Lando Norris
McLaren
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Williams
Racing Bulls
Aston Martin
Haas
Alpine
The 75th British Grand Prix is here as Formula 1 returns to Silverstone, so our expert writers at F1 Oversteer predict every key story from pole position to the race winner.
Silverstone is where it all began for Formula 1 back in 1950 when the British GP kicked off its inaugural season. Now, Lewis Hamilton heads home striving to add to the Mercedes driver’s record tally of eight British GP wins. The Stevenage native was last atop the podium in 2021.
Hamilton will not have it all his own way for home success, though, as his teammate George Russell guns for glory alongside McLaren star Lando Norris. It was even Norris who emerged as the top Brit at the 2023 running as he burst off the grid and led the British GP into Turn 1.
Pole-sitter Max Verstappen ultimately denied Norris his first Grand Prix victory at the British GP in 2023. But the McLaren driver still stood on the podium at Silverstone for the first time in second place. The safety car period also helped Hamilton reach the rostrum in third place.
Norris, Hamilton and Russell will not want to settle for the runner-up prizes at the British GP in 2024. McLaren and Mercedes head to Silverstone in fine form after closing their deficit to Red Bull. The London-born Thai, Alex Albon, will also want a strong home race for Williams.
So, with that in mind, our expert team of writers at F1 Oversteer predict all of the key talking points for the 2024 British GP. From the driver most likely to take pole position at Silverstone to the race winner and who we expect to struggle, here are our 2024 British GP predictions.
Which driver will take pole position for the 2024 F1 British GP?
Kyle Archer: “Qualifying has often been Max Verstappen’s to lose in 2024. But the British GP might see a surprise with George Russell stealing pole position at Silverstone for Mercedes.
“The King’s Lynn native already has a pole to his name this term from the Canadian GP and leads Lewis Hamilton in their head-to-head battle. Russell even out-qualified his teammate at the 2023 British GP and stuck his Williams P8 on the F1 Sprint grid at the 2021 British GP.”
READ MORE: F1 2024 teammate head-to-head battles including race, Sprint and qualifying
Ben Evans: “Four teams are heading into this race that will believe they’ve got a great shout of securing pole position. For that reason, it’s likely to come down to individual quality and I believe Max Verstappen might just edge out Lando Norris to secure another pole position.”
David Comerford: “I fancy McLaren, who are looking strong at every circuit right now. I think Oscar Piastri will shock the home crowd by taking pole position for the British GP.”
Rory Mitchell: “Max Verstappen will get pole given Red Bull’s inherent advantage at tracks like this; elongated high-speed corners and long DRS straights. McLaren might get close but their speed on the straights was not that great at the Spanish GP.”
Who will win the 2024 F1 British Grand Prix?
Kyle Archer: “While Silverstone would erupt if a home driver won the British GP and plenty are in contention, it is hard to look beyond Max Verstappen securing another win. The Red Bull ace has rarely put a foot wrong in a race in 2024 and British hopes may need an error.”
Ben Evans: “Lando Norris will have even more motivation at his home race to add to his race win at the Miami GP. And I think, if he can nail his start, the Brit could pip Max Verstappen to the chequered flag.”
David Comerford: “Red Bull are talking about bringing a major upgrade package to the race in Silverstone but they’ve had a mixed success rate with their developments so far. So, I am backing Lando Norris to claim a famous win at the British GP with McLaren.”
Rory Mitchell: “Silverstone always provides a thrilling spectacle for the British F1 fans and I think this year will be no exception. Given his current form, I’d expect Lando Norris will be looking to take care of unfinished business.
“He led at the start of the race last year and was in genuine contention after a late safety car last year. So, I expect he will be in the hunt. Verstappen will get pole but Norris will win the British GP providing McLaren give him a good strategy.
“McLaren’s car is kind on its tyres, plus Norris will have learned how to make the best of them at the start of a stint.”
Where will Lewis Hamilton finish the 2024 F1 British GP?
Kyle Archer: “Only a safety car intervention for Kevin Magnussen’s engine fire helped Lewis Hamilton reach the podium at the 2023 British GP at Oscar Piastri’s expense. The Mercedes driver may need fortune to favour him again this year, too, but it is not entirely impossible.
“Hamilton has largely struggled to lead Mercedes’ efforts this year but there is a reason why Silverstone’s international pit straight was renamed after him. He knows what it takes to win at the track more than any driver. But Hamilton may have to accept just a top-five in 2024.”
READ MORE: The most successful F1 drivers at the British GP of all-time and at Silverstone
Ben Evans: “After a slow start to the season, Mercedes appear to have finally got their act together – much to the delight of Hamilton.
“While I can’t see Hamilton beating Verstappen or Norris, he will fancy his chances against George Russell and the two Ferraris to be standing on the podium at his home race for the last time in Mercedes colours.”
