Рубрика: Autosport News

Norris frustrated ‘to throw away win’ after British GP strategy calls

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Lando Norris was left deflated by two strategy calls at the British Grand Prix, admitting frustration that he and the McLaren Formula 1 team had «thrown away» another potential win.

Although Norris lost position to Max Verstappen on the opening lap of the grand prix, the McLaren driver began to grow into the race and, as the conditions worsened, had a surplus of pace versus the leading duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

The tyre temperature retention of the McLaren persisted through the switch to intermediates, and Norris was able to maintain the lead when the circuit was at its wettest.

However, the Bristol-born racer was undone by the crossover to slicks; first, he ended up losing the lead to Hamilton after stopping a lap later than the eventual winner, and then lost position to Verstappen as his soft tyres began to degrade.

Norris stated after the race: «[He and the team] are not making the right decisions, but at the same time I blame myself today for not making some of the right decisions. I hate it. I hate ending in this position and having excuses for not doing a good enough job.»

He later added: «So many things were going well, and we threw it away in the final stop. It was one lap, but also I don’t think it was the lap.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

«I think even if I boxed on the perfect lap, our decision to go onto the soft was the wrong one, and I think Lewis still would have won no matter what. Two calls from our side cost us everything today so, especially here, it’s pretty disappointing.»

Norris felt that McLaren had lagged behind the Mercedes duo in the first stint but, when the conditions became more damp, the MCL38s started to improve relative to the Mercedes.

Although he felt that McLaren had not been the outright fastest among the races where it had contended for victory, he underlined his frustration that he had not added to his Miami victory.

«We weren’t quick enough today, I think. When it was completely dry, the Mercedes was a lot quicker. [In damp conditions] maybe we seemed a bit better. But we have work to do.

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«I don’t think we’ve still had the weekend where we’ve clearly been the quickest. We’ve always been there and there are battles, but never had ‘the’ car.

«We need to keep working as a team. I need to keep working on my own stuff, and just try and put it together, because there are still so many positives.

«There are so many good things, and so many things in place. But it’s frustrating a few times this season we’ve thrown away something that should’ve been ours.»



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«I will turn this around,» says under-pressure Perez

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A defiant Sergio Perez says he will turn his Formula 1 season around after suffering another blow in British Grand Prix qualifying.

In the opening stages of a wet qualifying session, Perez slipped off the road at Copse and got stuck in the gravel trap, ending the session in 19th.

It’s the latest blow for Perez amid a downturn in form that has seen the Mexican score just 15 points since Imola, compared to 101 for team-mate Max Verstappen. Silverstone was the fourth event in six races in which Perez failed to progress to the Q3 shootout.

That has reignited the debate on whether the 34-year-old is the right person to help Red Bull retain its constructors’ title against ever-fiercer opposition.

Perez recently signed a 2026 contract extension that is understood to include a spate of performance clauses. The team is acutely aware its second car must pick up performance and has mulled over a plan B if Perez can’t get his act together.

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

But while disappointed with his qualifying mistake, Perez remains bullish that he can return to his early 2024 form, batting away questions over his future.

When asked if his qualifying mistake came at the worst possible time given the pressure that is building, Perez said: «No, no, no. I’m fully focused on my job.

«I’m fully focused on getting the performance out of myself, the form that I know where I can be.

«I’ve been in this business for long enough so I exactly know what to do and how to turn things around. I will not give up. I will turn this one around.»

Perez is adamant that his continuing dip in form doesn’t affect his Red Bull future after signing his new deal.

«Like I said, I have a contract with the team and I will turn things around,» he added.

«It’s not something that distracts me or anything like that. It’s done and dusted. I just want to get back to my form, and focus on the important things.»

Watch: An all-British one-two-three — F1 British Grand Prix Saturday Update

Perez took the blame for his spin at Stowe, having been one of the first drivers to bolt on slicks as the track started drying up.

Behind him, Daniel Ricciardo also went off but kept out of the gravel, while team-mate Verstappen’s excursion through the same gravel trap left him with floor damage that prevented the Dutchman from challenging for pole.

«It was very frustrating,» said Perez. «Turn 9 [Stowe] was really tricky, very difficult, especially in the beginning.

