F1 British GP Live Commentary and Updates - Race
Minute-by-minute updates for the 2023 Formula 1 British Grand Prix
F1 enters double figures for the season with Silverstone hosting the 10th race weekend of 2023 as Red Bull looks to extend its perfect win record.
Max Verstappen has been dominant this term with a personal victory haul of seven creating an 81-point lead at the top of the drivers' standings.
The Dutch driver starts from pole ahead of McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Live Standings
presented by
Stopped
Live Text
Sort by
Good day one and all! It is time for the big one - the British GP starts in a little over 40 minutes. So settle in a stormer.
Sun
The pitlane has been opened and closed to let the drivers make their way to the grid on the reconnaissance laps in front of a roaring crowd. Silverstone looks a picture in the sunshine.
If you missed Saturday's qualifying action, never fear, as we can get you up to speed. McLaren became the surprise package with Norris second and Piastri third behind polesitter Verstappen.
Photo
But just how did McLaren beat every driver on the grid bar Verstappen? Here's how: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/sunwhat-f1-gps-data-reveals-about-mclarens-shining-silverstone-qualifying/10493619/
The cars of Lando Norris, McLaren, pole man Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB19, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL60, in Parc Ferme after Qualifying
Photo by: James Sutton / Motorsport Images
Twitter
No, that isn't a surprise 11th F1 team on the grid - particularly given the resistance from the current teams about that prospect - but it is actually a fake team as part of the Apple F1 film being shot at Silverstone. Here's the full story: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/mercedes-reveals-involvement-in-apex-f1-movie/10493109/
Apex GP car
Photo by: Alex Kalinauckas
Back to the real F1 action, there's a good chance of a few strategy splits this afternoon to keep the action nicely spiced. But can anyone catch Verstappen? Given his current form it is a long shot, but you never know.
Twitter
Here's what Pirelli predicts for the best strategies today:
Sun
We had a few rain showers this morning but so far things have remained dry at Silverstone - but never fear, there is a 40% chance of rain for the race. It is the British GP after all.
The British national anthem is given a, erm, unique rendition by Damian Lewis and a saxophone player. It was different but it worked.
Right, the pre-race faffing and fun is almost complete and the drivers are getting into their cars. Just 10 minutes to go until lights out.
Twitter
Starting tyres: Russell, Ocon, Tsunoda and de Vries all start on softs, Hulkenberg and Bottas are on hards and the rest are on mediums.
So, watch out for Russell on softs being punchy at the start given everyone ahead of him starts on mediums.
Green flag
The formation lap is under way.... here we go.
Everyone is away smoothly, with plenty of heat being put into the tyres for those on mediums and hards. Verstappen has stretched out the F1 car train as a result on his way to the starting grid.
Here we go...
Lights green
Norris gets the better start and he leads Verstappen into Turn 1!
Hamilton is down to P9 after running wide into the complex on the first lap!
Stroll and Ocon are going wheel-to-wheel with Albon holding onto the final points-paying position so far.
Piastri is attacking Verstappen at Copse - flashbacks to 2021 - but the Australian keeps his nose clean and keeps station in third. A stunning opening lap by Norris who leads at the end of lap one!
Hamilton wastes no time in making back a position to Gasly, climbing back to P8 after a disappointing opening lap.
Further back Russell made the most of his soft tyres to get ahead of Sainz into fifth, while Hamilton had a poor start and dropped to eighth.
Sergio Perez has also dropped a position at the start, down from P15 to P16. That was not in Red Bull's plan for a recovery drive from another shockingly bad Saturday for the Mexican.
Norris is trying to scamper clear of DRS range of Verstappen, which has been enabled at the end of lap two.
The gaps all the way through the field are tiny with few greater than a second. DRS is activated and now the real fun begins!
Norris reacted 0.003s quicker to the lights than Verstappen according to the F1 data boffins. It made all the difference to give him the lead into the first corner.
The problem for Norris is that Verstappen is coming. On lap four he is half a second back and in DRS range.
Perez makes up one position to Williams driver Sargeant. Both drivers are on medium tyres.
For those wondering about the weather, there is currently a 40% risk of rain for the race.
That McLaren is slippery in a straight line, but there's nothing Norris can do to stop Verstappen with DRS, as he charges into the lead under braking at Brooklands on lap five.
Russell looks for a way by Leclerc, but some robust defending from the Ferrari forces the Mercedes to yield at Stowe.
Hamilton is now all over the gearbox of Alonso for P7. He chases through Copse and will have DRS down the Hanger Straight.
Norris is told Piastri has been ordered to hold position in third behind him, so that both McLaren cars can chase Verstappen and pull away from the rest.
Hamilton opens the DRS flap but it's not enough. He looks for a lunge into Vale and but can't pull the move off.
But this time, Hamilton makes it stick! Down the Wellington Straight, he opened DRS and flew past Alonso. That was as easy as it comes.
Hamilton has now disappeared into the distance and is hunting down Carlos Sainz.
Hamilton has now disappeared into the distance and is hunting down Carlos Sainz.
Hulkenberg has stopped for a new front wing after contact with Perez as the Red Bull driver continued his recovery. Perez is up to P13 and is chasing Ocon.
At the start of lap eight Verstappen has a 0.9s lead over Norris and reports that his "car's pulling is a bit weird", but his concerns are soothed as he's told that is due to the windy conditions.
The trio at the front have pulled a small gap of 3.6s on Leclerc in fourth, who still has Russell tucked up behind him.
Ocon has pitted "to retire the car". He was P12 at the time. There is not yet any indication on why he has returned to the garage.
By: Autosport Staff
Published:
Page:
