F1 British Grand Prix 2023 LIVE! Race stream and latest updates as Lewis Hamilton chases Lando Norris
The Formula One roadshow rolls back into Silverstone this weekend for one of the signature staple events on the annual racing calendar. Hundreds of thousands of car fanatics have descended upon this famous corner of Northamptonshire, where there is even more glitz and glamour than usual with a distinct Hollywood flavour as Brad Pitt films scenes from his highly-anticipated upcoming F1 film.
On the track, Max Verstappen is looking to win the British Grand Prix for the first time at an unhappy hunting ground for Red Bull as the dominant reigning world champion claimed yet another pole position in search of a sixth successive race victory this afternoon. Behind him it’s Britain’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, with McLaren having produced a dream finish to qualifying on Saturday as their new upgrades take quick effect.
Lewis Hamilton is an eight-time winner of his home race but faces a hugely difficult task today from seventh on the grid, one spot behind Mercedes team-mate and fellow Briton George Russell. Race organisers will be hoping to avoid any potentially dangerous environmental protests this afternoon after Just Stop Oil continued their campaign at Wimbledon. Follow all the drama from the British Grand Prix live below, with Matt Majendie reporting from Silverstone.
Live updates
Norris clear into second
Lap 52: Hamilton has now given up the ghost when it comes to catching Norris.
Verstappen set to win his SIXTH race in a row.
Hamilton falls away slightly
Lap 47: Hamilton appears to have lost grip on his tires, trailing Norris by 2 seconds.
Through goes Perez!
Lap 44: Nice battle between Perez, Leclerc and Sainz sees the Mexican sail through into seventh.
Brilliant defending from Norris
Lap 40: Verstappen two seconds ahead now but Norris does so well to defend Hamilton on the charge as we approach Wellington straight.
SAFETY CAR OFF!
Lap 39: Verstappen gets away nicely as Hamilton now closes down Norris.
We’re on for a huge ending here!
Matt Majendie at Silverstone
What looked like being a procession has the scope to be an exciting finale. There’s all sorts of permutations at play. The primary one is that Max Verstappen is so much quicker than everyone else so ought to disappear into the distance once the safety car pulls in.
But there’s all sorts of different tyre permutations going on. Leader Verstappen is on the soft tyres, so too P3 man Lewis Hamilton, a grateful recipient of how the safety car played out, but teammate George Russell is on the medium rubber and the two McLarens on the hards. Should be fun to say how it plays out.
Norris not happy
Lap 36: Norris wants to come off the hard tyres but has been told that remains the strategy.
SAFETY CAR!
Kevin Magnussen’s Haas taken off the track with the safety car now out.
Hamilton into third!
Lap 31: Hamilton now up into third and Russell just overtook Charles Leclerc into eight, giving the Silverstone crowd something to shout about.
Matt Majendie at Silverstone
Alas, it doesn’t look like we’re going to get any Headingley-esque drama here at Silverstone in terms of a nailbiting finish. This has all the makings of a race for the best of the rest behind Verstappen, by no means the first time we’ve said that this season. Things might be one-sided in 2023 but word just in from Formula 1 that today’s attendance is 160,000, making it a record overall at 480,000. The bunfight to drive home should be fun.