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«As I was trying to warm up the tyres, when I downshifted I basically lost the rear end quite badly and I went out of the track. I had cold tyres and it’s full of standing water outside of the track, so I just ended up going into the gravel.

«I couldn’t stop the car, I couldn’t go straight. A few people went off, it clearly was a tricky corner. But anyway, I put my hand up, because I f***** up today.»



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How Antonelli performed under a new spotlight after F2 breakthrough

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Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s victory in the Formula 2 sprint race at the British Grand Prix not only broke his duck in the championship to ease the pressure on his shoulders, but for the first time it also thrust him into the media spotlight — something the 17-year-old has so far been protected from.

He performed well as he faced open questions without the filter of his PR team by his side, but this is only the start. The reversed grid win at Silverstone will only encourage the hype-train — and with it the scrutiny and pressure.

Since joining Mercedes’ junior programme in April 2019, Antonelli has attracted attention but has been shielded by the Silver Arrows.

Until the turn of the year, he was going about his business and quietly impressing under the radar. He’d followed up winning both the Italian and German Formula 4 titles in 2022 by claiming last year’s Formula Regional European Championship and bypassed Formula 3 to arrive on the F2 grid with Prema.

But his world changed when Lewis Hamilton dropped the bombshell at the start of the year that he was quitting Mercedes for Ferrari. Attention quickly turned to who Mercedes would pick as Hamilton’s replacement.

After seemingly ruling out Carlos Sainz, focus shifted to Antonelli, with momentum ramping up following private tests in April at the Red Bull Ring and Imola.

But despite the speculation and subsequent column inches assessing his potential for making it to Formula 1, he had not spoken, nor were media openly invited to the tests. He was very much off limits.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Prema Racing

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Prema Racing

Photo by: Prema Racing

So it was with great interest that following his victory at Silverstone, he would face the media as part of his post-race requirements bestowed on the top three finishers.

For background, the F2 press conference takes place in the same auditorium within The Wing at Silverstone as is used by F1. 

While it is usually standing room only for F1, usually for the F2 press conference there might be one or two journalists present with others joining by way of Zoom. However after Antonelli’s win, the room was fuller than usual, drawing comments from the camera operators unused to seeing such an attendance.

Antonelli spoke briefly with the press officer from his Prema team and recorded a short video message for F2’s social media before taking his place on the sofa in front of the press. He placed his first-place trophy between his feet and dropped the half-finished bottle of Ferrari Trento behind the sofa.

Moments before, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and Susie Wolff had watched him on the podium. The teenager who mentors their son, Jack, was now an F2 race-winner.

The previous day, Wolff had sat on the same sofa and explained how «a champion needs to be thrown in the cold water and needs to swim» — this was another part of the process.

Interestingly, no members of the Mercedes PR team who have nurtured his profile to this point were present. He was on his own facing the media.

So how did he cope? Very well, actually. He spoke clearly, openly and honestly. He talked about his start to the season and how he had been guilty of making mistakes. How he needed to up his game and refocus his attention.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Prema Racing

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Prema Racing

Photo by: Prema Racing

He also explained that he hoped the victory would now ease the growing burden on him. He was relieved and understandably so given what is at stake — a spot on the F1 grid for 2025.

It was refreshing to hear Antonelli in his own words. His world has exploded since being linked with F1, yet he seems remarkably assured.

«This year has been quite strange, especially because it all came at once,» he said.

«I’m lucky that I have good people around me — I have my family, Mercedes and also my team. They have been trying to just protect me, especially because it is so easy to crack under pressure, especially in this situation.

«But I have to say that they have really helped me to try to cope with that as best as possible. I am really thankful for that, because it has been quite difficult.

«But, thanks to them, I have been able to cope with it pretty well.»

Mercedes have prepared him well both from a media and a driving perspective. This was another big step for Antonelli’s development off track.

However, this is only the start. For more races, podiums and wins will invite more focus and intrusions into his life, which would of course become magnified considerably if he is promoted to F1 as expected.



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Russell felt on «verge of getting knocked out» before British GP pole

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George Russell feared he was set for an early Formula 1 qualifying elimination before securing pole for the British Grand Prix, and felt his car came alive in Q3.

Both Mercedes drivers had brief flirtations with the elimination zone across the opening phases of qualifying at Silverstone, but managed to haul themselves into the final shootout for pole.

