What can we expect from the British GP: Will anyone end Red Bull’s winning streak? We’ll give it our all, says Mercedes

The top three teams in the championship are arriving in Silverstone, England with high ambitions. Ferrari is confident of returning to the top spot after six races. “We’ll make up for what happened last year,” says Christian Horner, the Red Bull team boss, recalling last season when none of his drivers finished in the points in Britain.

The British Grand Prix will take place on 28 June at the legendary Silverstone Circuit. It was here that the first Formula One Grand Prix was held. That’s not the only reason why drivers and spectators alike love to return to the Northamptonshire track year after year.

This year, spectators can look forward to 52 laps of racing at speeds of over 300mph with an amazing atmosphere – attendance is expected to be around 400,000 throughout the weekend.

Will Ferrari and Leclerc’s troubles end?

The last time Charles Leclerc stood on the podium was on May 8 in Miami. However, it was not the twenty-four-year-old’s poor performances that caused his form to drop, but a combination of bad luck and poor team strategy.

He was on course to win in Spain and Azerbaijan, but withdrew from both races due to technical problems. In Monaco, Ferrari’s strategy didn’t work out and after a bad pit stop he came out in fourth place, where he finished the Grand Prix.

The Monegasque started the last race in Montreal from the back of the grid due to an engine change penalty. He fought his way up to fifth in the race. His main rival, Max Verstappen, took 25 points for the win, increasing his lead at the top of the championship standings to 46 points over teammate Pérez, who is three points ahead of Leclerc.

Leclerc enters the weekend with a clear mission – to win. The new and improved power unit fitted to his F1-75 could help. It has partly solved Ferrari’s main problem this season, which has been top speed. It was the one thing Red Bull couldn’t match, and it cost it many wins.

Red Bull is heading for a seventh consecutive victory

Christian Horner also predicts that the Maranello team will not be easy to beat. It does not take Mercedes out of the game either. The latter put in a respectable performance in Canada, finishing third and fourth.

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen will have a huge incentive to win. His British Grand Prix win is still missing from his CV (he did win at Silverstone in 2020, but it was the 70th anniversary Grand Prix).

A year ago, he lost the championship unhappily after a collision with Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap, which was preceded by a breathtaking battle between the two drivers. Had it not been for that incident, Verstappen would probably have gone on to win comfortably. Throughout the weekend, Red Bull was quicker and proved it in Saturday’s sprint qualifying, which the Dutch driver dominated.

The leading team in the Constructors’ Cup will be looking to bring the weekend to a successful conclusion this year. “Last year we came here with a comfortable lead, just like this year, so it’s important for us to maintain this form,” Christian Horner told Formula1.

Gasly has extended his contract. Next season will see Piastri behind the wheel of an F1 car

Alpine is expected to announce the future of Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri at Silverstone. He won’t be joining Alpine next season – Esteban Ocon has signed a long-term contract with the team and double world champion Fernando Alonso is proving he still has a place in the queen of motorsport.

Asked if the young Australian would be racing in the most prestigious monoposto competition next year, Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer answered a resounding ‘yes’, but was unable to say which team. Piastri is likely to replace Canadian Nicholas Latifi at Williams, whose contract expires after the season.

Pierre Gasly has retained his position at AlphaTauri until next season. The French driver has made no secret of his desire to return to Red Bull and fight for race wins, but he would have to wait until at least the end of the 2024 season when Pérez’s contract expires.

Mercedes is 40 points behind second place in the Constructors’ Cup

Aston Martin enters the home race in eighth place in the Constructors’ Cup. They have taken just 16 points from the first nine Grands Prix. Haas is one point behind in ninth place. At the bottom of the leaderboard is Williams with three points.

Red Bull leads the championship with 76 points ahead of Ferrari in second place. Mercedes rounds out the top three with 188 points. McLaren leads the midfield with 65 points ahead of Alpine and Alfa Romeo. These three teams are separated by 14 points. AlphaTauri is in seventh place with 27 points.

Formula1 , The-race