Formula 1 comes home to its birthplace, for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. This famous track first hosted grand prix action all the way in 1948, and hosted the inaugural F1 race, back in 1950. The circuit has undergone several modifications since then, but the essence of Silverstone remains firmly in place. Built around an old RAF airfield, Silverstone has long held a reputation for being a fast track, and features some of the sport’s most demanding, enjoyable corners.

The run from Copse, down to Maggotts, Becketts and Chapel, represents a fast, sweeping sequence that has been challenging racing drivers since 1991. It is but one section of a popular circuit among drivers and fans alike, with the stands usually packed with eager spectators.

There have been many epic races here. In 1987, Nigel Mansell relentlessly hunted down his Williams teammate Nelson Piquet, selling him a dummy down the Hanger Straight and nipping down the inside at Stowe. In 1992, Mansell would be mobbed by an adoring crowd after victory in what would be his title-winning season, whilst in 2008, Lewis Hamilton would win by over a minute in a rain-soaked event. Hamilton would infamously collide with title rival Max Verstappen in 2021, bumping the Red Bull off the track at Copse, and at speed.

Moving forward to 2024, and the halfway point of the season, what would be in store? The tale from qualifying was by now a familiar one, with Verstappen taking yet another pole position to add to his lengthy collection. However, whilst qualifying had been a dry process, Sunday delivered that quintessential British experience: summer rain.

Such were the conditions, and such was their predicted evolution, that most drivers opted for full wets, though Liam Lawson of Meerkat Racing chose inters, which briefly proved beneficial, though they soon fell off a cliff as the rain got heavier. His teammate Theo Pourchaire would spend several laps getting frustrated by the Williams of Alex Albon, losing time to the cars in front, and even the possibility of a point.

Other drivers struggled in the wet. George Russell could not slow his Mercedes down and went into the back of Valtteri Bottas’ Sauber, marking a miserable race for him. Logan Sargeant had to retire his Williams in the middle of the track, triggering a late safety car, though this would not impact the front order to any significant degree. Yet again, Max Verstappen would cruise to victory, proving himself to be the master of the conditions, managing his tyres through varying levels of water to claim yet another win in 2024. Victory number nine of the campaign has reinforced his already-commanding advantage in the championship.

A Red Bull one-two will have further strengthened their goal of winning both championships, but first, what does do the drivers’ standings look like?

Verstappen now has a margin of 101 points to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who now has McLaren’s Lando Norris just one point behind him, with Carlos Sainz only 10 points further back. It certainly seems that the battle to be 2024 world champion is looking like a foregone conclusion at the halfway mark, though it seems unlikely Verstappen or Red Bull will rest on their laurels.

Red Bull now hold a 74-point advantage in the constructor’s championship, a gap of nearly two one-two finishes. Racing Bull have edged further away from Mercedes.

Join us next time, as Formula 1 heads to the twists and turns of Hungary.

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