Jenson Button can take another step towards the Formula 1 World Championship with a win at Silverstone. His Brawn GP team also enjoy a healthy lead in the Constructor's Championship.
British Grand Prix History
Silverstone hosted the very first round of the Formula 1 World Championship in 1950, a race won by Giuseppe Farina in an Alfa Romeo. Since then the British Grand Prix has been a mainstay of the Grand Prix calendar. The race has been held at Aintree and Brands Hatch but has resided at Silverstone permanently since 1987. Next year the race is set to move to Donington Park.
The British Grand Prix has produced some classis races over the years. In 1957 Stirling Moss won at Aintree in a Vanwall, the first time a British driver had claimed victory in their home race driving a British car. During the 1960s Jim Clark won the race five times with Lotus.
In 1973 Silverstone was the setting for one of the largest pile-ups in Formula 1 history, when Jody Scheckter lost control of his McLaren and half the field were caught up in the ensuing carnage. 1985 saw Keke Rosberg average over 160 mph for a qualifying lap at Silverstone. Such speeds were never seen again, due to a redesign of the circuit which slowed the cars. In 1999 Michael Schumacher saw his title challenge end at Stowe corner when he broke his leg in an accident.
British GP Statistics and Weather Forecast
Race date: Sunday, June 21st
Race distance: 60 laps
Circuit length: 3.194 miles (5.141 km)
Lap record: 1 minute, 18.739 seconds (Michael Schumacher, 2004 - Ferrari)
2009 British GP weather forecast: Light rain showers on Friday and Saturday. Cloudy with sunny intervals on Sunday.
2009 British GP Form Guide
Button will be desperate to win in front of his home fans, but the Englishman can expect stiff competition from his Brawn GP team-mate Rubens Barrichello. The veteran Brazilian loves Silverstone and won the British Grand Prix for Ferrari in 2003.
Red Bull drivers Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel both made it onto the podium last time out in Turkey. They will be aiming for the top step at Silverstone in the final British Grand Prix to be held at the historic venue. The race is scheduled to move to Donington Park from 2010 but there is a chance it could disappear from the Formula 1 calendar altogether.
Williams, Toyota and Ferrari will all be looking for points finishes at Silverstone. Last year's race was won by defending World Champion Lewis Hamilton in atrocious conditions but he will need a minor miracle to repeat the feat this time. Hamilton has been struggling all season with a recalcitrant McLaren.
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