The sporting outcome of the race is not the greatest attraction for Formula 1 at Silverstone this time. There are actually no big doubts about the next victory for Red Bull and Max Verstappen. But Silverstone is special.
Most teams have their factories at the track. And then there’s Lewis Hamilton, the local hero and seven-time world champion.
In addition to the sporting aspect, there is another special feature at the British Grand Prix this time: For a Hollywood film about Formula 1, there is shooting in the racing car on the track. Brad Pitt, who will play the lead role, is said to be there. Unlike the pilots, the US actor will not have to abide by the route rules, which recently caused trouble and chaos in Austria.
Is there a penalty fiasco like in Spielberg?
Spielberg should probably remain the negative highlight with over 1200 violations of the so-called track limits. The route literally invited you to do so. An official final result only hours after crossing the finish line, when many fans are already in bed, is not in the interest of Formula 1. Nor are angry drivers. Silverstone is best known for its fast sections, for the Copse corner or for Maggotts and Becketts. The rapid combination of curves 10 to 14. The drivers race towards it at around 300 kilometers per hour, and it can get tight at times.
Will the shooting of the Hollywood film have an impact on the race weekend?
No, at least not as far as the processes are concerned. Formula 1 managing director Stefano Domenicali has promised “pure” racing. In return, fans will get unusual insights into the shooting of a Hollywood film. The car will be a Formula 2 car, modified with the help of engineers from the Mercedes team, whose star driver Lewis Hamilton is one of the film’s consultants.
Who will play the leading role in the sport?
There can only be one and that is Max Verstappen. However, Verstappen has never driven to victory in Formula 1 on the legendary course at a military airport. Local hero Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, has played eight times. And Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff announced after Spielberg’s flop weekend: “With the next upgrades and experiments that are pending in Silverstone, there is reason for optimism.”
Can Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari repeat his victory from last year, which also led to a dangerous protest by environmental activists and a violent departure by the Chinese Guanyu Zhou? It should depend on Verstappen. In 2021 he had a violent accident after touching Hamilton, and last year damage to the car bothered him. This time, in his 150th race for Red Bull, he should really want to know.
