Goodwood, Glastonbury, Wimbledon… it’s starting to really feel like the beginning of a Nice British summer time. However, whereas the Pageant of Pace is a terrific occasion, it’s a mere appetiser for the principle motorsport course this weekend — the Britsh Grand Prix. Formula One heads right into a busy month of racing with two double-header occasions this July, and all of it kicks off at Silverstone.

The well-known circuit is standard with the drivers and has held many a memorable Grand Prix. The monitor’s historical past consists of moments like Nigel Mansell giving a carry to Alain Prost in 1992 and races like Lewis Hamilton’s one-minute profitable margin within the 2008 rain.

Extra not too long ago, who might neglect the dramatic 2020 finale when Hamilton crossed the road first with solely three working Pirelli tyres on his Mercedes. Or final 12 months’s contentious crash between the championship contenders. Who is aware of what the 2022 British Grand Prix will give us.‍‍

The drivers all know the Northamptonshire monitor nicely, even within the fashionable period with restricted testing. It’s a staple within the feeder sequence championships, and your entire grid is nicely used to racing across the 5.891km circuit. Though Silverstone has undergone a number of configurations over time, the present format offers a number of overtaking alternatives into The Loop, Brooklands, and, in fact, down the Hangar Straight.

The enduring corners of Maggots and Becketts have the vehicles put their Pirelli tyres below excessive lateral load with the excessive cornering speeds. We would see the drivers operating nearer than ever right here, because of the 2022 regulation change. In that case, the run down the next DRS zone might need extra motion than standard, with vehicles operating side-by-side into the high-speed Stowe nook.

Pirelli will need to guarantee no repeat of the late-race failures in 2020. As entertaining as they had been to observe on tv, if the tyres failed at completely different elements of the monitor, these concerned might need suffered harmful crashes. However, in fact, there’s no cause to suppose that’ll be the case, with the next Grands Prix on the monitor being way more commonplace affairs.

There are additionally the brand new 2022 tyre compounds from Pirelli this 12 months, which the corporate designed to last more and never overheat. We’ve seen that stability already all through the season, however Pirelli is taking no probabilities and can carry the C1, C2, and C3 tyre compounds for the 2022 British Grand Prix. These three choices symbolize the toughest trio of rubber on provide and distinction to the previous three rounds’ C3, 4, and 5 tyres.

As we Brits know all too nicely, there’s additionally the everpresent menace of rain. The climate modified the beginning grid final day out in Montreal, and it would occur once more at Silverstone. There have been races in scorching warmth right here, and a few with automotive parks that flip into mud baths. There’s an opportunity of rain all through the weekend, which could imply the Intermediate or Moist tyres seem.

With 5 wins within the final six Grands Prix, it’s beginning to appear to be Max Verstappen might additionally win the remaining 13 rounds. Even within the race the place the Dutchman didn’t win, Red Bull nonetheless outmanoeuvred Ferrari to have Sergio Perez atop the rostrum. The Milton Keynes-based workforce may look impervious at this level of the championship, however some components might play in opposition to them.

Regardless of all of it, Ferrari nonetheless seems to be just like the quickest workforce in F1 this 12 months however has struggled on Sundays. Charles Leclerc’s four-race pole {position} streak resulted in Canada solely as a result of him taking an engine change. Which means he’s coming into the British Grand Prix with a comparatively new energy unit at a race the place the engine’s output is significant. Bear in mind, too, that Carlos Sainz was chasing Verstappen to the road in Montreal, exhibiting that Ferrari has the tempo to problem Red Bull, even when the outcomes don’t essentially present it.

And, lastly, you’ll be able to by no means overlook Lewis Hamilton at Silverstone. The seven-time champion might not have the world-beating automotive for 2022, however no different driver in historical past has taken as many British Grand Prix wins. Hamilton’s eight triumphs have come from pole {position}, the entrance row, P6, with moist Michelin tyres, dry Pirelli tyres, and on three wheels. Briefly, the house hero has gained on house soil in all circumstances.