British Grand Prix: Preview – Pirelli

The British Grand Prix marks the midpoint of the 2024 FIA Method 1 World Championship and spherical 12 of 24 takes place the place all of it started 74 years in the past.

In 1942, a Royal Air Power airfield was established in Silverstone, Northamptonshire and on 13 Might 1950 it hosted the primary of the 1112 rounds which have taken place to this point. The winner again then was Nino Farina, driving an Alfa Romeo fitted with Pirelli tyres.

5.861 kilometres lengthy, the monitor is the fifth longest on the calendar after Spa-Francorchamps (7.004 km), Jeddah (6.175 km), Las Vegas (6.120 km) and Baku (6.003 km). It options 18 corners and is likely one of the most enjoyable and likewise one of the vital demanding for the car-tyre package deal. Some nook combos, akin to these from 10 to 14 – Maggotts, Becketts and Chapel – are taken at excessive velocity and generate lateral forces on the tyres and drivers of over 5g: the common determine at Silverstone is just like that seen at Spa and Suzuka. This, together with different technical points, signifies that as is at all times the case right here, the compounds chosen for this spherical are the toughest within the vary, the C1 as P Zero arduous, the C2 as P Zero medium and the C3 as P Zero gentle. The entrance axle comes beneath the best pressure and the prevalence of proper hand turns signifies that the left entrance is the tyre that wears essentially the most.

The climate in England in the summertime can at all times be very changeable, an additional issue to be considered, particularly as circumstances can change very quickly. Final yr the complete race was run within the dry, with the Smooth a considerably shocking protagonist, with solely two groups not utilizing it. Nonetheless, essentially the most used compound was the Medium, which was used to finish half the general mileage. The good majority of drivers went for a one-stop technique, even when prior to now, a two-stop had been a well-liked alternative.

At this race final yr, Pirelli launched a brand new tyre building to take care of the rise in masses seen over the primary few races of the season, as these forces exceeded the common figures seen from simulations supplied by the groups over the earlier winter. With out altering tyre efficiency in any method, the development proved its price and will probably be used as much as the top of the 2024 season, although there was a rise of round 10% within the masses generated by this yr’s automobiles in comparison with figures seen on the finish of final season.

Solely two Grands Prix have been everlasting fixtures on the Method 1 calendar, this one and the Italian Grand Prix. Silverstone subsequently hosts the seventy fifth British Grand Prix this weekend, the 58th to be held at this monitor. The race has additionally been run twelve occasions at Manufacturers Hatch and 5 at Aintree. In 2020, Silverstone hosted a further spherical, celebrating the championship’s seventieth anniversary.

Even though nearly all of Method 1 groups, previous and current, had or have their headquarters in England, essentially the most profitable staff at this Grand Prix is Scuderia Ferrari with 18 wins to its identify. Then come McLaren on 14 and Williams on 10. With 16 pole positions, Ferrari additionally tops this listing, because it does for quickest race laps (20) and podium finishes (59). Probably the most profitable driver within the UK is Sir Lewis Hamilton who has gained eight of his dwelling Grands Prix, whereas subsequent up are Jim Clark and Alain Prost with 5 wins apiece. The seven-time world champion Mercedes driver additionally has essentially the most poles (7) and podium finishes (13) whereas fellow countryman Nigel Mansell tops the listing for quickest race laps on this occasion with seven.