Ian Fergusson
BBC weather forecaster

Air temperature at Silverstone is 21.7C and the track temperature is 36.4C. Wind is from the WSW, with gusts to 25mph in the past hour.

Dry and fine. Official risk of rain is 0%.

Pirelli has opted to go one step softer for this year's British Grand Prix, choosing the C2 as the hard tyre, C3 as the medium and C4 as the red-banded soft compound. The green intermediates and blue full wets will also be available, should they be needed, which they probably will be, because the weather is looking a little bit ropey.

The reason for tyre the change, Pirelli , externalsays in its preview, is to create a wider range of strategy options for Sunday's race.

Image source, Pirelli 2025

Opening practice at Silverstone is green.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

There is nothing us Brits love more than to chat about the weather, so if you're heading to Silverstone this weekend, what can you expect?

The forecast is not looking good for sun, I'm afraid, as rain is predicted for Saturday's qualifying and Sunday's race.

Friday's practice sessions should be dry and settled, but the following day light showers are due to arrive, with the grand prix set for drizzle and a moderate breeze.

BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

Hello to Jennie Gow, Harry Benjamin, F1 journalist Rebecca Clancy and F1 correspondent Andrew Benson. The team are ready to take us through this session, so click the 'listen live' tab at the top of this page to tune in.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent at Silverstone

Aston Martin say that Fernando Alonso will be running new updates for FP1 with Lance Stroll "on the previous spec". They add: "This will allow us to make comparisons between the different parts."

Image source, FIA

McLaren and Red Bull are upgraded for Silverstone out of the top four; Ferrari and Mercedes are not. In the midfield, both Aston Martin and Haas have brought along four performance updates to Great Britain.

Aston Martin

Floor body, floor fences, floor edge, coke/engine cover.

Haas

Floor body, floor fences, floor edge, sidepod inlet.

McLaren

Floor body, rear corner.

Red Bull

Floor body, floor fences.

Sauber

Floor body, front wing.

Racing Bulls

Front wing.

Williams

Floor fences.

Image source, Reuters

At last weekend's Austrian Grand Prix, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said it was likelier that George Russell would be at the team next season than Max Verstappen, but did not deny he was speaking to the world champion's representatives.

So, imagine you're Toto Wolff and you have to choose between Russell and Verstappen: who do you pick for the all-new 2026 era?

Let us know your thoughts on #bbcf1 on X, email f1@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 03301231826.

Also use those channels if you're at Silverstone this weekend and want a mention on the page.

Image source, Getty Images

There's another home driver to keep an eye out for in first practice, as Arvid Lindblad makes his F1 weekend debut at Red Bull.

The 17-year-old Formula 2 driver - who turns 18 in August - was granted a super licence last month and will take the wheel of Yuki Tsunoda's car in the opening hour at Silverstone.

Paul Aron is also making his first free practice appearance today. The 21-year-old Estonian is an Alpine reserve driver but he'll be sitting in for Nico Hulkenberg over at Sauber after the two teams reached agreement to share his duties.

Image source, Getty Images

Kimi Antonelli brings with him to Silverstone some excess backage from Austria in the form of a three-place grid penalty. The Italian rookie was found to be "fully at fault" by the stewards for the early collision with Max Verstappen - contact that ended both of their races on the opening lap.

The Dutchman put his arm around the 18-year-old Mercedes driver after the incident and said: "No one does that on purpose as well so for me, that’s not a big deal."

Image source, Getty Images

The British contingent of Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, George Russell, Oliver Bearman and Alex Albon - who says he does consider this a home grand prix even though he races under a Thai licence - get to salute their adoring crowd this weekend.

For Silverstone record holder Hamilton, he arrives this year not as a Mercedes driver but in the scarlet red of Ferrari.

Image source, Getty Images

The Italian team's floor upgrade in Austria helped Hamilton to a fourth-placed finish (Charles Leclerc was third), so this would be the perfect circuit to claim his first proper podium of the season, especially after his emotional victory on home turf 12 months ago.

Russell took pole here last year but had to retire the car, while Norris finished third and will be one of the favourites for the win this year.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Max Verstappen, meanwhile, was swamped by journalists in the paddock yesterday, all eager to hear the Dutchman's thoughts on the latest rumours he could be joining rivals Mercedes for the 2026 season.

"I have nothing to add," said Verstapen, who has a contract with Red Bull until 2028, when quizzed about his future.

The four-time world champion was also asked by 5 Live's Jennie Gow whether he could imagine driving for another team on the grid.

"I've always said to the team it would be ideal - and I think they feel the same way - is of course to finish off my career in Formula 1 with one team," Verstappen replied. "I think that would be something amazing, I think. And that's something that we are still trying to achieve."

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent at Silverstone

Image source, PA Media

George Russell says he "doesn't think I'll be going anywhere" amid links between his Mercedes team and four-time world champion Max Verstappen.

Mercedes have talked to Verstappen's management about the possibility of the Dutchman joining them from Red Bull next year.

The 27-year-old Briton is out of contract with the Silver Arrows at the end of this season. "The likelihood I'm not at Mercedes next year, I think, is exceptionally low," said Russell on Thursday.

"I know where their loyalty lies. It doesn't need to be public. It doesn't need to be broadcast to everybody.

"I feel I'm performing better than ever. And it's as simple as that really. Performance speaks for everything."

Read the full story here

Lorraine McKenna
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Hello, folks. July on the F1 calendar means only one thing for us here in the UK: The British Grand Prix.

We've arrived at Silverstone - the place where it all began 75 years ago - for round 12 of the 2025 season. The circuit, as you would expect, is packed to the rafters with excited fans who are all hoping for a home victory.

First practice gets under way at 12:30 BST.

Second practice goes green at 16:00 BST.

Austria seven days ago was all about McLaren, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri securing a dominant one-two. The win for Briton Norris cuts Piastri's lead in the title fight to 15 points heading into the 52-lap race this weekend.

The story making waves for the second weekend in a row, however, is the George Russell-Max Verstappen-Mercedes saga. Is the Dutchman heading for a team change? Or is Russell finally going to put pen to paper on a new Silver Arrows contract? ...