2 July 2025 09:55 (UTC)
"Silverstone up next! My favourite weekend of the year"
Every year, Formula 1 fans flock in their thousands to the rural countryside county of leafy Northamptonshire to watch special moments play out, and very rarely do they leave empty-handed.
If there were to be a Mount Rushmore of race tracks, Silverstone would undoubtedly be deserving of a place among the four, with teams and drivers having been creating memories here since the very first season of Formula 1, 75 years ago.
To prepare you for this weekend’s action, we’ve gathered the thoughts of Lando, Oscar, and Team Principal Andrea Stella, as well as a list of reasons why we love the British Grand Prix, its main challenges and a recap on the season so far.
"Silverstone up next! My favourite weekend of the year and mine and McLaren's home race. It’s already a special circuit, but to also have my family, friends, home fans and so many of the team there supporting us takes it to another level. I’ll try to make sure I give the fans a wave as I drive past, especially those in my own Landostand, which I'm really excited to see full of fluro.
“With all that said, this is another important race weekend, and one that I want to get the most out of. Off the back of the result in Austria, I want to continue that momentum into this weekend and ensure we give our home fans something to cheer about.”
“The race in Austria was very encouraging and it was clear that the pace was there. With a few good learnings, I’m in great shape to bring my best at the British GP.
“I’ve always been lucky enough to get an awesome reception at Silverstone and it’s cool to be part of the team’s home race. Thanks to everyone trackside and at MTC, who are doing such a great job with the car.”
“This weekend is special to us as it’s both the team and Lando’s home race. It’s always a great moment to see so many colleagues and fans in papaya in the grandstands. We hope to deliver a result for them to celebrate this weekend.
“We are now officially halfway through the 2025 season. It’s a good time to take a moment to acknowledge both our hard work, which has put us at the top of both championships, but also all the challenging moments thanks to the close competition around us. We will continue to focus on ourselves and our own performance, knowing that the rest of the season will demand all our efforts in this incredibly competitive period of Formula 1.”
The fans, of course. This weekend’s race in Silverstone is one of the most hotly anticipated, well-attended races of the entire season. No circuit has more grandstands than Silverstone, and this year, there’s even one dedicated solely to Lando fans, aptly named ‘Landostand’. Around 480,000 of you joined us at the home of British racing, last year.
At Silverstone, it’s quality as well as quantity. By now, Britain’s beloved summer of sport, which this year will include the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup, The Hundred cricket tournament, and of course the already-underway Wimbledon tennis Championships, is in full swing. At Silverstone, fans never fail to create a racket, generating a party-like atmosphere.
We’re always well-represented at the British Grand Prix, but increasingly so in recent years, with our Castore, Reiss, and Abercrombie & Fitch ranges all well sported by fans throughout the circuit, along with plenty of New Era caps and SunGod shades.
Of course, there’s the typical British weather. In recent years, we’ve enjoyed scorching heat and torrential rain, sometimes both on the same day. It's challenging to work within those conditions, and it also raises strategic questions for the team.
The track is undoubtedly the biggest test we’ll face, though. The Silverstone Circuit really pushes a car’s aerodynamic ability and power unit capability. It’s wide and free-flowing, allowing drivers to put their foot down and cars to go wheel-to-wheel with one another.
The circuit also features several abrupt changes of direction that impact downforce, grip and require a well-balanced car, while the heavy G-forces test the strengths of Lando and Oscar’s necks. The famous Maggotts, Becketts, and Chapel section is the best example of this, with drivers weaving through a series of rapid left-right-left changes in direction, navigating roughly two lateral G’s.
They then fire down the Hangar Straight at around 200km/h, where they can line up a move going into Stowe. Overtaking is also possible at Copse and Abbey, two flat-out right-handers that further accentuate the circuit’s old-school feeling.
THIS WEEKEND
Lando and Oscar finished P1 and P2 in the Austrian Grand Prix, recording our first victory in the race since 2001 and our first 1-2 since 2000.
Oscar jumped ahead Charles Leclerc for P2 in the early stages of the race to put himself directly behind Lando. From there, our duo controlled the 70 laps, enjoying a clean battle to finish in P1 and P2, respectively, securing our 17th and 18th podiums of the season.
After 11 rounds, we lead the Constructors’ Championship on 417 points, 207 ahead of second place.
We just had to…
Few fits feel more modern-day Great Britain than the classic I ❤️ London T-Shirts, and it’s about time we created our own. If you didn’t snap one of these up ahead of McLaren Racing Live: London, we’d suggest copping one for Silverstone.
Additionally, we’ve released our now annual Lando Norris home race range, the highlight of which is, as ever, the British-themed bucket hat. Meanwhile, Reiss has dropped their latest Grand Prix-themed capsule, comprising two long-sleeve T-shirts featuring British-inspired streetwear-style graphics.