David Comerford: “Mercedes have performed well at Silverstone in the ground effect era, even though they’ve been wrestling issues with their car since 2022.
“That puts Hamilton firmly in the picture for a podium in the British GP. But I think he’ll just miss out to his impressive teammate, George Russell.”
Rory Mitchell: “Lewis Hamilton could have a good race if Mercedes have a good base setup on Friday. This has always been an area they have struggled with in the past.”
Who will be the top British driver at Silverstone?
Kyle Archer: “McLaren head to the Woking outfit’s home race with arguably the best car on the 2024 Formula 1 grid. The MCL38 works on every circuit now and should let Lando Norris emerge as the top British driver at Silverstone. The only question, really, is can he also win?”
READ MORE: The most successful teams and engine providers at the F1 British GP
Ben Evans: “I think Lando Norris will get the better of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell once again. The McLaren car appears to be on a par with Red Bull’s right now and Norris has gone up a level this season to be considered in the top-tier of drivers on the grid.”
David Comerford: “Norris, Hamilton and Russell will all be up there in the British GP. Oliver Bearman will also drive in FP1 for Haas and there’s talk that he could be announced as one of the team’s drivers for 2025. So, that makes him a winner of sorts, too.
“But Norris is second in the standings and, sure enough, he’s arguably been the sport’s second-best driver behind Verstappen this season, outperforming his two compatriots.”
Key storylines to watch at the 2024 British Grand Prix
Kyle Archer: “Beyond the fight to win the 2024 British GP, one of the key storylines to watch is how Daniel Ricciardo delivers for Visa Cash App RB. It was his P17 at Silverstone last year, after all, that marked the end of Nyck de Vries’ spell for the Faenza team after just 10 races.
“Red Bull placed Ricciardo in De Vries’ car last year after losing faith in the Dutchman. It was supposed to be the Australian’s route back to the main team, too. But there are suggestions that Liam Lawson may replace Ricciardo at RB before the summer break given his struggles.
“Ricciardo has had to accept playing second-fiddle to Yuki Tsunoda in the RB garage during much of 2024. If the Perth native cannot come out on top and fare well at Silverstone, then the writing may well be on the wall for Helmut Marko and Red Bull to give Lawson his seat.”
Ben Evans: “It’s been a very disappointing season for the Williams team. But Silverstone is a track that Alex Albon has won at in GP3 and Formula 2, and he scored points there last year.
“It would be a huge boost to him and the Grove-based team if he could secure another top-10 finish, and think he has a real chance in a converging midfield.”
David Comerford: “Silverstone is a ‘power track’ given that so much of the lap is spent at full throttle. For that reason, I’m inclined to go with someone who has performed well at similar venues this year.
“I’ll cast my mind back to the high-speed Jeddah circuit, which also features some of the sweeping corners the drivers will encounter this weekend. Nico Hulkenberg scored a point for Haas in the Saudi Arabian GP, so I’ll back him to produce another impressive result here.”
Rory Mitchell: “The key storyline is likely to be Red Bull’s form and Mercedes, while Ferrari might finally find some pace. The underdog to watch will be Alpine, I can see them snatching a point or two.”
Drivers who may struggle in the 2024 F1 British GP
Kyle Archer: “This year is quickly turning into a repeat of 2023 for Sergio Perez as what was a strong start with four podiums in the first five races flipped to failing to even reach Q3. He also qualified in just P15 for the 2023 British GP and Red Bull will fear Perez struggling again.
“Silverstone has rarely been a track that suits Perez through his 12 visits. The Mexican failed to beat his teammate in eight of his previous appearances in the British GP. The Red Bull ace was also only classified ahead of his teammate in 2022 after Max Verstappen got damage.
“The 2021 British GP also saw Verstappen crash on the first lap after his contact with Lewis Hamilton at Copse. Yet Perez finished that race in P16 – ahead of just the Haas pilots – after Red Bull gave up a possible P10 after his collision with Kimi Raikkonen to set the fastest lap.”
Ben Evans: “Fernando Alonso has already made his feelings clear at recent races that he’s not happy with the development of his Aston Martin and doesn’t expect things to improve during this triple header.
“If he or Lance Stroll can get back into the points then that has to be seen as a positive for the team. But Aston Martin have taken another step backwards and been dragged into a battle they wouldn’t have expected at the beginning of the season.”
David Comerford: “By the same token as Haas impressing in Jeddah, Visa Cash App RB struggled in Saudi Arabia, finishing 15th and 16th. Their updates went horribly wrong in Barcelona, so that could spell trouble for Daniel Ricciardo before the summer break.”
Rory Mitchell: “Worst result will likely be the Aston Martin pair of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. This is a yaw-sensitive track and that is something they have struggled with historically.”
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