3 things you need to know about the British Grand Prix
Formula One returns to England for the 71st British Grand Prix on Sunday.
Here are three things you need to know.
The Track
| Silverstone Circuit | |
|---|---|
| Circuit length | 5.891 km |
| Number of laps | 52 |
| Race distance | 306.198 km |
(Courtesy: Formula One)
The Silverstone Circuit boasts some of the most exciting corners in F1, with the Maggots, Becketts, and Chapel Curves (Turns 10-14) testing drivers' mettle ... The complex makes way for the Hangar Straight, which sends cars well into fifth gear ... Built on the site of a former aerodrome, Silverstone is a relatively flat track that offers 18 bends in total.
Mercedes drivers handed final warning
Mercedes head of motorsport Toto Wolff was upset with drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg after the two collided on the last lap of last weekend's Austrian Grand Prix.
Hamilton overtook Rosberg heading into Turn 2, leaving the German a good amount of space on the inside. But Rosberg ran past the apex and crashed into his teammate, finishing in fourth.
It cost Mercedes valuable points in the constructors' standings, and although Wolff doesn't want to stymie his drivers' winning spirit, he must think about the team first.
"If the drivers do not honour the revised Rules of Engagement, we may impose team orders as a solution of last resort," a Mercedes team statement said.
The team could then effectively order Rosberg or Hamilton to slow down or avoid taking risks. It's no good for anyone.
Red Bull looking to build on Austria showing
Eighteen-year-old Max Verstappen earned his second podium finish of the season in Austria, despite struggling to best teammate Daniel Ricciardo in qualifying. Still, the two have paired nicely this season, keeping Red Bull in the race with Mercedes and Ferrari.
Onlookers are even beginning to consider Verstappen and Ricciardo a better pairing than Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel were.
The team could continue to shine at Silverstone, where it had success with the latter duo between 2009 and 2012. Armed with Renault's new F1 engine, Red Bull can compete with the heavyweights on a track that's primed for speed.