© Getty ImagesFive Things to Know Ahead of the British Grand PrixThe iconic British Grand Prix is steeped in history, here are five things you might not know about it, but really should!
MuchlikeeveryFormulaOneteam,OracleRedBullRacingisbuzzingtobeheadingtoSilverstonethisweekend.It’soneofthemosticonicracesonthecalendarandhasawealthofhistorybehindit.We’vecherrypickedfivethingsyoumightnotknowaboutthisamazingrace(andifyouwanttoknowmorethanfivethings,checkoutSilverstoneByNumbers)
It’sTheOldestWorldChampionshipRaceOnTheCalendar
When the Formula One World Championship began in 1950 it was a seven-race season (can you believe it, just seven races!), and the opening round was held at Silverstone. Alfa Romeo driver Giuseppe Farina not only won the race, but also claimed the Championship’s first hat-trick by starting on pole and clinching the fastest lap as well.
Although this was the first Formula One race, the British Grand Prix first began in 1926, when it was held in Brooklands. That race had 13 entrants, four of which didn’t start and there were six retirements, meaning only three cars finished the race.
Along with the Italian Grand Prix, the British Grand Prix is the only race to have been on the calendar every season since 1950.
SilverstoneWasStartedBySomeTrespassers–SortOf
Silverstone was originally an RAF base during WWII and was operational from 1943 to 1946, the three runways can still clearly be seen in aerial photographs.
After the war the site was decommissioned by the RAF and just left to rot. Maurice Geoghegan lived in the nearby village and in 1947 when he realised the site was deserted got a group of friends together – making 12 in total – and decided to have a race on the abandoned base.
The gang set up a two-mile circuit, during the race Geoghegan wrote off his car when a sheep had wandered on to the site from a nearby farm. The sheep was killed, but it did give the race its name as the “Mutton Grand Prix”.
A Special Helmet To Celebrate 70 Years Of The F1 World Championship © Getty Images
MaxHasWonAtSilverstone–ButNottheBritishGrandPrix
When COVID hit hard in 2020 there was a time when it looked like the season wouldn’t go ahead at all. Seeing all the disappointed faces leaving Melbourne without a race taking place worried many, but credit to the FIA they were able – amongst all the restrictions – to put together a 17-race season. This worked by several locations hosting back-to-back races. This included Austria, Italy (albeit at different circuits Monza and Mugello), Bahrain and Great Britain. But, you can’t have two British Grand Prix’ in a season, so the first race was the British Grand Prix, whilst the second was called the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, which is fitting if you remember what was said in point one at the top.
Lewis Hamilton took the win at the British Grand Prix, but Max came through the following week with a stunning victory. Max beat Lewis and Valtteri Bottas thanks to a superbly worked tyre strategy that allowed him to pull away from the Mercedes pair throughout the final third of the race, where he finished 11-seconds ahead.
Before the current format of prize giving and before trophies, the winner would collect money. For the first two British Grand Prix, which were held at Brooklands, the winner received £1,000 (around £42,500 in today’s money) with second place collecting £300 and third £200. The first race after WWII the prize money went all the way to 10th, where the winner took £500 and P10 collected £20. Between 1948 and 1953 there was also a prize of £25 for the driver who took the fastest lap.
Bulls On The Charge At The British GP© Getty Images
Silverstone has never been one to shy away from developing the track, as cars have become faster, better at stopping and more aerodynamic, the track has been changed to ensure safety but still providing an exciting spectacle for the fans.
The track at Silverstone had changed very little over the early years of the British Grand Prix, but in 1975 the owners decided to make a few additions to the track. They added the Woodcote Chicane, which was modified again in 1987. The chicane was removed and a new left-right chicane, Luffield, was added.
The next batch of major chances took place in 1991, this was to ensure the future of the Grand Prix was to remain at Silverstone. The track was changed considerably, with almost every part of the track being redesigned. Maggotts, Becketts and Chapel were modified into a challenging and deeply rapid left-right-left-right-left sequence, with Becketts being altered to create this section. A new corner, Vale, was added between Stowe and Club to encourage overtaking. However, with all these changes taking place, Silverstone was still a quick track, which is what it has always been known for.
Following the tragic deaths of Ayrton Senna and fellow Grand Prix driver Roland Ratzenberger at Imola in 1994, many circuits were modified to reduce speed and increase driver safety. Due to this, Copse, Stowe, Abbey and Priory corners were all re-profiled to be slower with increased run off areas. In 1997 many corners were again re-profiled, but this time to increase the speed and flow of the circuit. The last change was made in 2010 when an extra 759 metres were added and a new pit complex was built.
On Track At The 70th Anniversary Grand Prix© Getty Images
