Three British pilots arrive at the Grand Britain Grand Prix dreaming of triumphing against the fans this weekend, but Australian Oscar Pastri promises to disturb the plans, precisely on the track where, 75 years ago, the Formula 1 championship began.
Pastri has a faithful base of fans as a McLaren pilot, although much of the public – especially the 10,000 depleted sector fans known as “Landetand” – is focused on supporting his British companion ,.
Norris won the Australia GP, Pastri’s House in March, an extra incentive for the Australian in Silverstone. The duo has been turning the season into a private dispute between two pilots, with the championship reaching the midpoint.
Pistri pursues his sixth victory in 12 races. Norris disembarks excited after dominating all the training he played in Austria, winning pole position with wide advantage and holding his teammate in the race to win.
The difference between them is only 15 points. Red Bull’s current four -time champion occupies the general place, but distances himself dangerously: there are 61 points behind Pistri after leaving for the first time in the year, precisely on the team circuit in Spielberg.
“My favorite weekend of the year,” said Norris, who still seeks his first consecutive wins in the category. “Silverstone is already a special track, but having family, friends, fans and so many team members there raises everything to another level. I will try to ensure one beyond the fans when passing.”
Pistri recalled that not long ago he also heard choirs with his name at the racetrack:
“I don’t know if this will be repeated, but they always welcome me very well. I run for a British team. It’s just that there are more Lando fans than mine,” he acknowledged.
Hamilton, the hero of the house
If Norris’s support will be large, Lewis Hamilton’s charisma usually surpasses everyone. Ferrari Briton carries the status of great sentimental favorite.
The two previous races were won by British – in Canada and Norris in Austria. Can Hamilton complete the crack and set the public on fire?
At 40, he won the ninth time at Silverstone last year with Mercedes. Now, he dreams of reaching the tenth triumph, in the one that will be his first homemade performance wearing red.
The has not yet won in main races this season – except for Hamilton’s triumph in the Sprint race in Shanghai – and the live champion has not climbed the podium since joined the team. There are 13 tests without Top 3, its worst sequence of your career.
On the other hand, the Italian team showed evolution in Austria: Charles Leclerc finished third and Hamilton in fourth, with a new floor that seems to finally have an effect.
The public will be another asset: a record of half a million people is expected over the four days of the event.
In 2023, Hamilton arrived in Silverstone after 52 races without victory and won one of the most exciting triumphs in his career.
Russell, who started pole last year with him, is also a candidate for the top of the podium, especially if temperatures fall, and will try to recover after a difficult weekend in Austria.
The Italian rookie inherited from the last stage.
Among the other British, Oliver Bearman (Haas) and Anglo-Tailean Alex Albon (Williams) aims to cheer up the local crowd.
(Report by Alan Baldwin, Clare Fallon edition)
