2010 British Grand Prix

Championship standings

Hamilton leads the Drivers’ Championship after winning at Valencia. The McLaren is proving the strongest package over the mid-season flyaway and European rounds.

Previous race

Hamilton won the European Grand Prix in Valencia despite receiving a drive-through penalty for overtaking the safety car as it emerged from the pit lane. The penalty had little effect: Hamilton was already well clear of the rest of the field. The safety car had been deployed after Webber collided with Kovalainen at the fastest point on the circuit, launching Webber’s car into a somersault. Webber escaped unhurt. The incident sparked controversy over the safety car deployment procedure, which the FIA has since revised ahead of this race.

Between-race developments

Following the Valencia safety car controversy, the FIA has introduced a delta time system: drivers are given a minimum lap time of 120% of a standard race lap during safety car periods. However, after several drivers were penalised at Valencia for exceeding the delta time while already racing past the accident and approaching the end of their lap, the rule has been further refined. Drivers must now slow to the speed of the safety car from the moment it is deployed but are exempt for the final 200 metres of the lap.

Ferrari conducted a “filming day” at Fiorano ahead of this race using parts intended to debut here; the FIA has responded by banning teams from running un-raced parts at filming sessions or media events going forward.

Entrants

Hispania Racing has dropped Bruno Senna in favour of Sakon Yamamoto for this race. Team principal Colin Kolles stated the change was not sponsorship-related; no explanation was given for Senna’s absence. Yamamoto previously participated in Friday practice at Turkey. Senna is confirmed to return at Hockenheim.

Paul di Resta stands in for Liuzzi at Force India and Fairuz Fauzy takes over Trulli’s seat at Lotus for the first practice session only.

Track changes

The British Grand Prix uses the new Silverstone Arena configuration for the first time, adding 760 metres to the lap and introducing a new section through the infield. Drivers have expressed mixed views on the layout, with Webber and Alonso enthusiastic and Kubica and Kovalainen preferring the old circuit. Almost every driver has noted a large bump on the approach to the reprofiled Abbey turn. Several drivers have requested changes to the high kerbs through the Maggotts-Becketts complex.

Nigel Mansell serves as the drivers’ representative on the stewards’ panel.

Practice

The Friday sessions were the first time drivers experienced the new layout. Red Bull dominated: Vettel was fastest in the first session and Webber in the second. The new layout caught several drivers out, with Hamilton and Schumacher running wide at Abbey. The Ferraris of Alonso and Massa struggled for pace in the first session, while Petrov was quicker than teammate Kubica. In both sessions, only four drivers were within a second of the leader. Kovalainen continued to reduce the gap to the established teams, while Sakon Yamamoto was the slowest of the 24 drivers, 7.5 seconds off the pace. Trulli, having handed his car to Fauzy for the opening session, was repeatedly hampered by hydraulics problems.

In Saturday’s session, Vettel returned to the top of the time sheets with Webber a close second; both were the only drivers to break the 1:31 barrier all weekend. Trulli lost further time to hydraulics issues, as did Sutil. Glock’s VR-01 suffered a throttle problem. Vettel’s front wing detached on the high-speed approach to Abbey late in the hour; the German slowed the car and prevented an accident, and his time remained unbeaten to the end of the session.

Car upgrades

Virgin brings their most significant upgrade of the season. Lotus brings their final aerodynamic update for 2010, with the team now shifting focus to the 2011 car. McLaren introduced a blown diffuser concept for Friday practice only, abandoning it after struggling with the balance.