Five key themes of the upcoming British GP

Hamilton goes for six

The world championship leader will be aiming to break a significant record at Silverstone. If he wins this weekend, it will be his sixth British GP victory, eclipsing the record of five he currently shares with Jim Clark and Alain Prost. The big numbers are only one element that make Lewis Hamilton special, but for any driver a home race is important and to achieve such a feat would surely have real meaning for him. And the fan response, if it happens, will once again be rapturous.

Last time out at altitude in the Austrian mountains, Hamilton and Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas were uncharacteristically just off the ultimate pace. At Silverstone, expect normal service to be resumed, although Ferrari’s straight-line speed should open up the possibility of a proper battle between the red and silver cars. On Silverstone’s flat-out blasts and fast sweeps, we could be in for another epic.

Third time lucky for Leclerc?

Twice this year Charles Leclerc has been in touching distance of his first grand prix win. A loss of power robbed him in Bahrain, while fresher tyres and Max Verstappen’s natural aggression got the better of the Monaco driver at the Red Bull Ring. Could Silverstone be the venue where everything finally falls into place for the 21-year-old?

Leclerc has been one of the major stories of the F1 season so far, but not simply because of his youth and clear potential. It’s also the effect he’s had on his four-time world champion team-mate Sebastian Vettel.

The German seems troubled these days compared to the upbeat winning machine we remember from his Red Bull title days, and the extra pressure from a youthful, hungry team-mate surely isn’t helping. Vettel remains a great racing driver and should be well placed to repeat his victory here from 2018. Right now, he really needs to put a big performance together, and after being overshadowed by Leclerc in Austria, re-establish his position as the main man at Ferrari – especially if there’s any truth to rumours that are beginning to swirl that seats for next year are not necessarily as secure as they might seem…

Norris to give fans someone else to cheer

This weekend won’t necessarily just be about a Hamilton love-in for Silverstone’s partisan masses. Lando Norris is giving every indication that he’s a future British GP home hero, and there’s every chance McLaren’s rookie will be a contender for a decent points score this weekend.

Norris has qualified fifth for the past two races in France and Austria, indicating not only McLaren’s progress after recent misery but also how quickly the 19-year-old has got to grips with the business of being a grand prix driver. Four points finishes in nine races so far is a decent return for any newcomer, but there’s an extra buzz around Norris.

This could be a memorable weekend for the young man – and for the British fans who will surely take him to their hearts.

Silverstone puts it all on black…

One theme that Silverstone will be hoping won’t be a point of contention this weekend is the circuit itself. Last year the 3.66-mile grand prix track was resurfaced for the first time in more than 20 years – and it turned into a disaster.

The black-top was criticised for being bumpy by F1 drivers at the 2018 British GP, but at least it didn’t rain. At the MotoGP later in the summer, torrential downpours showed up how poorly the new surface drained away standing water – and the race had to be cancelled.

The nightmare for Silverstone should now be over, following a second resurfacing that was completed just a couple of weeks ago and in just 16 days. Circuit managing director Stuart Pringle promises that the track is now perfectly smooth, with an asphalt mix that’s at least as good as that found on Heathrow’s runways. Let’s hope he’s right.

Spare a thought for him and the whole team involved in the resurfacing when F1 cars roll out on to Silverstone for first practice on Friday morning.

Deal or no deal for the future?

Off-track, the biggest story of the week could well be that old chestnut: the future of the British GP, because as it stands this race will be the last – unless Silverstone and F1 rights holder Liberty Media can strike a new deal.

Last year, Silverstone triggered a break clause in its long-running British GP contract, citing “unsustainable” financial terms and calling for a renegotiation to forge a new deal. Pringle and his team have essentially called Liberty’s bluff, banking on the British GP’s importance to F1 and the race’s status as a strong enough hand to ensure a better deal.

But so far Liberty’s poker face is yet to crack. No deal has, as yet, been forthcoming. That might well change this week and the best result for all would be a shiny new deal to reveal to the world in British GP week. Pringle remains optimistic, but he cannot guarantee it’s going to happen – and if no announcement is made, expect this theme to overshadow the whole weekend.

That’s another reason why this is the biggest week in the British motorsport year. As ever, it’ll all be happening at Silverstone.

Photography courtesy of Motorsport Images.