The British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone kicked off with a flurry of Formula 1 news on Friday, including updates from Mercedes, insights from Jenson Button, a warning from Guenther Steiner, and some setbacks for Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Here are the highlights from the day:
Mercedes Focuses on Lewis Hamilton’s Driving Style with W14 Upgrades Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes’ trackside engineering director, revealed that the upgrades implemented on the W14 car are partially intended to cater to Lewis Hamilton’s driving style. Shovlin explained that finding the right balance between enhancing Hamilton’s driving style and avoiding any hindrance is crucial, especially considering the limited time available for setup adjustments during sprint races.
Jenson Button’s Predictions and Insights on British GP Former World Champion Jenson Button shared his predictions for the British Grand Prix during an interview with On Track GP. Button believes that Max Verstappen is the favorite to secure a sixth consecutive win but expects a British driver to secure a podium finish and bring joy to the home fans at Silverstone. He also discussed the changes happening at Williams as a senior advisor and highlighted the team’s targets for the remainder of the season following a positive start to the weekend.
Guenther Steiner Cautions Formula 1 over Record 24-Race Calendar Guenther Steiner, Haas team principal, expressed concern over the extensive workload the record 24-race calendar for the next season imposes on the staff. While acknowledging the excitement brought by the different race formats and schedules, Steiner suggested that the current business model may have reached its limit and emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between the number of races and their unique characteristics.
Charles Leclerc Faces Electrical Issue, Misses FP2 Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc encountered an electrical issue that prevented him from participating in FP2. Reports even mentioned flames being seen from his SF-23 car before the session began. Although the team resolved the issue by replacing the necessary parts, Leclerc didn’t disclose further details about the problem. He expressed confidence that the setback would not impact their weekend, aside from the missed track time during FP2.
Alex Albon Surprises with Strong Performance in Practice Williams emerged as the surprise package during Friday’s practice sessions, with Alex Albon securing top-three finishes in both sessions and Logan Sargeant placing in the top five in FP2. Albon expressed surprise at their strong performance, acknowledging that it felt somewhat challenging on the track but recognizing that it appeared even more challenging for their competitors. Williams’ pace will be tested during qualifying, but the team’s upgrades seem to have made a positive impact.
The British Grand Prix promises an exciting weekend ahead, with Mercedes tailoring their upgrades to suit Hamilton’s driving style, surprising pace from Williams, and various developments capturing attention in the F1 paddock at Silverstone.
