Official 2021 British Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[Piginapoke]

Round 10 and Silverstone. Traditionally a Mercedes stronghold, but after 5 straight wins you’d be brave to bet against Red Bull who have the momentum. Mercedes is bringing upgrades, but my money is on Perez who goes well here.

Note this is the new sprint qualifying format, so the times are very different. Channel 4 is showing all session on free to air.

Date(s): Friday 16 July - Sunday 18 July 2021.

UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1 and Channel 4.





Live timing for all sessions available here:

https://www.formula1.com/en/f1-live.html

Lap times, PU component use, technical reports and Stewards' decisions for the weekend will appear here:

https://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-one-world-c...

Weather forecast:
https://weather.com/en-GB/weather/today/l/52.09,-1...

Tyre options:

Teams have two hard, three mediums and eight soft sets available per driver for each weekend.



2020 race result:



2020 race highlights:

https://youtu.be/HmEsqWosuS8

[DanielSan]

A lot seems to be being made of Mercedes bringing upgrades by the motorsport press, but they seem to be ignoring that Red Bull will be bringing upgrades also. I'd expect this weekend to be more like Paul Ricard and the Red Bull's and Merc's to be a lot closer but barring any big drama's it'll be a battle for 1st between Verstappen and Hamilton

[Big Nanas]

Would it be possible to add the details of how the Sprint race and Sprint qualifying work? That may be useful!

[Piginapoke]

Big Nanas said:

Would it be possible to add the details of how the Sprint race and Sprint qualifying work? That may be useful!

Sure. It's only the Sprint Qualifying that's new (although it's actually a short race, confusingly) but the overall schedule is totally different to accommodate it. Details are here:

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-sprint-qualif...

[Flooble]

The tyre rules look confusing. I am hoping that it's just Autosport's precis. " the Friday qualifying session will provide drivers with five soft tyres sets. After that teams will use these options for tyres for the remainder of the weekend:

One set of tyres for Saturday’s practice session - teams decide which compound
One set for the sprint race - teams decide which compound
Two remaining sets of tyres for the grand prix, with teams able to choose which compound to start on"


So guaranteed one-stop Grand Prix and qualifying is only on softs (that is sort of logical, if soft is definitely the fastest tyre for all teams ... if ...)

[Teddy Lop]

DanielSan said:

A lot seems to be being made of Mercedes bringing upgrades by the motorsport press, but they seem to be ignoring that Red Bull will be bringing upgrades also. I'd expect this weekend to be more like Paul Ricard and the Red Bull's and Merc's to be a lot closer but barring any big drama's it'll be a battle for 1st between Verstappen and Hamilton

Mercedes have their backs to the wall. Red bull tend to have a great capacity to improve as the season develops, Toto has implied merc don't have much more, so whatever they bring, in the words of crofty the stupid fat Berk, is crucial.

If red bull out pace merc here the championship is max's.

[Derek Smith]

Teddy Lop said:

DanielSan said:

A lot seems to be being made of Mercedes bringing upgrades by the motorsport press, but they seem to be ignoring that Red Bull will be bringing upgrades also. I'd expect this weekend to be more like Paul Ricard and the Red Bull's and Merc's to be a lot closer but barring any big drama's it'll be a battle for 1st between Verstappen and Hamilton

Mercedes have their backs to the wall. Red bull tend to have a great capacity to improve as the season develops, Toto has implied merc don't have much more, so whatever they bring, in the words of crofty the stupid fat Berk, is crucial.

If red bull out pace merc here the championship is max's.

I agree with the last bit, but I can't help thinking that Wolf saying they ain't going to improve much is probably smoke and mirrors.

Thanks to the OP.

[anonymous-user]

I think the sprint race will be far more exciting than the full race. I’d like to see something like the BTCC format. The full GP is usually a cure for insomnia after the first stop.

[Derek Smith]

Cliffe60 said:

I think the sprint race will be far more exciting than the full race. I’d like to see something like the BTCC format. The full GP is usually a cure for insomnia after the first stop.

For most of the races this season, and the ones since the start of the hybrid era, it's been tremendously exciting for the midfield and the best of the rest. Mostly it's been good at the bottom end as well. I've loved it. The golden era people will look back on in the furture.

[Flooble]

Derek Smith said:

Cliffe60 said:

I think the sprint race will be far more exciting than the full race. I’d like to see something like the BTCC format. The full GP is usually a cure for insomnia after the first stop.

For most of the races this season, and the ones since the start of the hybrid era, it's been tremendously exciting for the midfield and the best of the rest. Mostly it's been good at the bottom end as well. I've loved it. The golden era people will look back on in the furture.