Russell said that this was where the performance of his W15 ratcheted up, although he admitted that it was «the most pressure I’ve ever felt in a qualifying session» as he felt his confidence being knocked by the first phases.

Nonetheless, Russell led the way after the opening flurry of laps in qualifying; Lewis Hamilton overcame his team-mate’s benchmark on his second lap, but the younger Briton returned the favour to clinch his second pole of the season.

«This is definitely one of the best feelings I’ve ever had on a Saturday afternoon and the car was just insane when we went out in Q3, it just really came alive,» Russell said. «It was one of the best feelings I’ve had driving this circuit — crossing the line with my name in P1.

«And then with both of us on the front row, we couldn’t have even dreamed of that after the first three or four races.

Pole man George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

Pole man George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

«In Q3, we really turned it up, because Q1 and Q2 were very, very challenging. I felt like I was about to get knocked out at various points. The track was improving every single lap.

«And probably going into Q3 was the most pressure I’ve ever felt in a qualifying session because the whole Q1 and Q2 runs, it felt like I was on the verge of getting knocked out every single occasion.

«I wasn’t feeling that confident with myself, but as soon as I went through Turn 1 and Turn 2 in Q3 I felt good and managed to do the laps.»

Russell was slower in the first sector of his pole lap, but noted the point at which it began to improve to yield the ultimate two-tenth improvement.

He added that, although Mercedes was expecting to lose «a tenth or two» to second-row occupiers Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, weather would leave a question mark upon Sunday’s race with more rain forecast.

«From Turn 6 to Turn 9, I gained a lot; Turn 6 and 7 was mega, a big headwind through there so I braked really late and could just carry the speed through the corners. But it was just on rails, the car. I just felt so confident in it.

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«I think realistically we know we’ve got a tenth or two behind Lando and Max, but I think we’ve got a good fight on our hands.

«The weather’s going to play a huge part in that; it’s been raining and drying up throughout the last couple of days. There’s a bit of rain on the forecast tomorrow, we’re probably on course for another Montreal-style race.»



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Smart marketing or alienating move? Our writers have their say

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F1 and Apple have tied up a deal with Warner Bros. Pictures to distribute the film worldwide next summer with a teaser published on Sunday 7 July.

Filming resumed at Silverstone after Hollywood’s SAG-AFTRA strikes last year, with the camera crews following actors Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, who drive for a fictional team called APXGP.

It is being directed by Top Gun Maverick director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who with the help of Lewis Hamilton acting as a producer, have promised the most authentic racing film.

The on-track action has been done in modified Formula 2 cars that have been adapted to accommodate 14 mounting points for small Imax cameras and dressed in F1 bodywork.

Before the launch of the teaser, F1 announced the name of the film, which left our writers divided.

Alex Kalinauckas:F1is the perfect title… for F1

Unoriginal? Sure. Direct? Definitely. The whole point of this project? Yes.

Giving F1’s big-budget feature film the same title as the championship is entirely in keeping with a series where every idea is replicated to the nth degree. But it gets to the essence of the concept: this is about getting F1’s name and product to even more potential new consumers. F1 is Drive to Survive on steroids.

Brand exposure is the dull reality, but that didn’t exactly do Barbie any harm for Mattel last year. This raises an interesting related point about the growth of IP marketing projects in Hollywood right now, but it also demonstrates that F1 is on the ball in this regard.

cars being filmed for new F1 film APEX starring Brad Pitt

cars being filmed for new F1 film APEX starring Brad Pitt

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

Another part of the title that cuts directly to the point is that F1 wants F1 to be authentic. This is why the Apex GP squad has been given so much access – to the point that team staff from real squads are being warned not to ‘spike the lens’ when actors pop up in familiar places in the paddock at Silverstone. F1 wants the film’s viewers to see the story take place in a real setting to try and pique their interest.

Ultimately, any film lives and dies on its plot. That’s always going to be subjective, but even if it’s not to everyone’s taste, getting the F1 name to a new audience – F1 is set to be put on Apple TV+ once it’s had its run in cinemas (given that’s what happened with Ridley Scott’s Napoleon), so sitting front and centre of an estimated 25m people potentially choosing what to watch each night from their TVs – is the name of the game here. Really, we should be asking why we ever expected it to be anything else.

