After what will become a rare weekend off, Formula 1 rolls into Silverstone for the British Grand Prix – the first race of a back-to-back at the home of British motor racing.
Hamilton Eyes More Home Glory
Lewis Hamilton has made the race his own in recent seasons, the home hero winning in five of the last six years, and the Mercedes ace is 4/9 to improve that record this weekend.
Six-time world champion Hamilton’s season got off to a shaky start. He picked up penalties in both qualifying and the race for the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix, but he has dominated since then and arrives at Silverstone with a five-point championship lead over his teammate Valtteri Bottas.
Hamilton took pole position and victory for the second race in Austria as well as in Hungary on a very different track, and he is 5/14 to go fastest in qualifying on Saturday.
Bottas Ready for Silverstone Fight
However, if anything Hamilton has looked more vulnerable over a single lap than in race trim, and Bottas could be of interest in the qualifying market at 2/1.
The Finn took pole position for the season-opener at the Red Bull Ring with a sublime lap, and felt he could have improved when missing out by 0.1 seconds in Hungary.
Bottas also beat Hamilton to pole at Silverstone last year and he needs to make a statement on the track if he is to stop the Briton running away with the championship.
Dutchman to Press Mercedes Duo
Max Verstappen is the only driver who has looked capable of laying down any kind of challenge to the Mercedes pair. The fiery young Dutchman lies third in the championship despite failing to finish the first race of the season.
He came home a brilliant second in Hungary last time after his Red Bull mechanics made hasty repairs before the start, Verstappen having crashed heavily on his way to the grid.
There is a feeling Red Bull are yet to unlock the full potential of their car, which looked strong in preseason, and Verstappen is 8/1 to win the race.
Stroll Worth a Podium Shot
Racing Point have enjoyed a superb start to the campaign with their car based on last year’s Mercedes design.
Lance Stroll, as the son of the team owner, is often not taken seriously as a driver but he has done a solid job this year, finishing fourth in Hungary last time after qualifying third.
The young Canadian is a 4/1 chance to reach the podium this weekend – a price which might underestimate his chances.
Norris to Continue Impressive Start
McLaren are another team to have made a forward step this season and Lando Norris looks a decent bet at 6/5 to finish in the top six.
The 20-year-old Englishman scored his maiden podium finish in the first race of the campaign and followed that up with fifth place in the second Austrian race.
Norris has become known for his late-race charges, but it might not need any heroics from ‘Last-Lap Lando’ to see him pick up another tidy haul of points on Sunday.
*All odds correct at time of writing