Unremarkable places at the British GP. Plus, on Lewis Hamilton watch
Welcome back to Prime Tire, where we refuse to call it 'Prime Tyre' even though I'm currently in England. You can't spell 'Founding Fathers' without the letter 'I' — but you can without the letter 'Y.' Much to think about. (Happy belated Fourth!)
Anyway, genuinely happy to be here — lovely track, lovely people, lovely time. And it's shaping up to be an interesting Silverstone weekend. Let's dive in.
England has been lovely so far. Just the right mix of good weather and doors that you pull to open.
I've joined my colleagues putting one ear to the ground ahead of the British GP. Here are the three big storylines that have emerged:
It's Lando Norris' time to win at Silverstone. Right?
By the 2023 British GP, Max Verstappen had won seven of the first 10 races. He'd eventually finish with 19 wins.
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So when Norris swung through Abbey with the lead as the British fans roared, it felt like a breath of fresh air in a season that, thanks to Verstappen's dominance, had started to feel a little suffocating. Of course, it lasted just four minutes before Verstappen retook the narrative, the lead and the win.
Looking back, Norris' brief sprint to glory in 2023 here felt like the start of a sentence he's poised to finish this weekend. Coming off a strong Austrian GP win, Norris is the clear favorite to win here at Silverstone.
Well, was …
… but Lewis Hamilton has logged on
Look, both Ferrari drivers have been pretty honest about the fact that actually competing for a championship will have to wait until 2026 at this point. (McLaren is up more than 200 points on the Italian team.) Ferrari's race pace has eclipsed its raw, lap-to-lap speed for much of the season.
So, uh, Hamilton topping FP1 was not on my bingo card. And it wasn't a one-off. In FP2, Hamilton led much of the session again. More on this in a second from Luke.
The latest on George Russell's contract
… is whatever you make of it. To recap:
Russell is out of a contract after 2025. He and Mercedes both say they're loyal t0 each other and are working toward a new deal. At the same time, Russell has admitted his contract isn't done yet in part because Mercedes is talking to Verstappen.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff hasn't denied this. Verstappen refuses to talk much about it. Russell has been chill about it. I think that's it. I think I got all of it.
So, the tsunami of stunning updates on this storyline Thursday:
OK, so this whole storyline is spinning tires in the mud. It happens. In the meantime, you can always read our take on why Mercedes should just sign Russell already.
Anyway. Catch up with our live coverage here. On to Luke in the paddock with more on the growing Hamilton hype …
After making my way trackside at the start of FP1 for the British Grand Prix yesterday, I was struck by the swathes of fluorescent yellow on the horizon from Norris' grandstand, set in his trademark colors for this weekend.
But as the cheers went up from the grandstand behind me and a car came into view, it wasn't the papaya McLaren of Norris that passed me by — but Hamilton's red Ferrari.
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Hamilton has won at Silverstone nine times, including his emotional, drought-breaking victory for Mercedes last year. Yet going into this weekend, it's Norris, not Hamilton — the seven-time world champion — who has drawn most of the spotlight.
Hamilton commented on Thursday how racing at Silverstone brought the best out of it, and we saw flickers of that through practice on Friday. He topped FP1 and was third in FP2, marking one of his best Fridays of the season. With teammate Charles Leclerc also up the order in second place in the afternoon, it was a promising sign for the potential in the recent Ferrari upgrades.
If Hamilton were to score his first Sunday podium for Ferrari anywhere, then doing so at Silverstone would be fitting. So many fans have swapped silver for red this year in his honor — and if yesterday is anything to go by, he might be able to reward that with a memorable result.
One of my favorite YouTubers, Any Austin, occasionally does videos like 'The Most Boring Place in GTA 5' or 'Unremarkable and Odd Places in Skyrim.' As someone who will waste too much time on random new obsessions, I love these videos.
I especially love what he said in a recent one:
'Today we made a choice to find (something) interesting — and by making that choice, we found things that made them interesting. That's a real thing you can do in your life. You can take a minute, pay close attention and just listen to what interesting things your brain starts to observe about the places you are.'
In that spirit, I set out yesterday to find some unremarkable places around the British GP paddock.
For instance: Before practice on Friday, fans and media got to walk pit lane and look at the cars. I took this photo.
