5 BOLD Predictions for the F1 British Grand Prix

Matt Hylen
2 days ago
5 min read

Updated: 1 hour ago

A view of the cars going around the British Grand Prix track. C/O to Formula1.com

Round 12 in Great Britain is underway in Formula One, with several teams primed to make a run for the win. Qualifying produced some major fireworks today, with three teams fighting for pole position across this 3.66-mile (5.891km) track. 52 laps will be raced tomorrow along this iconic and timeless track, with three DRS zones and a possible two-stop stragety to mix things up.

With everything but the race done and dusted, here are some of my bold predictions for the Grand Prix. But first, let's take a look at the starting grid for tomorrow's race (as of 6pm EST):

Max Verstappen
Oscar Piastri
Lando Norris
George Russell
Lewis Hamilton
Charles Leclerc
Fernando Alonso
Pierre Gasly
Carlos Sainz
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Yuki Tsunoda
Isak Hadjar
Alex Albon
Esteban Ocon
Liam Lawson
Gabriel Bortoleto
Lance Stroll
Oliver Bearman
Nico Hulkenberg
Franco Colapinto

Williams' Slump Ends with Both Drivers Scoring Points

Carlos Sainz preparing for qualifying. C/O to williamsf1.com

Williams has been in a major slump lately. Having only scored four points in the last four races (including a Sainz DNF and three straight DNFs for Albon), Williams have hit a major rut in what is still considered to be a breakout year. With that said, their pace thus far in Great Britain has not been bad, and I think they will be better equipped for the race on Sunday.

The biggest reason Williams has scored so little is due to their poor qualifying results and inability to give both drivers a consistent car that does not carry a major risk of failing. However, this weekend Albon is starting 13th with Sainz 9th, both of which are very solid starting positions. I think Albon is good enough to overtake the cars ahead, with the same belief that Sainz can fend off the attacking cars behind him to secure points.

Williams can also play a team game, should they choose to. They have executed a team-first style race multiple times this season (Monaco being the most evident), so I would not be surprised if Sainz helps Albon score some points.

Kick Sauber Will Make up at Least 5 Combined Positions by Race End

A Kick Sauber Car drives along the British Grand Prix track. C/O to sauber-group.com

Coming off a couple of brilliant results, Kick Sauber have come back to earth thus far in Great Britain. Both Nico Hulkenberg (19th) and Gabriel Bortoleto (16th) failed to reach Q2 in qualifying and will have a steep uphill road to climb if they want to salvage the weekend.

With that said, we have seen Hulkenberg climb up the ranks on multiple occasions this season, to the point where we have almost become accustomed to him doing it every race. Bortoleto has also improved majorly since the start of the season, as he is coming off his first career points finish in Austria.

Combine this with the potential the car has been showing over the past few weeks, and I think this goal could easily be reached. The reason this is bold is because at the end of the day... Kick Sauber cannot be trusted just yet.

Alpine Score Points

Pierre Gasly in his car. C/O to the-race.com

Alpine has been in absolute shambles this season. They are last in the constructors, have no real leadership behind the scenes that has stepped up, and have scored 4 points in the last five races (all coming by way of the Imola Grand Prix). They have been outperformed in almost every aspect the past month, but I think that changes in Great Britain this weekend.

With Pierre Gasly somehow getting the car and himself into Q3, I think Gasly will do everything in his power to score at least a point. He does have stiff competition behind him, but if Gasly can survive the first couple of laps, with Williams potentially playing the team game, it could help maintain Gasly's position within the points.

Gasly has been verbally fed up with the car's performance, yet has managed to produce good pace. It is that belief that leads to my prediction that Gasly holds on and scores at least a point or two this weekend.

At Least Two Brits Secure a Podium this Weekend

From left to right, Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and Lando Norris posing after they secured the top three positions in qualifying last year. C/O to online-casinos.com

This is definitely my boldest prediction of the weekend, but it is not too far-fetched. We all know how a McLaren can dominate a race, so Lando securing a podium is almost a guarantee (barring any crazy crash). However, in order for two other Brits, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, to secure a podium, they will need to have one of their best performances of the season.

Beating Oscar Piastri in a McLaren is one thing; beating Max Verstappen, who stars on pole, is an entirely different ballgame. Hamilton and Russell will not only need to get a great start, but also hope the pace of the Red Bull falls off enough for them to overtake the best driver in the sport currently.

Yet, if anyone can get their elbows out, overtake two of the best drivers in the sport, and secure a podium at their home race, it is George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.

Pace-wise, Mercedes and Ferrari have been pretty close to McLaren and Verstappen, which makes me believe that the fight for a podium could potentially be a 6-driver competition. The former Mercedes teammates have shown so far that they have what it takes this weekend to fight at the top, and it is a fight that I am choosing to predict will ultimately get them a podium finish.

Lando Norris Wins the British Grand Prix

It is always evident that a driver who is competing in their home country has a little more motivation with more to fight for that given weekend. When it is a place like Great Britain on arguably the most iconic track the sport has ever had, it adds even more. When you are just 15 points away from the Drivers' Championship leader, then you get what Lando Norris is fighting for on Sunday.

Coming off a much-needed win in Austria, Norris' confidence has been regained. Maybe not fully, but enough to secure a podium starting position for the Grand Prix on Sunday. Red Bull's race pace, which has been all over the place as of late, is also a huge question mark, which could benefit Norris greatly.

He still has his teammate right in front of him in Oscar Piastri, but I think Lando gets it done once again and secures his second race win in a row in Great Britain.