Everything you need to know for the British Grand Prix
"Seeing the British fans and all the papaya as we drive round the track is always so motivating"
There’s nothing like the comfort of our home grand prix: fish and chips, endless cups of tea and the fact we can roll out of bed and onto the circuit – we may even keep our McLaren speedmark pyjamas on.
Okay, so maybe the 57 miles separating Woking from Silverstone means we can't quite roll out of bed and onto the circuit, but at least we'll be switching plane journeys for a short bus ride when we venture to our Northamptonshire-based home for the week.
So, what to do with all that extra time? Reading our preview would be a good start, as we've compiled a list of what to watch for at the British Grand Prix. You can then spend some time diving into all of the key stats and using our style tips for a wardrobe refresh. We've also got the thoughts of Lando Norris, Daniel Ricciardo and Team Principal Andreas Seidl for you to peruse.
Key info
Round | 10 |
Where | Silverstone Circuit |
When | 1 - 3 July |
Follow | TEAMStream and the McLaren App for LIVE commentary and team radio |
What they say
“I’m so excited to be heading back to my home race at Silverstone. Seeing the British fans and all the papaya as we drive round the track is always so motivating and such a boost for the team - nothing beats a home crowd. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in the fan zone and soaking up the atmosphere.
“We’ve been working hard on our performance since the last race in Canada and working as a team to understand what we need to do better. We’ve got a good understanding of that now, and although we know there are no overnight fixes, we’ll be doing everything we can to give the home fans something to cheer about.”
“The British Grand Prix... let’s go! It’s a home race for the team and that means we’ll definitely feel the support in the grandstands. There was a sea of papaya last year, so I'm excited to head there again this year. It’s the race where I made my F1 debut, so it holds a special place in my heart anyway, but it’s also a great circuit to race on too, so I can’t wait to get out on track.
“Canada was a difficult one, but we have to learn from it and keep moving forward. Silverstone offers some good overtaking opportunities, so it will be fun to see what we can do in these new regulation cars. I’m excited to get on track and hopefully get back up the pointy end for our home crowd – we have awesome fans so we will do everything we can to deliver for them.”
"There is nothing better than a home race and the whole team is looking forward to seeing the papaya fans among the sell-out crowd. Of course, as well as being a home race for the team, Silverstone also marks Lando's home Grand Prix, which means we really feel the support from the grandstands. Plenty of our own team will also be at the race, seeing their hard work in action.
“It’s been good to spend some time away from track since Canada. Since then, we’ve reviewed the weekend, know where we need to improve, and we’re now putting our full focus on the weekend ahead of us.
“The track itself is a fast one. Some of its iconic features, such as Maggots and Becketts, are a challenge for any driver, so it will certainly be exciting for the fans. Logistically it’s a nicer one for the team as it’s a shorter journey to the circuit compared to usual - certainly a perk of a home race. Let’s keep going and keep pushing forward, see you soon, British fans.”
What the stats say
It would be fair to say that home comforts have played a role over the years, with 14 British Grand Prix wins in total, making us the second most prolific team at the event. All bar two of those have been at Silverstone, including three in a row between 1999 and 2001.
We're one of just four teams to have won at the track in the past 15 years, our most recent victory coming courtesy of Lewis Hamilton in 2008.
Unsurprisingly, Lando's got plenty of experience at his home circuit. In 2014, a 13-year-old Lando made his Silverstone car racing debut in the Ginetta Junior Championship, where he took a podium. This was followed up by a victory and another podium in European Formula 3 at the track three years later.
He banked another rostrum whilst racing in Formula 2 the following year, before making his F1 debut at the track in 2019, narrowly missing out on the points with 11th place. In the two seasons since then, he's improved with fifth and fourth.
Three years before Lando's Ginetta Junior appearance at the circuit, Daniel was making his Formula 1 debut at Silverstone. Since that race in 2011, he's finished in the top 10 eight times, including a podium in 2014.
