In Pictures: Great Britain 2026
The challenges of Silverstone, the cradle of motorsport
The British Grand Prix is the first of the two races that will have Pirelli as title sponsor this year. The Italian company will also lend its name to the Italian Grand Prix, linking its brand to the two historic races with the highest number of editions in the Formula 1 World Championship.
The British and Italian Grands Prix are the only two races to have been held uninterrupted every year since the championship began in 1950 while retaining the same name. The very first Formula 1 World Championship race at Silverstone was won by Giuseppe Farina, driving an Alfa Romeo fitted with Pirelli Stella Bianca tires.
This year's event is the 77th British Grand Prix, the 60th held under that name at Silverstone, and the 518th Formula 1 World Championship race featuring Pirelli tires. Located north of Northampton, the circuit is one of the most frequently used venues in world motorsport. It measures 3.661 miles (5.891 km), and its last major layout revision came in 2010, when a new section between Abbey and Brooklands was introduced.
Today, the circuit features 18 corners, 10 right-handers and eight left-handers, several of which generate extremely high lateral loads through rapid changes of direction at high speed. The famous Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel sequence, combined with Silverstone's long straights, prompted Lewis Hamilton, the driver with the most victories at the circuit, to describe driving there as being "like sitting in the cockpit of a fighter jet."
A 76-year journey through history tells the story of the British Grand Prix. The race has been held 59 times at Silverstone, five times at Aintree, and 12 times at Brands Hatch. Lewis Hamilton is the most successful driver at Silverstone with nine victories, while Jim Clark and Alain Prost share second place with five British Grand Prix wins each. Scuderia Ferrari is the most successful constructor with 18 victories, three more than McLaren.
FRIDAY
Lewis Hamilton secured pole position for the Sprint at the British Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver edged out Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen, stopping the clock at 1:28.376, while the Italian posted a 1:28.387.
Hamilton had already been quickest in the only free practice session of the weekend, setting a 1:29.260 on Soft tires. Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc finished FP1 in second and third, respectively.
Ambient temperatures hovered around 77°F (25°C), while track temperatures peaked at 108°F (42°C) during the free practice session.
SATURDAY
Kimi Antonelli enjoyed an outstanding Saturday at Silverstone. The Mercedes driver secured pole position for the British Grand Prix after winning the Sprint earlier in the day. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton qualified second and third, respectively.
Antonelli's pole-winning lap was a 1:28.111. Leclerc stopped the clock at 1:28.286, while Hamilton's best effort was a 1:28.458. During qualifying, track temperatures peaked at 104°F (40°C), while ambient temperatures reached 81°F (27°C).
Earlier in the morning, Antonelli overtook Sprint polesitter Lewis Hamilton to claim victory in the Sprint race, with Lando Norris crossing the finish line in third.
SUNDAY
Charles Leclerc claimed victory in a dramatic British Grand Prix that finished under Safety Car conditions. George Russell crossed the line second, while Lewis Hamilton completed the podium in third.
The victory was Leclerc's first of the season and the 250th Formula 1 World Championship win for Scuderia Ferrari.
Media courtesy of Pirelli S.p.A., Getty Images, and the official Formula 1 team press offices. All images are provided via Getty Images through the respective team media platforms and are credited to their rightful copyright holders. Photos not for sale.