Films that didn’t exactly suffer from being called exactly what they were? How about Titanic or Apollo 13? Even Grand Prix…

Ben Hunt: A risky move that could alienate new audiences

Formula 1 has so much to gain from the Hollywood film being a success. They have invested so much time in the project and received the full support of the teams and drivers while Apple has stumped up with an excellent cast, production team and dug deep to provide arguably the most technologically advanced high-speed vehicle ever used in a film.

They have also said they are focused on authenticity and presenting a true reflection of F1, which is great, if you are already a fan of the series.

However, the film also has to appeal to a new audience unfamiliar with Formula 1, which makes me wonder about the decision to call it F1.

Yes, it makes sense from F1’s perspective and, if it were to win an Oscar, think of the kudos and appeal the series would hopefully gain.

However, titling it F1 also has the possibility of alienating potential cinema-goers and film buffs, who will have preconceived ideas about the series and may subsequently give it a wide berth.

Brad Pitt filming F1 race movie

Brad Pitt filming F1 race movie

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

In the same way, on the movie poster that was distributed, the F1 is actually the championship’s logo, on which views are also mixed.

When it was first published in 2017 as part of Liberty Media’s rebranding of the sport, the point was raised that the new logo looked similar to that of ESPN’s, the US broadcaster.

Indeed, the logo had been created by a team at design agency Wieden+Kennedy and had come about through Wieden’s previous work with ESPN in New York.

While fans are now familiar with the logo, and it has been an undoubted success, my concern is that using it in promotional material remains too niche for a wider audience, particularly in North America. Therefore you run the risk of not knowing what the film is called in the first place.

That said, I am sure the film will be a resounding success, I just think the title lacked a little imagination.



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What we learned from Friday practice at the 2024 F1 British GP

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The opening day of track action at Formula 1’s 2024 British Grand Prix ended with a clean sweep of Friday practice sessions for McLaren, with Red Bull not troubling the top times.

Well, Sergio Perez was third fastest in FP2 to put the world champion squad second overall behind McLaren in that session, but his illustrious team-mate, Max Verstappen, was down in an unusual spot in seventh. Just like Perez in Austria five days ago, Verstappen even ended up beaten by Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg.

But, as ever in F1, and we do hope the championship’s Apple-produced film is going to somehow reflect this, the true reality of who is in contention is different to what the times alone suggest.

Because there were two key reasons why Verstappen was off the pace in FP2, plus the long-run times show things differently — and encouragingly for Red Bull. But, tantalisingly for F1 fans, McLaren is strong in these too.

Right now, it seems another box office Verstappen vs Norris contest is on the cards at Silverstone.

The story of the day

FP1 began with spots of rain falling on various parts of this giant ex-airfield venue — the day having begun with Silverstone getting a dousing of classic British weather — so the track took a while to rubber in. Norris led the way with a 1m27.420s, trailed by Lance Stroll’s 1m27.554s for Aston Martin.

Verstappen might not have starred on the Friday timesheets, but Red Bull's pace cannot be denied

Verstappen might not have starred on the Friday timesheets, but Red Bull’s pace cannot be denied

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

The first session was only really notable for three other things: Yuki Tsunoda’s early spin and exit in the Luffield gravel that capped his lap total at five and left him at the foot of the times, Oscar Piastri coasting into the pits late on with what McLaren says was a fuel cell problem, and the four rookie appearances.

These were Ollie Bearman at Haas in place of Kevin Magnussen (with the 2025 Haas racer putting in the best rookie time at 1m28.536s, good enough for 14th), Jack Doohan driving Pierre Gasly’s Alpine, Franco Colapinto replacing Logan Sargeant at Williams and Isack Hadjar taking Perez’s RB20.

FP2 overall times  

POS Driver Team Time Gap
1 Norris      McLaren 1m26.549s  
2 Perez   Red Bull  1m26.549s   +0.434s
3 Hulkenberg Haas 1m26.990s +0.441s
4 Leclerc Ferrari 1m27.150s +0.601s
5 Hamilton Mercedes 1m27.202s +0.653s
6 Stroll Aston Martin    1m27.274s +0.725s
7 Bottas Sauber 1m27.381s +0.832s
8 Albon Williams 1m27.645s +1.096s
9 Gasly Alpine 1m27.732s +1.183s
10 Tsunoda  RB 1m27.745s +1.196s

In FP2, Verstappen showed well on the medium tyres in the opening stages, with his 1m27.831s leading the way for the first quarter.

