kick Sauber (0) |
๐จ๐ฆ Lance Stroll (17) | |
๐ฉ๐ช Nico Hรผlkenberg (14) | |
๐ฆ๐บ Daniel Ricciardo (11) | |
๐ฌ๐ง Oliver Bearman (6) | |
๐ซ๐ท Pierre Gasly (6) | |
๐ฉ๐ฐ Kevin Magnussen (5) | |
๐ซ๐ท Esteban Ocon (3) | |
๐น๐ญ Alex Albon (2) | |
๐จ๐ณ Zhou Guanyu (0) | |
๐ซ๐ฎ Valtteri Bottas (0) | |
๐บ๐ธ Logan Sargeant (0) |
๐ Coming Up Next
British GP ๐ฌ๐ง Silverstone Circuit
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