Behind me was a giant throng of fans gathered for a glimpse at Hamilton's car. Very exciting. Lots of interest. Thirty-ish feet away at the Ferrari pit wall? Very boring. Nothing of note. Unoccupied space.
Perfect.
We're off to a good start. Here's some other boring spots I found around the paddock:
I'm sure it was lovely inside. Anyway. Thank you for subscribing to this exclusive content.
On the eve of the British GP, we took a deep dive into the history of Williams — and found a hard-scrabble legacy willing its way back into contention.
There's a new challenger for the FIA presidency: American Tim Mayer. We have the full rundown here.
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Hamilton has warned against making an F1 movie sequel too soon. I agree. The first one only just came out.
Keanu Reeves is making a documentary about the formation of Cadillac F1 ahead of it joining the grid in 2026.
And, finally, we had a neat profile on Ollie Bearman this week, who has been his delightful best all weekend, except when he almost cut Alex and I off as we entered the track on Thursday. Actually, even then it was only because he was busy smiling and waving to fans. He's so Ollie.
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Top photo: Andrea Diodato/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Photos from British GP - Race Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Clive Rose / Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren Lando Norris, McLaren Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images Alex Albon, Williams Alex Albon, Williams Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Oscar Piastri, McLaren Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images Advertisement Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari with his dog Roscoe Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari with his dog Roscoe Jakub Porzycki - NurPhoto - Getty Images Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber and Isabella Bernardini Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber and Isabella Bernardini Andy Hone / LAT Images via Getty Images Alexandra Saint Mleux and Leo Alexandra Saint Mleux and Leo Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images Franco Colapinto, Alpine Franco Colapinto, Alpine Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images George Russell, Mercedes George Russell, Mercedes Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren Lando Norris, McLaren Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images Skateboarder Tony Hawk Skateboarder Tony Hawk Jayce Illman / Getty Images Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren Lando Norris, McLaren Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images Advertisement Ed Westwick and Amy Jackson Ed Westwick and Amy Jackson Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren Lando Norris, McLaren Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images David Richards, Ron Meadows, Sporting Director of Mercedes F1 Team David Richards, Ron Meadows, Sporting Director of Mercedes F1 Team Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images Haas F1 fans Haas F1 fans Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images British Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay British Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay Kym Illman / Getty Images Adam Norris Adam Norris Jakub Porzycki - NurPhoto - Getty Images Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images Franco Colapinto, Alpine Franco Colapinto, Alpine Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Oscar Piastri, McLaren Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images Advertisement Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Rasid Necati Aslim / Anadolu via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren Lando Norris, McLaren Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Rain over the paddock Rain over the paddock Erwin Jaeggi Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Tony Hawk Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Tony Hawk Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Kevin Magnussen Kevin Magnussen Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren Lando Norris, McLaren Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images Advertisement Lego Race Winners Trophies Lego Race Winners Trophies Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images Kaleb Cooper poses for a photo outside the McLaren garage Kaleb Cooper poses for a photo outside the McLaren garage Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images Lego Race Winners Trophy Lego Race Winners Trophy Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images Rishi Sunak outside the McLaren garage Rishi Sunak outside the McLaren garage Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Oscar Piastri, McLaren Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Oscar Piastri, McLaren Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images Jordan 194 Hart on track for the Eddie Jordan tribute. Jordan 194 Hart on track for the Eddie Jordan tribute. Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images Advertisement Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Pierre Gasly, Alpine Pierre Gasly, Alpine Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Pierre Gasly, Alpine Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Pierre Gasly, Alpine Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Tony Hawk outside the Alpine garage Tony Hawk outside the Alpine garage Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team Red Bull Content Pool Heinz-Harald Frentzen and his daughters Heinz-Harald Frentzen and his daughters Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Alex Albon, Williams Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Alex Albon, Williams Red Bull Content Pool Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team Red Bull Content Pool Advertisement Vin Diesel on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain. Vin Diesel on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain. Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images George Russell, Mercedes George Russell, Mercedes Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Pierre Gasly, Alpine Pierre Gasly, Alpine Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Smoke fills the air prior to the start. Smoke fills the air prior to the start. Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images The Red Arrows fly over the grid. The Red Arrows fly over the grid. Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team Andy Hone / LAT Images via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Oscar Piastri, McLaren Andy Hone / LAT Images via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren Lando Norris, McLaren Andy Hone / LAT Images via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Clive Rose / Getty Images Advertisement Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren Lando Norris, McLaren Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images To read more articles visit our website.