Verstappen tried a second qualifying simulation effort in Piastri’s wake on another new set of softs, but running wide while catching an oversteer snap exiting Becketts and cutting Chapel as a result meant he abandoned that lap

But here things deviated from the norm, as Red Bull switched the Dutchman to softs for a qualifying simulation. The reason? Rain threatening the end of the session forcing things to shuffle forwards, with Red Bull insiders admitting later that it had predicted the rain arriving earlier than it did.

But the rest stuck to their usual run plans and chipped away on the mediums, before switching to the softs at the halfway stage. Here, Charles Leclerc sent his Ferrari to the top of the times before Hulkenberg’s surprise leap into table-topping contention came a few seconds later.

Hulkenberg, as he often has this year, caught the eye with his one-lap pace for Haas

Hulkenberg, as he often has this year, caught the eye with his one-lap pace for Haas

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Then, the McLaren drivers took over, with Piastri moving to first before he was knocked back by Norris’s 1m26.549s. Perez then ran later still, to slot into third 0.434s down.

Verstappen, meanwhile, had tried a second qualifying simulation effort in Piastri’s wake on another new set of softs, but running wide while catching an oversteer snap exiting Becketts and cutting Chapel, as a result, meant he abandoned that lap on the Hanger straight.

The teams then switched to long-runs, before the rain finally arrived in the closing minutes to cap the action slightly short for the fans watching on.

What the data tells us

What’s interesting about Verstappen’s place in the overall FP2 order (table above) is that after he ran, the wind and temperature both went up – meaning his rivals had slightly more challenging conditions.

But they also benefitted considerably from the additional rubber going down and so as he abandoned his second attempt on the softs, we’ll never know how his pace running at the same time amid the track evolution factor would have compared.

However, Red Bull is definitely struggling to get the RB20’s balance right through Silverstone’s corner range.

It shines in the high-speed sections and down the Wellington and Hanger straights – with Perez taking back 0.15s on the latter on his quickest FP2 lap versus Norris on the GPS trace data – but is haemorrhaging time in the low-speed stuff.

Perez's GPS data reveals once again where Red Bull holds the advantage over McLaren

Perez’s GPS data reveals once again where Red Bull holds the advantage over McLaren

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

This comes mainly in the first and third sectors at Silverstone, with the GPS data also showing that Red Bull was also deploying its usual tactic of turning down its engine more compared to its rivals.

Perez is clocked a substantial chunk down on speed across every straight compared to Norris on their best laps, but does get above the home hero overall on the Wellington and Hanger straights as he stays on the throttle for slightly longer.

Medium long-run averages

POS Team Time Laps
1 Red Bull 1m32.191s 12 laps
2 McLaren 1m32.290s 12 laps
3 Ferrari 1m32.559s 10 laps
4 Aston Martin 1m33.113s 12 laps
5 Alpine 1m33.162s 4 laps
6 Williams 1m33.200s 12 laps
7 RB 1m33.476s 7 laps
8 Sauber 1m33.845s 7 laps 
*N/A Mercedes, Haas    

In the long runs, Red Bull looks much better, as it leads the way on average pace on the yellow-walled mediums (above table). But, only by 0.099s over McLaren, with Verstappen and Norris’s stints coming in over the same distance, suggesting a similar fuel load for both when considering that typical caveat.

Leclerc was running the sidepod, floor, diffuser and rear wing updates brought to the SF-24 in Spain, with Carlos Sainz back in Montreal-spec, as Ferrari searches for an answer on its high-speed corner bouncing

Then comes Ferrari, which also looked half decent over a flying lap – albeit down compared to the leading two teams.

The problem was, again, high-speed instability, with Leclerc regularly catching snaps at the track’s quickest turns – including an impressive sideways save at Chapel on what was his best lap.

He was running the sidepod, floor, diffuser and rear wing updates brought to the SF-24 in Spain, with Carlos Sainz back in Montreal-spec, as Ferrari searches for an answer on its high-speed corner bouncing at a venue that really tests aerodynamic performance in such corners.