Session times
Free Practice 1 | 13:00 local / 08:00 EDT / 14:00 CEST |
Free Practice 2 | 16:00 local / 11:00 EDT / 17:00 CEST |
Free Practice 3 | 12:00 local / 07:00 EDT / 13:00 CEST |
Qualifying | 15:00 local / 10:00 EDT / 16:00 CEST |
Race | 15:00 local / 10:00 EDT / 16:00 CEST |
What to watch out for
Silverstone always attracts a bumper crowd, with attendances previously breaking the 350,000-mark across the weekend, and they're a passionate bunch. As a British team, with a British driver, and the greatest fans on the planet, we're hoping for the usual sea of papaya. When fans returned to the event last year, Lando and Daniel received overwhelming receptions.
The British weather is another, of course, consistently inconsistent, you never quite know what you're going to get at Silverstone from one minute to the next. It's not uncommon for fans to be soaked while soaking up the action – not that they ever seem to mind.
And finally, some of the best corners on the calendar. Ask any driver to name their favourite turns, and several from Silverstone are always likely to crop up. Maggots and Becketts are adored: a fast left-hander that is followed by an even quicker right-hander and then a sharp right at Chapel.
It doesn't get any easier either, as Stowe follows the ultra-fast Hanger Straight next. During this section, it's important to find the limit and resist the urge to plunge down on the brakes to keep the lap flowing.
A wide track where top speeds can hit up to 200km/h, Silverstone provides plenty of places to overtake but just as many chances for it to all go wrong.
What to wear
Lando's new Silverstone collection, of course. We know you'll have been tempted to pile on the tweed, or to pull out your finest Union Jack whistle and flute (cockney rhyming slang for suit), but this is a much more modern British look.
The latest LN04 branded hoodies and tees still have a much subtler Union Jack on the sleeve and are available in three colours, black, sweetcorn and aqua blue, with a lively splash of neon on the back. Don't worry, we've checked, and there isn't an elbow patch in sight.
Lando Silverstone collection Celebrate Lando's home race in style
McLaren Creators
Every week, our social channels and the McLaren Technology Centre post room are chock-a-block with amazing art pieces that our fans have created and sent to us. Going through them always warms our hearts, and so we wanted to share the love.
Whether you're a skilled sketcher, a budding paper mache artist, or prefer to paint by numbers, our new McLaren Creators segment will highlight our favourite pieces from our inspired fanbase.
This week we're spotlighting a piece of awesome McLaren artwork from Noemi, a hobby painter who lives in Hungary.
"I've always loved painting and Formula 1, and I like to combine the two with my art. I started by watching the races with my parents and last year I went to the Hungarian Grand Prix for the first time. I saw the McLarens, on the track, and I loved it!"
Want to have your works of art featured in our preview and on our channels? Send us your creations by tagging McLaren and using the hashtag #McLarenCreators.
Plus one
We can't reveal too much yet, but trust us when we say we've got some great stuff in the works for our McLaren Plus members this week… So if you haven't already, then make sure you sign up below so that we can keep you in the loop.
We want to see as many of you as possible decked out in Lando's new Silverstone range, so how about the chance to win a bundle? We might just announce a giveaway in the coming days, including some of our favourite items from his new collection, but shush, you didn't hear that from us.
And if that wasn't enough, how many of you have ever dreamt of owning personalised McLaren merch? Silly question, right? Who hasn't done?
Well, if you're going to Silverstone, then this could become a reality. We may or may not (we definitely do) have a pop-up store at Silverstone where you can have your name and racing number printed on McLaren replica polos or set up t-shirts. But again, more on this exciting development later.
Okay, so we probably revealed a little more than we should have done there, but we won't tell if you don't.
McLAREN Racing and Mind announce ‘One Lap for Mind’ fundraising challenge for the British GP
Participants can sign up to walk, run, or cycle the distance of one lap of Silverstone
Quintessentially modern
McLaren driver Lando Norris has released a new range for the 2022 British Grand Prix at Silverstone
Join the team
McLaren Plus is our free-to-join fan engagement programme, bringing McLaren fans closer to the team with the most inclusive, rewarding and open-to-all fan programmes in motorsport.
Sign up now, or current members can amend their details in the form below if necessary.