British Grand Prix: Race Preview

Silverstone is where it all began for the Formula 1 World Championship, in 1950, and the British Grand Prix is one of only two events to have featured in each season of the world championship. Silverstone has been the permanent venue for the British Grand Prix since 1987, having previously alternated with Brands Hatch, and it’s a popular event on the calendar. The majority of Formula 1 teams have operations within a close radius of Silverstone, including TGR Haas F1 Team, which has its UK factory in nearby Banbury.

Silverstone is among the fastest circuits on the Formula 1 schedule, with drivers in awe of its flowing nature and high-speed turns. That includes curves such as Abbey and Copse, right-hand turns taken at top speed, as well as the fabled Maggotts/Becketts complex, a rapid sequence of corners with quick changes of direction.

F1 Sprint will return at Silverstone, for its fourth of six appearances in 2026, five years after the mini-race was run for the first time at the iconic British venue.

F1 Academy will be back in action at Silverstone for the third of six rounds this year, with Kaylee Countryman continuing her campaign in TGR Haas F1 Team colors. Countryman holds 11th in the standings after her maiden podium at the prior event in Montreal.

Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal:

“We always look forward to the British Grand Prix. It’s a special event for us given Silverstone’s proximity to our facility in Banbury. We claim many ‘home’ races with our footprint spanning the United States, Italy, and of course the United Kingdom. The British Grand Prix provides an amazing opportunity for many of our factory-based teammates and their families to come along and support us as well – we get a real boost off their energy and enthusiasm when we see them there in the paddock and in the grandstands. Silverstone’s a home race for Ollie so I know he’ll feed off the support of the British crowd – likely a record-breaking one this year, and Esteban’s had some strong results there too. On-track we’ve got a lot of work to do to unlock the potential in the VF-26 but as we saw last time out in Austria, everyone’s giving their all and with three races in July, we’re fully focused on the task and the opportunities ahead to get back into the points.”

Ollie Bearman:

“I’m so excited to be travelling home for the British Grand Prix, it really marks the start of summer for me. There’s no venue like Silverstone, the drive in every morning, which is lined by thousands of fans, no matter what time of day or weather it is – they’re hardcore in the UK! It’s an iconic track, not necessarily only because of how the car handles around corners like Maggotts, Becketts and Chapel, but the history that goes with it. I was very lucky to be able to drive Ayrton Senna’s Lotus 97T last month – it’s an experience I’ll never forget – so from driving that to the VF-26 is going to be an adjustment, but I’m just really hungry to do well here.”

Esteban Ocon:

“It's great to go to the home of Formula 1 – the British Grand Prix. For a lot of the team it's their home race and it's Ollie's home race as well, so it has a special vibe for everyone. The fan atmosphere is something you don't have anywhere else because they're so eager to be there, they're waiting and following us all the time. It's amazing to go to Silverstone and I can’t wait to experience the track because it’s a beautiful one, and there's always opportunities to take. Hopefully, there will be some for us, as you never know what's going to happen with the weather there.”

Kaylee Countryman:

“Silverstone is a fun and phenomenal circuit to drive on, I can definitely see why everyone likes it so much. Having completed the F1 Academy test there in April gives me a bit more confidence and experience, especially in the wet, which is crucial with how changeable the weather conditions can be. I need to approach the weekend with a clear mind and stick to my reference points. If we can put everything together at Silverstone, I believe we’ll be in a strong position to score more points and achieve another good result like we did in Canada.”