United Kingdom: The Pilots’ Perspective

Without a doubt, in the eyes of the drivers, the Silverstone circuit, built on a former Royal Air Force base, is one of the crown jewels: It’s certainly one of the favorite races of 99% of the drivers because it’s really smooth and has very fast corners, says Felipe Massa. It’s a circuit that really makes you appreciate what a Formula One car is capable of, especially the level of grip in the fast corners and the changes of direction. Everyone talks about Maggotts and Becketts, but there’s nothing like it anywhere else in the world, adds Paul di Resta.

For Nico Hülkenberg, the British Grand Prix is simply one of those classic races that make you smile when you think of certain corners. The young German describes the circuit as “old-school” because it’s narrow and you really have to be committed and brave in the fast sections of the lap, before adding: It’s super fast and very fun when you manage to nail a perfect lap.

For Pastor Maldonado, the Silverstone track is similar to Barcelona, and it’s also very fun to drive through sections like Maggots and Becketts, which really test you as a driver, while, as usual, his teammate, Brazilian Bruno Senna, ranks this circuit among his favorites because it is very fast and truly smooth.

Like his fellow drivers, Heikki Kovalainen appreciates the Silverstone circuit, considering it to be a real driver’s circuit, but he nonetheless has reservations about the new section: “Even with the changes we’ve witnessed over the years, it remains the synthesis of what F1 is with high-speed corners that really demand the cars’ performance. The new section is probably the least exciting part of the circuit from the cockpit’s perspective, but the classic corners such as Copse, Maggotts, and Becketts are among the best corners on the calendar.”

Not content with adding a new section in 2010, the Silverstone circuit also gained a new paddock and a new starting position in 2011. “Last year, we had to get used to starting at a different place on the circuit, which is very strange when you’ve spent your entire career taking Copse as the first corner!” confides Jenson Button. The Briton, still in search of his first home victory, believes, however, that “Formula 1 is a story of evolution and looking towards the future” and that “Silverstone has demonstrated its adaptability over the years.” The 2009 world champion adds, “The circuit is part of the fabric of F1, and remains one of the greatest racing circuits in the world.”

For Sebastian Vettel, even though the circuit was modified for the 2011 race, it has not lost its magic. For the German double world champion, Silverstone is even one of the best circuits and one of the most interesting of all.

Besides, regarding the new section, Paul di Resta points out that it has certainly created more overtaking opportunities, especially with the introduction of DRS, and that this has therefore been a good thing, even if Sergio Pérez thinks that qualifying will once again be paramount because, according to him, it is even harder to overtake at Silverstone than in Valencia.

But the drivers also highlight the incredible atmosphere surrounding the Grand Prix: « It’s a fantastic place to race because of the excitement and the special attachment British fans have for motorsports, » explains Vitaly Petrov. « Because the UK is where most of the teams, including Caterham, are based, the place is always full of fans, whether it’s raining or the sun is blazing! They are among the most knowledgeable and passionate fans in the world, and they give this place a special atmosphere all weekend. »

Sebastian Vettel can only agree: « British fans enthusiastically support their compatriots but at the same time they are objective and fair when judging the performance of non-British drivers. Additionally, they are F1 experts. » Michael Schumacher joins his compatriot: « Racing at Silverstone is a very special moment each year. It is simply the home of motorsports and I have always been impressed by the knowledge and enthusiasm of the British fans – as a racing driver, it’s nice to see such passion for our sport. From a personal perspective, I have mixed memories of this circuit; some good, some not so good, and some that are somewhat strange… »

And for the British drivers, naturally, the British Grand Prix holds a very special significance, starting with the Scotsman Paul di Resta: « For me, it’s the biggest event we participate in, particularly in terms of support from the British fans, which is always fantastic. You feel it as soon as you arrive on Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon because the fans are already there camping. The atmosphere is electric, and I remember that last year’s driver parade was one of the highlights of the season: it really gives me chills because of the reactions and the fact that there wasn’t an empty seat. »

The Force India driver is not the only one the British public supports: « The British Grand Prix is special because I get a massive boost from all the fans. For me, winning at Silverstone is on par with winning at Monaco. Standing on the top step of the podium in 2008 is one of the best moments of my career, » says Lewis Hamilton. And Jenson Button adds: « It’s been an incredibly unpredictable season, but it is at least easier to predict that at Silverstone, […] the British drivers will be lifted by the energy the fans will bring them. I always enjoy racing at home because the atmosphere is unparalleled, and even though the race itself hasn’t always been kind to me, I come here every year knowing I can count on the support of several thousand fans. »

But, while three-quarters of the teams have their bases in the UK, the British drivers won’t be the only ones feeling at home: Silverstone is a pleasant race for us because most of the team members will be there as spectators with their families. I have always loved the atmosphere during this weekend and the fantastic British Formula One fans.

Mark Webber will also race at home: Most fans will support the British drivers, so there’s a bit of irony in the fact that Silverstone is actually the home circuit for the two Australian drivers on the grid; Daniel Ricciardo and I live in Buckinghamshire! As for Sergio Pérez, he remembers living in Oxford for three years and has good friends in England, which inevitably gives a special meaning to the Grand Prix.

Perfidious Albion indeed constitutes an almost obligatory stop for many contenders hoping to secure a place in the grand circus of Formula One, much like Kimi Räikkönen, uncharacteristically talkative: « It’s a fantastic place to race. I have a long history here. It was the first base of my international driving career, in Formula Renault, in 1999 and 2000. Since then, I’ve always enjoyed racing at Silverstone. I don’t know why. There’s maybe a bit of nostalgia every time I set foot here. […] When I started racing here, it was really my favorite circuit. It’s so fast and demanding, which makes it very challenging. The corners flow into each other and they are really long, fast curves that wrap around with a lot of downforce. Somehow, it’s been a good circuit for me from the very beginning. It will be interesting to see how much the new section changes the lap, but I’m sure I’ll memorize it very quickly. »

And the Finn recalled that there were many times when, during the British Grand Prix, the British weather lived up to its reputation: In the past, we have seen many different conditions here, and not always good! It often rains and it’s also windy. The track conditions change very quickly, which makes setting up the car more complicated. That’s part of the fun of driving in England. At least it’s the same for everyone. Felipe Massa, who still remembers a stinging memory of a rainy 2008 British Grand Prix, agrees with his former teammate: Of course, the weather is always a factor, and I checked the forecast which predicts a lot of rain, maybe a 40% chance each day. To be honest, a rainy day at Silverstone is bad for the spectators, but I don’t mind driving in the rain, and I think most drivers feel the same way because we all experienced these conditions from our early days in karting: it can even be fun. However, there are certain conditions, like when there’s a lot of rain on the track and you start the race behind the safety car, for example: it’s OK if you’re at the front, but if you’re not among the top three drivers on the track, it’s actually better to look to the sides to see where you are, and it’s this kind of situation we all hate, driving blindly.