06/07/2025
NEWS STORY
Sometimes the jokes about the British weather, like our food and teeth, wear a little thin.
But let's be honest, on Friday it was glorious sunshine. On Saturday it was dry but overcast. Today it has been peeing down since early morning.
OK, it has stopped occasionally as the Weather Gods offered a false sense of security, but for the most part it has been very wet and looks set to continue to be so.
This morning's F3 and F2 races were both affected and we expect changeable conditions this afternoon.
In other words, all bets are off. That said, while Max Verstappen may not be able to take advantage of the skinny wing and set-up that helped him achieve yesterday's wonder pole, this is Max we are talking about and no doubt he will be delighted at the prospect of a typically English/British afternoon.
Of course such conditions are the great leveller and Max won't be the only one heading into the afternoon feeling a whole lot better than they did 24 hours ago.
I number of drivers - especially Charles Leclerc - were left kicking themselves after making needless mistakes, but this afternoon offers the chance or redemption.
Then again, it also offers the opportunity for further needless mistakes.
All three compounds had shown themselves to be viable. Obviously, the hard and medium offer more consistent performance over a long stint, but the soft could have come into play both at the start, for those looking to make up places off the line, and in the final stages. That might no longer be an option.
Nonetheless, four teams, Aston Martin, Williams, Haas and Racing Bulls, have opted to have just one set of hard and one of medium for the race, suggesting they were leaning towards a one-stop strategy.
"The soft demonstrated that on this type of track, that it is capable of delivering its full potential on the first attempt. And while it's true that the lap times set after one or two cool-down laps were decent enough, the advantage of a new tyre over a used one was significant.
As the pitlane opens the air temperature is 18 degrees C and the track temperature 25 degrees. It has just started raining.
First out is Antonelli, followed by Sainz, Russell, Ocon and Hadjar. Inters all round.
"Definitely Inters, pretty slippery," reports Norris when asked about the conditions.
"Heavier rain in five minutes," Ocon is advised.
Ahead of the formation lap the rain has stopped and the sky is blue. However it remains cool and the track wet, while there are dark clouds in the distance.
As the track is officially wet all are starting on Inters.
Sadly, despite the improved conditions and the fact that the drivers are on Inters, the field is completing the formation lap behind the Safety Car.
In bright sunshine the Mercedes Safety Car heads off into the distance alone... eventually Verstappen follows.
It will be a standing start, which is just as well as there doesn't appear to be any standing water. That said there is some spray here and there, particularly in the final sector.
Russell, Leclerc. Hadjar, Bearman and Bortoleto pit at the end of the formation lap.
The grid forms.
They're away! Verstappen and Piastri both get away well. Into Turn 1 the Dutchman is ahead with Norris third Ahead of Hamilton and Gasly. Alonso runs a little wide.
Through Village and the McLarens almost touch, and as Hamilton looks ready to pick up the pieces, further back Antonelli runs wide.
While Hamilton is all over Norris there's an incident at Aintree where Lawson goes off following a collision with Ocon. Replay shows that the Haas driver was forced wide by Tsunoda, Lawson the hapless victim.
"Who was that," asks the RB driver. "Who the hell was that?"
At the end of Lap 1, it's: Verstappen,. Piastri, Norris, Hamilton, Gasly, Alonso, Sainz, Antonelli, Albon and Tsunoda. Russell is up to fourteenth.
The VSC is deployed as Lawson's car is removed. Elsewhere, Colapinto is showing as retired but it is unclear why.
Under the VSC Antonelli pits, rejoining ahead of his Mercedes teammate. His tyres still cool the Italian runs wide.
The VSC is withdrawn on Lap 4, as Hamilton is told that rain is expected in 10 laps.
Bortoleto is off at Turn 2, bringing out the yellows, however he is able to get going. He is on slicks remember.
Relay show the Brazilian simply lost the car as he applied the power.
Piastri is all over a struggling Verstappen, while Norris has dropped 3s behind.
"Retire the car," Bortoleto is told.
The VSC is deployed in order to remove Bortoleto's car as Verstappen and Piastri seek out damp patches for their Inters.
Russell and Antonelli swap positions. In 13th, Russell is 21s down on twelfth placed Ocon.
"Light rain in six laps," Alonso is told as his teammate pits for slicks (softs). "Then four laps after that there will be heavier rain."
The VSC is withdrawn on Lap 7.
Piastri has DRS as he closes on Verstappen. On the run to Stowe the Australian passes his Dutch rival.
As Race Control announced "Normal Grip Conditions", Norris reports that "it's raining".
Antonelli passes Leclerc for 14th as Russell posts a new fastest lap (41.287).
Piastri is already 2.2s clear of Verstappen.
