Can anyone stop Hamilton? Five things to look for at the British Grand Prix
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After a week off, Formula One returns this weekend for the British Grand Prix. There may be no crowd, but Lewis Hamilton will be going all-out for another home victory.
The reigning world champion has won each of the last two races, and produced a dominant display in Hungary a fortnight ago.
Hamilton has won the British Grand Prix more times than any other driver, with six victories at the Northamptonshire venue.
Hamilton supreme on home soil
Are people starting to write this season off already? Hamilton was uncatchable in Hungary two weeks ago, and has started opening up a little gap on team-mate Valtteri Bottas at the top of the standings.
With Ferrari and Red Bull struggling, Bottas appears to be the only man capable of stopping Hamilton from dominating the season. A victory for the Finn around Silverstone this Sunday would be a welcome boost for those hoping to see a championship battle this season.
The odds have Hamilton as 2/3 favourite to win on Sunday, with Bottas next up at 13/5. The odds then drift to Max Verstappen at 15/2 and Sergio Perez at 25/1.
Racing Point to impress again
While they await the decision from the FIA regarding Renault’s protest of their Mercedes-like car, Racing Point arguably boast the second best machine on the grid.
Though they haven’t quite made it stick, podium finishes have been within grasp for the Silverstone-based squad at all three races this season. Now back at their home circuit, they’ll be out to rack up another big points haul, and possibly land that podium finish.
Should they do so, you can expect even more protests from rival teams in the aftermath.
More Ferrari struggles
The Italian team’s season doesn’t look like improving anytime soon. After a fine, if somewhat fortunate, second place for Charles Leclerc in the opening race in Austria, Ferrari have been mired in the midfield.
Sebastian Vettel has just one point so far this season, and ahead of this Sunday’s race, the Maranello squad have confessed that they don’t expect to be back on the pace until next season.
McLaren to bounce back
After starring in the two Austrian events, McLaren found things more difficult in Hungary. Though both drivers qualified in the top ten, Carlos Sainz could only finish ninth, while Lando Norris was back in 13th after a bad start.
While the tight, twisty nature of the Hungaroring played a role in Norris’ struggles to carve his way through the field, it may also be that the McLaren isn’t quite the package many believed it to be in Austria.
There’s no hiding place at Silverstone’s fast, aero-sensitive circuit. If this year’s McLaren really is a contender, we should know about it this weekend.
More to come from Renault
It hasn’t been a spectacular start to the season for the Anglo-French outfit, who have collected a trio of eighth-place finishes.
But there is plenty to suggest, and Daniel Ricciardo has said as much, that this year’s Renault isn’t too far off the pace of Racing Point and McLaren. If there is more to come from the team, we could see our first glimpses of it this weekend.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.
