Last time out, Valencia shocked us all, in the best way possible, to provide one of the most exciting races of the season so far. So if that's anything to go by, Silverstone will definitely give us a lot to talk about!
I guess the best thing to begin with in my preview will be to mention the weather forecast. It's not looking great! We can expect rain, rain and more rain for Qualifying and the race. This will certainly cause a bit of havoc and possibly ruin any expectations or predictions you may have had. Rain is commonplace in Silverstone and I think we are getting used to it by now but there's no doubt that it may lead to some unexpected outcomes. I just hope that it adds enough excitement without making the race and results too unpredictable. But it would be nice to get someone on the podium who may not have had a chance otherwise; almost like Perez in Malaysia.
I mentioned McLaren bringing upgrades above and, putting it kindly, they really need them! They were simply off the pace in Valencia but have argued that Silverstone is a track that suits their car more; much like Montreal, where they won. Teams are always developing their cars so the fact that McLaren are bringing upgrades isn't groundbreaking but they need upgrades that will not only catch but also beat Red Bull. Will we see a repeat of 2011 when they left it far too late to close the gap to the reigning world champions? I don't think so as McLaren have been around long enough to learn from past mistakes and failures and regulation changes make it harder to dramatically change the cars. Lewis Hamilton had an unpleasant race in Valencia. A poor pit stop and race-ending collision with Pastor Maldonado were the worst aspects and so he will be looking to right some wrongs. He won in Canada and so that is one hurdle crossed. Things would have been much harder for him had he not won a race when his championship rivals already had so he can take comfort from that. As for Jenson Button, I can't imagine he is feeling very comfortable. It's no secret that he has been struggling as of late and has been unable to match his teammate in terms of performance; on Saturdays and Sundays. His home Grand Prix and in front of all of his most loyal fans would be the perfect setting for an almost heroic comeback to winning or at least podium-finishing ways. It's worth mentioning that Jenson has never won or been on the podium in the British Grand Prix; not the most encouraging fact! But runs like that are meant to be broken and after the season he has been having 2012 would be the best time to impress in Britain.
The next 'top team' I'll look at is Ferrari; struggling in the Constructors' championship but leading the Drivers' with Fernando Alonso. A bit of luck helped them to win the race in Valencia but they still deserve the credit of having the first driver to win two races. Realistically, I do think it may be too late for Ferrari to mount a challenge for the Constructors' as they currently stand in 4th. However, if there's one thing I've learnt from Formula 1 in 2012 it is to never say never. They do have some work to do, and a bit more luck would probably help greatly, to catch up with Red Bull and McLaren and they also require both drivers to be getting strong points finishes; yes Mr Massa, that was addressed to you! I can't write a preview to Silverstone without mentioning that the race in 2011 was Alonso's first and only win of the season; if he can win here in 2012 he will have incredibly won two races in a row. I'm sure he will be very hungry for the win, in a determined F1 champion sense not like a predator, and he knows what is at stake. Should he win this weekend the lead he will have in the Drivers' Championship will be staggering.
Lotus have been looking more and more likely to take a race win as the season has progressed but, so far, the best they have managed is 2nd place. The weather at Silverstone may do more harm than good for Lotus in terms of optimising performance but if it bunches the pack up a bit more, they have two drivers who have more than proven their overtaking ability this season. I am really interested in hearing your thoughts on this; who will win first out of the Lotus teammates? Kimi or Romain? I don't know if Lotus can win here in Britain but I'm sure they'll have a shot at it and I can definitely picture their black and gold on the podium!
Paul di Resta and Force India enjoyed a good weekend in Valencia and they will be hoping for more of the same in Britain. Paul is a British driver and so where better for him to win his first podium? His chances may not be great but if everything falls into his and the team's favour on Sunday then it is possible. When drivers like Perez finish on the podium for the first time they are never usually in anyone's predictions to do so! Di Resta may not be a favourite but the support at a home Grand Prix and the fact that this year isn't his rookie year could mean this may be his weekend.
I am totally confident that the race will be amazing! We will have overtakes, interesting (to say the least) weather, many drivers challenging for the win and crucial battles for both championships. I cannot wait!
So, are you as excited for the British Grand Prix as I am? How important will the weather be in determining the outcome of the race? Can British drivers Button and di Resta get on to the podium, finally? Will we get an all-British podium? There are now less than 24 hours for the weekend to kick off and, even though I won't be at the circuit, it feels great to have F1 in Britain.
I'll see you back here to look at all the events from the two practice sessions and look ahead to Qualifying...
Aqsa, @aqsasformula
(Image 2, 3)
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