Leclerc is now hot on the heels of Antonelli, determined to retake 13th. He passes the Mercedes with ease.
Hulkenberg pits at the end of Lap 9, as does Antonelli. The German head out on Inters as does Antonelli.
"If it really starts to hit hard we need to box," says Verstappen as Norris closes in.
Stroll pits again at the end of Lap 10, Russell and Leclerc also pit.
It's raining and Hadjar and Bearman are first to pit.
"Box, box," Piastri is told as Verstappen runs wide in Chapel to allow Norris through.
Piastri pits, as does Norris and Verstappen. Hamilton, Gasly, Alonso and Sainz follow suit.
Piastri rejoins still leading, ahead of Albon, Verstappen, Norris, Ocon, Stroll, Hulkenberg, Hamilton, Gasly and Alonso.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Silverstone here.
Verstappen makes short work of Albon but remains 9.7s down on Piastri.
It is raining hard and as Piastri is told that there will be "ten more minutes" or rain, Norris passes Albon who subsequently pits.
Replay shows problems with Norris' front-left during his stop.
Albon rejoins in 12th.
"It's definitely wets now," reports Hamilton.
Leclerc goes off at Turn 12, taking a long, long trip over the grass, but is able to continue. "There is water that came into my visor, I couldn't see anything," he reports.
At which point the Safety Car is deployed.
Despite his two stops, Stroll is up to fourth.
"All of those people we lose places, they have worse tyre or we just lose places for fun?" asks a clearly unhappy Alonso down in 10th.
Behind the Safety Car, after 15 laps, Piastri's lead is down to 0.8s. Norris is third, ahead of Stroll, Hulkenberg, Gasly, Ocon, Hamilton, Russell and Alonso. Ocon is the only driver that hasn't stopped.
The Safety Car is withdrawn at the end of Lap 17.
As they get going again, Russell makes a move on Hamilton and passes the Ferrari. However, the Ferrari driver retakes the place as the Mercedes driver battles Ocon.
Leclerc passes Tsunoda for 13th.
Hadjar is off at Copse and as a result the Safety Car is deployed again.
"I'm OK," he tells his team as the camera reveals the damage to his car, which is extensive.
Ocon pits as it is revealed that the RB went into the back of Antonelli, Hadjar unable to see the back of the Mercedes in the conditions.
Another replay shows that superbly opportunistic move that saw Hamilton lose out to Leclerc then make up two places in one corner.
In the Mercedes garage, Toto Wolff looks less than impressed.
"The puddle in Turn 2 is a problem," reports Piastri. "Berndt has his work cut out."
Antonelli pits at the end of Lap 20, his third stop of the afternoon, the rear of his car clearly damaged following the clash with Hadjar.
The Safety Car is withdrawn at the end of Lap 21. At which point, coming out of Stowe, Verstappen spins and drops to ninth.
Moments before, Piastri had suddenly slowed causing the Red Bull driver to pass him.
Verstappen is struggling and is passed by Albon but he soon retakes the position.
Piastri has been noted for a Safety Car infringement.
A spin for Ocon who almost collect Tsunoda in the process.
Hamilton is all over Gasly while teammate Leclerc is down in twelfth.
First and second the McLarens are lapping almost 3s a lap quicker than anyone else.
Antonelli pits and looks likely to retire.
Hamilton runs wide in Copse and rejoins in seventh having been passed by Russell in the process.
Piastri is given a 10s penalty for a Safety Car infringement.
"This car is so hard to drive, mate. It's snappy like crazy," says Hamilton.
As Gasly defends his position from Russell, it is allowing Stroll and Hulkenberg to open the gap and give them some breathing space.
Tsunoda is given a 10 penalty for causing a collision with Bearman at the restart.
Hamilton has passed Russell and sets about dealing with Gasly.
"I can't stay with them, I'm so slow," sighs Verstappen, who is still down in tenth.
The crowd roars as Hamilton attempts to go around the outside of Gasly in Stowe.
Next time around the seven-time champ is through on the inside of the Alpine in Vale.
Next up for Hamilton is Hulkenberg who is 3.7s up the road.
After 31 laps (of 52), Norris is 2.8s down on Piastri, while Hulkenberg is just 0.8s down on third-placed Stroll.
"Track is starting to dry now," reports Stroll.
"It's drying but very slowly, not ready for slicks," says Piastri.
Gasly is starting to struggle on his Inters.
As Russell harries Gasly, Alonso closes in on the Mercedes.
Hulkenberg passes Stroll and Hamilton also looks set to nail the Aston Martin driver. Sure enough Hamilton passes the Canadian in Village.
Verstappen passes Sainz in Vale for ninth.
