Shell and Ferrari look to cement title lead

The team and more particularly Michael Schumacher have not enjoyed an abundance of success at Silverstone in recent years. Indeed Michael has tasted victory just once at the Northamptonshire track during his 11 seasons in Formula One while Rubens Barrichello has only crossed the finishing line once during his three years with the Maranello outfit.

Silverstone was also the scene of Schumacher’s accident in 1999 when his Ferrari crashed into the tyre barriers at Stowe Corner, leaving the German with leg injuries, which kept him out of the cockpit until the penultimate race of the season.

Thankfully, Silverstone also offers many happy memories spanning over half a century. The track hosted the first World Championship Grand Prix in 1950 and has staged the British Grand Prix, (occasionally sharing with Aintree and then Brands Hatch), ever since.

Its layout has changed significantly during that time as its owners sought to satisfy safety requirements and offer changing demands for drivers. In its various layouts, the circuit has been the scene of some of the sport’s most memorable moments.

The 1973 race will be remembered for Jody Scheckter’s spin exiting Woodcote corner at the start of the second lap, which triggered a multiple pile-up. The 1987 event produced a momentous scrap between then Williams team mates Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet. Mansell repeated his 1987 win with victories in 1991 and 1993 before Johnny Herbert scored an emotional debut win in 1995.

“Silverstone is generally a high speed circuit with some slow sections,” said Shell Trackside Manager Tobias Tasche. “There are a lot of gear changes, particularly through the Brooklands and Luffield sections. As a former airfield circuit, it is also very exposed, and the wind can change direction without warning. This affects aerodynamics and fuel consumption, so we need to work with the team to design a fuel that will optimise the pit stop strategy.”