Hamilton eyes ‘super weird’ seventh Silverstone triumph

Fresh from two dominant triumphs, Lewis Hamilton will seek to complete an early-season hat-trick and extend his home wins record to seven without his usual impassioned supporters in "super weird" circumstances at this weekend's British Grand Prix.

The six-time world champion and current standings leader has always drawn energy from the big crowds that support him at Silverstone, but this year's event will be run behind closed doors in front of empty grandstands.

"The British Grand Prix is the best and that's particularly because of the fans -- thousands and thousands always turn up to create a great spectacle," said the Briton.

READ MORE

World No 1 Barty skips US Open citing significant virus risks

Stunning win for Emirati champion Rashid Al Dhaheri in junior division

"So, it is going to be super weird to be there without them."

For Hamilton, that means no crowd-surfing celebrations and keeping his feet on the ground as he bids to add to his wins at the Styrian and Hungarian Grands Prix as the coronavirus-delayed 2020 season returns.

This Sunday's race will be the 71st British Grand Prix and 54th at Silverstone and is followed one week later by a race at the same venue to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the inaugural world championship event in 1950.

After his recent victories, and given his great record at Silverstone, Hamilton will start as favourite, but can expect a strong challenge from his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who won the season-opener in Austria.

Already the two 'black Arrows' drivers have demonstrated the clear supremacy of their unbeaten W11 cars, dubbed "the fastest F1 cars ever" by team chief Toto Wolff this week.

He said: "We will miss our fans at Silverstone -- but we know that they will be rooting for us from home so we are determined to show our gratitude by putting on a great show.

"These are the fastest F1 cars ever built. They have broken the track records at both Spielberg and Budapest and it will be thrilling to see them on the iconic Silverstone circuit."

Agence France-Presse