In Pictures: Great Britain 2025

As the season reaches its midpoint, Formula 1 returns to where it all began 75 years ago. The very first Grand Prix to count toward the Drivers’ World Championship was held on May 13, 1950, at Silverstone, on a circuit laid out across a former World War II airfield. That historic race drew a crowd of over 100,000 spectators. Driving an Alfa Romeo 158 on Pirelli tires, Nino Farina took pole position, set the fastest lap, and claimed the first-ever win in Formula 1 history.

Since then, the track has hosted 59 Grands Prix, more World Championship races than any other venue except Monza (74). Its layout has remained largely unchanged over the years. At 5.861 kilometers (3.643 miles), it’s one of the longest circuits on the calendar, featuring 18 corners (10 right-handers and 8 left-handers). Several, such as the Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel complex, demand rapid and high-speed changes of direction, generating extreme lateral forces similar to those seen at Spa-Francorchamps and Suzuka. The circuit is in near year-round use by both car and motorcycle racing series, so grip levels are high from the very first practice session on Friday, helped by the track’s medium-low surface abrasiveness.

FRIDAY

The British Grand Prix weekend kicked off with a head-to-head battle between Ferrari and McLaren. The four drivers from the two most successful teams in Formula 1 history locked out the top four spots in both of Friday’s free practice sessions.

Ferrari held the early edge in FP1, with Lewis Hamilton topping the timesheets in 1:26.892, just ahead of Lando Norris (1:26.915), Oscar Piastri (1:27.042), and Charles Leclerc (1:27.095). In FP2, McLaren struck back. Norris went quickest with a 1:25.816, 0.222 seconds clear of Leclerc, 0.301 ahead of Hamilton, and 0.470 faster than Piastri.

Two drivers made their debut at an official Formula 1 event. Estonia’s Paul Aron took part in FP1 for Sauber, while British teenager Arvid Lindblad ran in the Red Bull, giving fans an early look at potential future stars.

SATURDAY

In Free Practice 3, teams focused on fine-tuning their setups in preparation for qualifying.

Max Verstappen started the British Grand Prix from pole position. While all signs had pointed to a Ferrari–McLaren showdown, the four-time world champion delivered a stunning final lap in Q3 to snatch pole from Oscar Piastri. They were the only two drivers to break the 1:25 barrier, Verstappen clocked a 1:24.892, with McLaren’s Australian just behind at 1:24.995.

It marked Verstappen’s 44th career pole, tying him with Sebastian Vettel as Red Bull Racing’s most successful qualifier. For the Milton Keynes-based team, it was pole number 107, their sixth at Silverstone, and Max’s third at the circuit, following his previous poles in 2021 and 2023.

The second row featured an all-British lineup, with Lando Norris (1:25.010) ahead of George Russell (1:25.029). The third row was a sea of red, with Lewis Hamilton (1:25.095) narrowly edging out Charles Leclerc (1:25.121).

SUNDAY

“English weather”, there are plenty of clichés about the British Isles, like “if you don’t like the weather, wait ten minutes” or “four seasons in one day.” Today, Silverstone delivered a textbook example, with intermittent drizzle, light rain, overcast skies, sunny intervals, heavy showers, and constantly shifting temperatures.

In the end, after a 17-year wait, McLaren finally won its home race once again—and, just like in 2008, it did so with a British driver. Back then, it was Lewis Hamilton. This time, it was Lando Norris who crossed the line first, although it was eventual second-place finisher Oscar Piastri who had dominated much of the Grand Prix, until the stewards handed him a 10-second time penalty for “driving erratically” during the end of the second Safety Car period. Nevertheless, it was a dream result for the team, marking McLaren’s 54th one-two finish in Formula 1, and its fifth of the season. The win also marked Norris’ eighth career victory.

Behind them, Nico Hülkenberg claimed a long-awaited first podium in his 239th Grand Prix—setting a new record for the longest wait before a top-three finish in Formula 1 history. It was also Sauber’s 11th podium in the sport, excluding the BMW era. The last came at the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix, when Kamui Kobayashi finished third in front of his home crowd.

Unsurprisingly, Nico Hulkenberg was voted “Driver of the Day” by the F1.com fans.

It was a chaotic, dramatic, and thoroughly unpredictable weekend at Silverstone, just as a British Grand Prix should be. Changing weather, bold strategy calls, and a long-awaited home win delivered a race weekend that will be remembered for years to come.

NEXT STOP: Wonderful Spa-Francorchamps! BELGIUM 🇧🇪

Excerpts and media courtesy of Pirelli S.p.A. and official Formula 1 team press offices. All images are credited to their respective copyright holders and used for editorial purposes only.

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