Mercedes ran long on the soft tyres to assess its strategy options for Sunday

Mercedes ran long on the soft tyres to assess its strategy options for Sunday

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

Soft long-run averages

POS Team Time Laps
1 Mercedes 1m32.232s 9 laps
2 McLaren 1m32.422s 7 laps
3 Ferrari 1m32.756s 5 laps
4 Alpine 1m33.241s 6 laps
5 Haas 1m33.282s 8 laps
6 Aston Martin 1m33.349s 7 laps
7 RB 1m33.840s 8 laps
*N/A Red Bull, Williams, Sauber    

Mercedes didn’t run the mediums over its long runs at FP2’s close. It stuck to the softs and led the way on the relevant averages (above table). McLaren again looks strong on this compound.

Mercedes overall ended the day feeling the wind getting stronger as FP2 progressed hampered its qualifying simulation and long-run efforts, as the resulting balance shift took the W15 away from its tyre sweet spot. Lewis Hamilton also said over his team radio as the rain came down that “the track is fine, I’m just slow”.

The squad’s examination of the soft tyre is interesting as it was in this race in 2023 where George Russell pulled off an impressive long opening stint on the red-walled rubber (which again is Pirelli’s C3 in 2024).

The teams are likely to again favour starting the race on the medium, as it provides strategic flexibility in the event of an early or late virtual/real safety car.

If needing to pit early, drivers can switch to the hards to take them long into the race, while the medium is also durable and so can go deep before a late switch to softs. Pirelli reckons the hard is performing better over a stint compared to 2023, while graining was spotted on the softs used for long runs in FP2.

The weather is a critical factor in maintaining the softs over a stint, with the cool temperatures today and set to follow for the rest of the weekend mean that while the fast corners put a huge amount of energy through the rubber, they aren’t going to massively degrade as they have in other years.

It wouldn't be Silverstone without the threat of rain

It wouldn’t be Silverstone without the threat of rain

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

It’s worth noting that Norris’s best time in FP2 was 0.171s up on Verstappen’s Silverstone pole lap a year ago, with the cool temperatures allying with the car development progress from the teams to produce quicker times. These will really be seen when fuel loads are removed and engine modes are turned up to the maximum in qualifying.

The weather and temperature could well impact both this and the race, which means some teams may be tempted to run a slightly higher downforce package.

Such an approach would boost Red Bull where it is struggling right now, but, perhaps, leave it vulnerable to attack once again, this time on a track where overtaking isn’t too tricky…

Now it is time to crunch the data and run the simulations late into the night to nail the set-up for the weekend

Now it is time to crunch the data and run the simulations late into the night to nail the set-up for the weekend

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images



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Apples names F1 movie starring Brad Pitt, first teaser to be released at British GP

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The upcoming Formula 1 Hollywood film set for a 2025 release will simply be called F1, the series and Apple have revealed.

F1 and Apple, who have joined forces with Warner Bros. Pictures to distribute the film worldwide, will reveal the first material of F1 in an upcoming teaser on Sunday 7 July.

The film stars Brad Pitt as a former F1 driver who returns to the championship to race for the fictional APXGP team, alongside a rookie portrayed by Damson Idris.

Other cast members include Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem, Tobias Menzies, Sarah Niles, Kim Bodnia and Samson Kayo.

Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is a producer for the project, with the Mercedes driver also providing input in the film’s script.

The film is put together by Top Gun Maverick director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and following delays caused by Hollywood’s SAG-AFTRA strikes last year, it will be released on 25 July 2025 in international markets and on 27 July 2025 in the United States.

Work on the project has been continuing at pace in recent weeks, including at this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone, using the Formula 2 car Mercedes has modified to run in fictional APXGP colours.

cars being filmed for new F1 film APEX starring Brad Pitt

cars being filmed for new F1 film APEX starring Brad Pitt

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

As has been the case at other events, AXGP has received its own branded pitlane garages where its cast and crew are operating from.

Other filming locations for this year include the Hungaroring, Spa-Francorchamps, Mexico City, Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi.

Reports have surfaced that the Hollywood strikes have made the film’s budget balloon to over $300 million, although that figure has been contested by the producers.

Hamilton was brought on board of the production team as a consultant on the film’s script, tasked with ensuring it becomes the most authentic racing movie to date.

