Silverstone – circuit information
Silverstone hosted the first round of the world championship in 1950 and has been the permanent home of the British Grand Prix since 1987.
It first came into use after World War Two when the runways where Wellington bombers used to take off were converted for use as a racing circuit. A fast perimeter layout was then adopted, and the pit and paddock for the first race was situated near to what is now Abbey.
They were subsequently relocated to a new position between Woodcote and Copse and remained their for decades, during which time the race often alternated with the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent. But Silverstone’s larger expanses meant it was better able to respond to the growing demand for more run-off area.
After two attempts at slowing the cars by building chicanes at Woodcote, a wholesale renovation in 1991 saw the ultra-high-speed circuit forever changed. Further alterations followed three years later in the wake of the Imola tragedies.
Year after year Silverstone’s place on the calendar was put into doubt, and for 2010 the race was set to move to Donington Park. But when that fell through Silverstone conclude a new long-term contract, part of which included further development of the track.
A new infield section was constructed, partly to allow Moto GP bike races to bypass the Bridge sequence which was deemed to dangerous for them, and another new pit complex – dubbed The Wing – was constructed at the exit of Club corner.
Circuit information
| Lap data | |
| Lap length | 5.891km (3.66 miles) |
| Race laps | 52 |
| Race distance | 306.332km (190.346 miles) |
| Pole position | Left-hand side of the track |
| Lap record* | 1:27.369 (Lewis Hamilton, 2019) |
| Fastest lap | 1:25.093 ( Valtteri Bottas , 2019, qualifying) |
| Maximum speed | 329.5kph (204.742 mph) |
| DRS zone/s (race) | Pit straight and Hangar straight |
| Distance from grid to turn one | 296m |
| Car performance | |
| Full throttle | 70% |
| Longest flat-out section | 1034m |
| Downforce level | High |
| Gear changes per lap | 40 |
| Fuel use per lap | 2.8kg |
| Time penalty per lap of fuel | 0.112s |
Stats and facts:
Ferrari have more wins than any other team here, with fourteen. Ferrari-powered cars have also won here more than any other engine, also with fourteen wins.
British drivers have over three times more victories at Silverstone than any other nation. The British national anthem has played out twenty one times at the track.
There are three previous winners of the British Grand Prix on the 2019 grid. Lewis Hamilton has the most victories, with six, Sebastian Vettel has won here twice, while Kimi Raikkonen won at Silverstone in 2007.
The longest streak of different winners at this track came between 2003 and 2010, when there were no repeat winners for eight seasons.
The British Grand Prix at Silverstone has been won by over a lap on five occasions. Alberto Ascari was first to finish a lap ahead of everyone else in 1952 and since then Juan Manuel Fangio in 1956, Jackie Stewart in 1969, Emerson Fittipaldi in 1975 and Alain Prost in 1985 have all joined the Italian in completing the feat.
The smallest win margin at Silverstone is 0.765 seconds, which is the amount Nico Rosberg won the 2013 event by.
A race at this track has been won by less than five seconds on thirteen occasions, including four times since the configuration of the track was updated in 2010.
