After a three week hiatus, the Formula One (F1) teams are back in action, this time at the home of British racing, the Silverstone Circuit, for the British Grand Prix (Sunday June 30).
When we last left F1, they were in Montreal, Canada, with current champion and points leader Sebastian Vettel dominating the field from the pole, gaining the Red Bull driver’s third victory of the season. Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was second and Lewis Hamilton joined the podium with a third in his Mercedes.
Nov 16, 2012; Austin, TX, USA; Formula One driver Mark Webber (2) during practice for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The British Grand Prix marks the first of five consecutive races in Europe for the F1 series as they race through the summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Although the old track is relatively long at three and two-thirds miles, the current configuration is only in its fourth year with the addition of the ‘Arena complex’. Last year’s winner was Mark Webber of Red Bull – he’s won two of the last three events at Silverstone.
With that said, which five drivers are the most likely to win in 2013? Here they are with a longshot listed at the end.
5. Felipe Massa – The Ferrari driver was thought by many to be on an upswing this year but the veteran Brazilian driver hasn’t had a particularly good year for Ferrari. When he has a good car under him, Massa has done well at Silverstone with five top fives over the past seven visits. Expect another top five again in 2013.
4. Kimi Raikkonen – He had a win at Silverstone back in ’07 (the year he won the world championship) and has only finished once outside the top eight since the Iceman began competing in F1. After winning the opener this season at Melbourne, Raikkonen was a steady second place car but recently, his Lotus hasn’t been performing to those standards and he’s slipped to third in points. The Finn should do better here at Silverstone and a podium isn’t out of the question.
3. Fernando Alonso – The former two-time champion has been a model of consistency in 2013 with the Spaniard’s usual flashes of brilliance. Yet, as far as Silverstone is concerned, Alonso has been inconsistent with five finishes tenth or worse but also two wins and three runner-ups to contradict those bad showings. Fernando will have his Ferrari near the front with a podium likely and as always, ready to pounce on a victory.
2. Lewis Hamilton – The British driver has accomplished, effort-wise, his best driving in quite awhile. He does have a win at Silverstone from ’08 but his results have been mixed in his native country. Hamilton has started in the first two rows for every race this year but one. He has six top fives and three podiums this season and the thought here is he will once again get his Mercedes close to a win.
1. Sebastian Vettel – To not have the three-time reigning champion picked for the top slot to win this or any race during the 2013 season will be folly. The German is looking as good as ever in his Red Bull this year with no finish lower than fourth. He has a win, plus two other podiums in five tries at Silverstone. Expect Vettel to be hoisting the winner’s trophy in 2013.
The longshot is obviously quite a longshot but watch for the Sahara Force India car of Adrian Sutil to be in the Top 10 with an ever so slight chance at podium … and a win? Hey, I said it was a longshot.
Although there might be some rain for practice, the weather should be fine in England with temperature highs around 70. F1’s next race after Silverstone will be a week later at the Nurburgring for the Grand Prix of Germany
July 7.
Source: Formula One
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