Speaking about the process late last year, the Mercedes driver said: «We’re really just working as hard as we can to make sure that it’s a true reflection of this legendary sport. Both the old and the new.

«[As F1] we do have to continue to grow. I think the movie particularly is going to help do that.

Stunt driver Craig Dolby standing in for actor Brad Pitt on the grid for a movie scene

Stunt driver Craig Dolby standing in for actor Brad Pitt on the grid for a movie scene

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

«We’ve already got great footage with the demo drivers, who have done a great job, as all the [F1] drivers got to see in Austin [2023].

«We’ll keep pushing along. It’s still going to be great, might cost a little bit more but I’m really confident in what Jerry is going to produce.»

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What is the weather forecast for the F1 British Grand Prix?

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Formula 1 will return to Silverstone this weekend for the iconic British Grand Prix. The race marks the end of a triple-header, which has seen races in Spain and Austria in the last couple of weeks.

The circuit, which is located in Northamptonshire, has hosted the event consecutively since 1987 but has intermittently hosted the race since 1948. Several teams have bases close to Silverstone, with Aston Martin just over the road, Mercedes in Brackley and Red Bull in Milton Keynes.

This weekend is expected to be a thrilling race with three British drivers all hoping to take the win on their home track.

Lando Norris — who claimed his maiden win in Miami this year — will be looking to continue his ongoing battle with Max Verstappen, after the pair clashed at last weekend’s Austrian GP.

Verstappen and Norris both suffered tyre punctures after coming together on lap 64, resulting in George Russell claiming his second Formula 1 grand prix victory.

Lewis Hamilton has claimed the most home grand prix wins of any driver, with eight victories and a further five podium finishes during his 17-year grand prix career. Hamilton joined Norris and Verstappen on the podium last season but will be hoping to claim his F1 first win at any venue in two and a half years.

The British contingent will be joined next year by Oliver Bearman after Haas announced his signing ahead of this weekend’s British GP. The Prema Formula 2 driver impressed many in Jeddah when he was called to replace an unwell Carlos Sainz at Ferrari for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur described the race as a “mega weekend” for Bearman, with Charles Leclerc adding, “it’s a matter of time before we see him permanently in F1” after the Brit finished seventh and ahead of both Norris and Hamilton.

It is hoped the typical British weather will not put a damper on this weekend’s event, after a wet week for most of the UK. Here’s everything you need to know about the weather for the F1 British GP.

Silverstone track detail

Silverstone track detail

Photo by: Alex Kalinauckas

Formula 1 British Grand Prix weather forecast

The British Grand Prix weekend is expected to be cool and rainy over the three days. Temperatures are expected to hit highs of 19°C (66.2 Fahrenheit), with a risk of thunderstorms.

Friday, 5 July
FP1 is set to begin at 12:30pm (BST) and will see highs of 15°C (59F), with a 29% chance of rain during the one-hour session. There will be light winds from the west and a high humidity level of 88%.

FP2 at 4pm (BST) should see light cloud with a lower 19% chance of rain. Temperatures will reach the day’s peak of 19°C (66.2 F), with humidity lowering to 65%. A gentle south-westerly breeze will continue through the session.

Saturday, 6 July
FP3 will be the coolest session of the weekend with highs of 13°C (55.4F) when it begins at 11:30am (BST). The chance of rain increases from 21% to 44% over the course of the hour, meaning that we could see some light rain during the final practice run. A fresh breeze of around 19mph is expected from the west.

British Grand Prix qualifying will begin at 3pm with a 54% chance of light rain. Temperatures will reach highs of 15°C (59F) and will see a humidity level of 63%. Westerly winds will slightly reduce to moderate levels of around 18mph.

Sunday, 7 July
Race day is forecasted to see thundery showers and moderate breezes, which should clear before lights out. The British Grand Prix begins at 3pm (BST) with temperatures set to reach 16°C (60.8F).

There is a 53% chance of light showers during the first hour of the 52 laps, which risks reducing past 4pm. Humidity levels will reach 68% and a gentle 12mph breeze will move in from the southwest.



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F1’s Austria track limits solution deployed at Silverstone too

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


The Silverstone track has been updated with elements of the solution deployed at the Red Bull Ring to try and solve Formula 1’s track limits problem.

