British Grand Prix - 6 July 2008

“It’s one of the best circuits on the calendar - a real driver’s circuit. It’s super-fast - the first half of the circuit doesn’t require any braking at all, just little lifts and shifts down through the gears. In fact, you need to watch the brake temperatures don’t drop too low because you’re not using them for much of the lap. Where else can you experience that? Formula 1 just wouldn’t be the same without Silverstone - it’s become a British phenomenon. Also, there’s something about racing in your home country that definitely affects you. You can’t really say what it is, but there’s something about the familiarity of your surroundings and the constant support of the crowd that gives you a boost throughout the whole weekend. It’s not something you experience anywhere else but it does make you that bit more determined to succeed.”

“The car’s high-speed balance needs to be spot-on. You need to have enough confidence to attack the faster corners; the high-speed change of direction needs to be positive but shouldn’t be too sharp or too understeery. And in qualifying, the tyres start to degrade towards the end of the lap so you have to be careful through the slow stuff at the end of the lap. It’s a unique challenge. The improvements we had in France were a very good step forward and you could feel that the car had more grip and better balance. At the Silverstone test, we have introduced further upgrades which we hope to race at the British Grand Prix. The team is currently pushing very hard and it’s encouraging when you can actually feel the improvements making the car go faster. We’re all optimistic of making a step forward for the race.”

4 Lewis Hamilton (38 points)

6 Heikki Kovalainen (20 points)

3 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes (58 points)