Yes, it's a world of difference from even a decade ago when it was like watching a convoy processing around in starting order.

[anonymous-user]

Are teams still worked about the impact of the sprint race on clutches and other limited items? I think Aston Martin were quite vocal about it.

I like the idea of the sprint race but they need to give drivers more of an incentive than currently proposed.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Teddy Lop said:

If red bull out pace merc here the championship is max's.

This.

[DanielSan]

Derek Smith said:

Teddy Lop said:

DanielSan said:

A lot seems to be being made of Mercedes bringing upgrades by the motorsport press, but they seem to be ignoring that Red Bull will be bringing upgrades also. I'd expect this weekend to be more like Paul Ricard and the Red Bull's and Merc's to be a lot closer but barring any big drama's it'll be a battle for 1st between Verstappen and Hamilton

Mercedes have their backs to the wall. Red bull tend to have a great capacity to improve as the season develops, Toto has implied merc don't have much more, so whatever they bring, in the words of crofty the stupid fat Berk, is crucial.

If red bull out pace merc here the championship is max's.

I agree with the last bit, but I can't help thinking that Wolf saying they ain't going to improve much is probably smoke and mirrors.

Thanks to the OP.

I want to say it was on The Race podcast earlier in the week, I'm not 100% where I heard it though, but the rumour seems to be that Mercedes are downplaying the eupdate that is coming for next weekend but bar a couple of small bits this is all that's planned to go on their car and all focus is now on next year for R&D.

If this update doesn't have a pretty drastic improvement pace wise then the last bit is more than likely right. Barring any unexpected drama/disaster of course.

[Derek Smith]

DanielSan said:

Derek Smith said:

Teddy Lop said:

DanielSan said:

A lot seems to be being made of Mercedes bringing upgrades by the motorsport press, but they seem to be ignoring that Red Bull will be bringing upgrades also. I'd expect this weekend to be more like Paul Ricard and the Red Bull's and Merc's to be a lot closer but barring any big drama's it'll be a battle for 1st between Verstappen and Hamilton

Mercedes have their backs to the wall. Red bull tend to have a great capacity to improve as the season develops, Toto has implied merc don't have much more, so whatever they bring, in the words of crofty the stupid fat Berk, is crucial.

If red bull out pace merc here the championship is max's.

I agree with the last bit, but I can't help thinking that Wolf saying they ain't going to improve much is probably smoke and mirrors.

Thanks to the OP.

I want to say it was on The Race podcast earlier in the week, I'm not 100% where I heard it though, but the rumour seems to be that Mercedes are downplaying the eupdate that is coming for next weekend but bar a couple of small bits this is all that's planned to go on their car and all focus is now on next year for R&D.

If this update doesn't have a pretty drastic improvement pace wise then the last bit is more than likely right. Barring any unexpected drama/disaster of course.

I suppose a lot depends on how much Merc want this year's WDC and WCC. Is one glitch to be fussed over? My feeling is that they will, but I've no evidence to support this. Mind you, Wolff seems a bit short-tempered of late (for him) and what might be seen by him as a lack of support could be the reason. He asks, they refuse. There's that little niggling which suggests that it might be nice if Merc did come second, but to counter it, Horner seems the only one likely to do so. Difficult, eh?

I think F1 could do with a change. All eras must end, and perhaps now is the time for a new team to grab some silverware. I'd prefer it to be McLaren, but can't have everything.

[Flooble]

You never know Derek, Formula 1 is fond of contrived legal arguments and deciding results after the race is over. Imagine in early 2022:

"Shock News : Red Bull and Mercedes both found to have overspent budget cap in their battle for the championship; McLaren declared winners"

[paulguitar]

Piginapoke said:

my money is on Perez who goes well here.

Seriously? You'd put your own money on Perez beating Max (and Lewis) on merit?

[majordad]

Thanks OP for explaining how the sprint race works and he TV schedule

[Flooble]

paulguitar said:

Piginapoke said:

my money is on Perez who goes well here.

Seriously? You'd put your own money on Perez beating Max (and Lewis) on merit?

Well, it is his money. He can bet on Mazepin if he wants

[Piginapoke]

paulguitar said:

Piginapoke said:

my money is on Perez who goes well here.

Seriously? You'd put your own money on Perez beating Max (and Lewis) on merit?

Why not, his qualifying is improving, he can look after the tyres (see last year's race) and he always goes well at Silverstone. Feel free to make your own prediction (let me guess, Hamilton? )

[anonymous-user]

Safe and conservative but I think that’s the way it will go, nothing suggests any great change from previous races so….

Qualifying (Fri)
VER
HAM
PER
BOT
NOR
LEC
VET

Race (Sun)
VER
BOT
NOR