A week ago, the FIA’s new arrangement of adding gravel and reducing kerb size to stop drivers automatically running out wide without consequence beyond a lap time deletion was revealed at the Austrian Grand Prix venue.

Now F1 has decamped to Silverstone, the drivers will be facing effectively the same system at two critical points of focus for track limits in recent years – Stowe and Copse – but with some differences.

At Copse – the fast right-hander that for many years was the first corner of the Silverstone layout – the change has been made without adding gravel.

The FIA has instead required the track limits white line to be painted onto the corner’s exit kerb, as it did in combination with mini-gravel traps being added to the Red Bull Ring’s final two corners, to reduce the width between the far edge of the kerb and the inside edge of the white line to 1.5m.

As was the case for Austria, this size has been taken because F1 cars are 2m wide and by making the gap smaller it is easier for the drivers to see when they are getting close to infringing track limits – a change the F1 pack as long been requesting.

The white line painted on the kerbs also features the same blue line addition as was used in Austria to assist the drivers even further.

Autosport understands that while there is no gravel deployed at this point other than far back in the run-off area, the FIA feels the grip level difference between the run-off and the track is enough for drivers to feel the edge of the track and adjust accordingly.

At Stowe, the changes are different and are understood to have been made with approval from MotoGP riders, who will race at Silverstone next month.

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The gravel trap on the outside of Stowe has been moved towards the track by 6-8m in places, with the white line also now moved left on the exit kerb as has been done at Copse.

There is still a significant run-off area wide of the kerbs and between the extended gravel trap.

Autosport understands that the plan to use the same system at Silverstone as in Austria was developed for both tracks at the same time by the FIA.

During a review into the track limits issue last year, the governing body viewed these two circuits as the two that posed the biggest problem and so intended to act for the 2024 F1 events here.

Autosport also understands that while it may not be possible to fit new gravel traps or extend existing ones at other venues where the track limits issue comes into focus, the FIA is planning to deploy the white line movement part of the solution at some upcoming events.

This would at least reduce kerb width and discourage drivers from running so wide at certain points.

Watch: View from the Paddock — F1 British Grand Prix Thursday Update

The results of the track limits solution in Austria also rumbled on to Silverstone, with Williams driver Logan Sargeant and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri still annoyed that they lost important lap times in qualifying at the Red Bull Ring’s Turn 6.

This had its kerb width reduce by the white line movement, but only by 1.8m with a gravel trap slightly further to the right off a concreted area, with Piastri left so frustrated to lose his Q3 time to running wide at this spot he called the situation “embarrassing” in post-qualifying media appearances.

“I think for me there’s two points,” Piastri said on Thursday. “The first one is if there is space for a car to go off that we monitor it in a fair way.

“The evidence that led to my lap being deleted was from a helicopter that was only on me for that lap, which is a bit painful [and the point of McLaren’s protest into the issue] when there’s other people that potentially also went off that didn’t have a helicopter on them.

“So, I think it’s a very fine line and some discussions we need to have.

“But the easiest way to get rid of that is make the white line 20cm wider [at that point] and not have to worry about it at all.

“I’ll repeat my point from last week: I think the camera shot of that with half my wheel hanging off the concrete, almost in the gravel, for me that’s a really cool shot that everyone wants to see.

“So I think, yeah, it was just a shame that with all the work we did in a lot of other corners that we still left quite enough space for what is ultimately quite a painful issue for everybody.

Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, 2nd position, in the post Sprint Press Conference

Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, 2nd position, in the post Sprint Press Conference

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

“Of course, it’s painful for me because I got it deleted, but I think for all the fans as well, I don’t think anyone wants to see ‘are they in, are they out?’

“There’s a white line there when if I went half a metre wider I would have completely trashed my floor, my car and not done a lap anyway, so I think there’s a couple of points on that.”

In other changes to the track, a «combination» kerb has been removed from the right-hand side of Village (Turn 3), per the event notes distributed by the FIA on behalf of race director Niels Wittich.

There has also been gravel added on the left-hand side of Chapel, plus the first part of the Club complex, which reduces the asphalt run-off to 1.7m on the right-hand side of the track.

The combination kerb on the inside of the first part of Club — Turn 16 — has been replaced with grass, with the asphalt run-off down the left-hand side of the pit straight also now lined with grass.



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