F1 Raceweek: High-speed corners and team orders in Silverstone focus

Jenson Button says it pains him to not have a victory or podium result at the British Grand Prix during his Formula 1 career and admits it is a tall order to achieve the feat this year. His homeland is not among them.

Former Formula One driver Mark Blundell writes his latest exclusive column for the News, with the Royston-based chief executive of MB Partners reflecting on the controversy at the Austrian Grand Prix and looking ahead to this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Button will be competing in his 17th home race this weekend as Silverstone plays host to the tenth round of this year’s world championship. It is an astonishing fact that in his 16 previous British GPs, Button has never even stood on the podium, never mind its top step.

The Silverstone race gets underway at 1pm on Sunday.

The 25-year-old, though, is hoping to change that this weekend as he races in his home grand prix for the first, and possibly the last, time.

“Any time you get an opportunity to drive an F1 vehicle, you have to grab it with both hands”, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said.

According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Lewis Hamilton is a +100 favorite to win on Sunday while Nico Rosberg is listed with +175 odds and Sebastian Vettel has +700 odds.

Indeed Palmer was having to fend off suggestions that he was set to be replaced by the team’s French reserve driver Esteban Ocon after just two races.

“We’ve definitely got the best following of fans here and the Brits turn out regardless of what the weather is, they turn out in their thousands and it’s just a very proud experience being here and being able to represent all the Brits”. The atmosphere is electric, it’s a very special feeling. The conditions helped us a lot, in the wet we were quick and in the dry we made the best of it, especially in qualifying.

“We started very well and then we had some issues”, the Frenchman explained. The British Formula One Grand Prix will be held on Sunday July 10.