2015 British GP preview

It’s that time of the year again: F1 returns to where it all began in 1950, and it’s particularly special this time as the sport celebrates 65 years of F1. It’s only one of two races in every calendar, and it’s been at Silverstone since 1987, it’s the British GP!

Pirelli’s Paul Hembery talks up the race: "Silverstone is always a fantastic occasion, with an extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic fan base of British spectators. It's one of the few circuits where the drivers say that they can actually hear the crowd as they are driving along. it’s one of those circuits that really rewards absolute bravery and commitment, so we should be in for a great race."

Silverstone is a classic and one of the preferred circuits for the drivers, for its quick and fluid layout. The circuit itself has received changes in 2010, but it hasn’t made changes to its memorable sections: Copse, Maggots, Becketts, the Hangar straight or Stowe curve. Its overall a massive event to which some of the biggest fans of F1 are always present. The atmosphere is quite something and there’s always proper driving going on track. The biggest unknown: the rain.

Track: Silverstone Circuit.

Race start time: 1pm UK time (GMT +1).

Laps: 52.

Track length: 5.891 km.

Race Distance: 306.198 km.

Selected tyres: Mediums (white) and Hards (orange).

Lap record: Mark Webber - 1:33.401 (Red Bull, 2013).

2014 pole: Nico Rosberg - 1:35.766 (Mercedes).

2014 winner: Lewis Hamilton - 2:26:52.094 (Mercedes).

The last five winners: 2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes); 2013 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes); 2012 - Mark Webber (Red Bull); 2011 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari); 2010 - Mark Webber (Red Bull).