Leclerc passes Albon for eleventh, next up is the other Williams.
"There will be a crossover in the next ten laps," advises Hamilton.
On Lap 36, 1.9s down on Piastri, Norris posts a new fastest lap (40.710).
As Alonso pits at the end of Lap 37, Piastri posts a new fastest lap (40.351).
Alonso rejoins in 14th on mediums as the Papaya pair trade fastest laps.
"I think we go for it," says Russell. He subsequently pits, rejoining in thirteenth on hards.
Struggling on his slicks, Alonso is passed by Tsunoda.
Russell spins in Becketts, like Alonso he appears to have made the switch too early.
Sainz is very unhappy with Leclerc's tactics after being passed by the Ferrari driver.
"It's wetter than before," says Russell who has dropped to 14th, just ahead of Alonso.
Verstappen is closing on sixth-placed Gasly. Indeed the Dutchman passes the struggling Alpine driver.
"We need to keep Lando out of DRS," Piastri is told.
Hamilton pits at the end of Lap 41, as do Stroll, Verstappen, Gasly and a load of others. The seven-time champ is back on track on softs, having rejoined in fifth behind his Ferrari teammate.
Next time around Hulkenberg pits, as replays show that Hamilton went off, thereby allowing his teammate through. Leclerc pits, as do Albon and Ocon.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Silverstone here.
At the end of Lap 42 Piastri pits, as Norris is told he will stop next time around.
During his stop Piastri serves his penalty.
Ocon spins following contact with his Haas teammate. Indeed, both spin.
Norris pits at the end of Lap 44, as Stroll posts a new fastest lap (36.611).
Norris rejoins still leading, 5.8s up on Piastri, with Hulkenberg third ahead of Hamilton, Stroll, Verstappen, Gasly, Alonso, Albon and Russell.
Piastri runs wide exiting Becketts, giving his teammate 4.8s breathing space.
Piastri advises that if his team feels the penalty is unfair he should be allowed to swap positions.
A mistake from Leclerc sees the Ferrari driver drop to fourteenth.
Lap 46 sees a new fastest lap from Hamilton (31.328) as he closes to within 5.5s of Hulkenberg.
Quickest in all three sectors, a new fastest lap from Norris (30.035).
"We're not going to do any team orders, it's just 5 laps to the end," Piastri is told.
Bearman is pressurising Russell for tenth.
With one lap remaining the order appears settled, Hulkenberg heading for a historic podium finish.
Verstappen passes Stroll for fifth, but remains 17s down on Hamilton.
The penultimate lap sees another fastest lap from Piastri (29.337) as he closes to within 6.9s of his teammate.
Norris takes the flag, much to the delight of Zak Brown and the partisan crowd.
Piastri is second, ahead of Hulkenberg, Hamilton, Verstappen, Gasly, Stroll, Albon, Alonso and Russell.
Bearman is eleventh, ahead of Sainz, Ocon, Leclerc and Tsunoda.
"It's been a long time coming hasn't it?" says Hulkenberg. "What a race, coming from virtually last, doing it all again like last weekend.
"Crazy conditions, survival mode all race," he adds. "We were really on it, no mistakes.
"Today, I was in denial until the last pit stop," he admits, "and then I heard we gapped Lewis so I thought okay, breathing space but then he was closing.
"The pressure was there, an intense race but we didn't crack.
"I was thinking he was going to give it all in front of his home crowd but sorry guys, it is also my day."
"I'm not going to say much, I'll get myself in trouble," says Piastri, clearly unhappy with the penalty and the fact his team refused to sanction team orders.
"Congrats to Nico, that's the story," he adds.
"Apparently you can't brake behind the Safety Car anymore, I had done it for five laps before but I'm not going to say more, I'm going to get myself in trouble.
"I still like Silverstone even if I don't like it today."
"It is beautiful," grins Norris. "Apart from a championship, this is as good as it gets in terms of feelings.
"Incredible race," he continues, "stressful as always but the support from the fans made the difference so I have to thank them.
"The main thing is don't f*** it up, that is rule number one.
"It might never happen again, I hope it does, but these are memories I'll have forever.
"As far as being a stressful race, it's as stressful as it gets.
"A round of applause for Oscar as he put in a good race, he was fast. Credit to him and of course McLaren, to win at home is pretty amazing."
A controversial day from start to finish, and while the Piastri penalty will dominate, other than Norris' home win, Hulkenberg's podium after 239 races surely gives it the feelgood factor.
Drivers will be ruing the mistakes of yesterday, while teams will be ruing the mistakes of today.
All in all, a decent afternoon's entertainment, and one which demonstrates yet again that F1 doesn't need Hollywood for storylines and happy endings.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Silverstone here.