How the British GP was won

1. Hamilton wins brilliantly after rain in latter stages
2. Rosberg 2nd, Vettel 3rd, Massa 4th
3. Both Williams over take both Mercedes at start
4. Huge cheers as Hamilton retakes lead after dramatic start
5. Button, Grosjean, Maldonado, Nasr, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Sainz out
6. Use live coverage tab to catch-up on the race

Thanks and goodbye

Getty Images

It's time, I fear, for us to sign off now. That was a totally absorbing British Grand Prix, with the unpredictable weather only adding spice to what was already an intriguing battle between Mercedes and Williams.

In the end, the class of world champion Lewis Hamilton told. He not only got the jump on his rivals in the first round of pit stops, but then made a simply outstanding call to go onto the intermediate tyre just as the rain fell in earnest.

On such spur-of-the-moment calls are world titles won.

The Mercedes man now boasts a 17-point lead over team-mate Nico Rosberg heading into the three-week break before Hungary.

Yes, three weeks! That's 21 days! Or 504 hours! Or 30,204 minutes!

How will we cope?

See you on the other side.

Twitter

New chapter in Button's Silverstone misery

It's fair to say Jenson Button's expectations were not high heading into today's race given the performance to date of the lamentable McLaren, but retiring just three laps into the grand prix - speared by his out-of-control team-mate - managed to duck under even those lowest of hopes.

After 16 goes at his home race dating back to 2000, the Briton remains without a Silverstone podium, with three fourth-placed finishes (the first coming at BAR in 2004) his best performances

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Get involved - #bbcf1

Lucy: Bye for now Silverstone.

Twitter

"Excitement in the extreme"

Eddie Jordan

BBC F1 chief analyst

"It was a classic day. Everyone here is united in praise for Silverstone and the winner himself was magic. He did everything perfect. The restart was the moment for me, excitement in the extreme. I loved every minute of it."

Get involved - #bbcf1

Alison Stowers: Boys on the track at silverstone

Twitter

Hamilton revelled in wet conditions

Lewis Hamilton is chinwagging with Suzi Perry and co on F1 Forum. Here is what he has had to say: "The vibe, energy is electrifying. It was so difficult out there. So tricky. When you are the first driver you are the first to see the conditions. I was struggling with understeer but I knew I had to come in. I saw the drops on my visor and knew I had to go in.

"It is a lottery, sometimes you get it right and sometimes you get it wrong. When I had got the wets on, that is my ground, I enjoy that. I felt comfortable by the end.

"I still have some work to do, but to be up there amongst the greats, I am really fortunate."

AFP/GETTY

AP

Howden Ganley klaxon!

McLaren on Twitter: Quick #BrandCentre meet 'n' greet for 2 McLaren legends: Howden Ganley & Martin Brundle.

McLaren

Watch: race highlights

Auntie Beeb doesn't hang around when she's watched an exciting grand prix.

She's already clipped up nine minutes of Silverstone highlights for you to enjoy.

Re-live the fun and games here.

BBC

Get involved - #bbcf1

RoninMusic: A brilliant end to a brilliant weekend. Thank you for having us Silverstone. Now, track invasion!

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Re-live Massa's stunning start

Still trying to work out how Massa made that stunning getaway? So are we.

It's well worth another look.

BBC

Get involved - #bbcf1

MyLondonHome: On the track at Vale!

Twitter

John Johnstone: Our turn on the track! Only pedestrian speed.

Twitter

Eddie Jordan

BBC F1 chief analyst

I think one of the most exciting parts of the season so far was the period after the restart. The strategy call was gold dust. Nico probably said to himself: 'thank goodness he got this call wrong, he went in one lap early'. But he didn't, it was inspired."

Mercedes tie 62-year-old record

Mercedes have become the first team since the early 1950s to get two cars on the podium in nine consecutive races.

Ferrari achieved the feat, albeit with a four-car line-up, across the 1952-53 seasons.

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Other aftershaves are available

Paul Donald on Twitter: F1 got posh litter.

Twitter

Eddie Jordan

BBC F1 chief analyst

"Lewis is on another level. The championship last year made him much stronger, gave him that steely fight in his eyes. He walks through the paddock with that little strut. He knows he is the best."

Get involved - #bbcf1

Rob Ellington: On the track after the Silverstone Grand Prix.

Instagram

Hamilton's 'incredible day'

AP

More from Lewis Hamilton: "It doesn't seem real. I have to pinch myself. An incredible day. I didn't know how it was going to go. I thought when it started to rain the heavens was not going to make it easy to me. Nico was catching me and I chose to come in and change the tyres and thankfully it was the right choice.

"It would be great if the trophy was solid gold but to be up there with Brabham, Stewart, Clark. It is just crazy and to think that way past my time Hamilton will be on there makes me proud."

Rocky and The Karate Kid have got nowt on us

Those boffins over on BBC One have just signed off that brilliant race with an utterly brilliant montage to Baba O'Riley by The Who.

Bleeding marvellous. Gave me goosebumps.

Lovely.

BBC

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"We were fortunate in that Williams managed to jump Mercedes. Changeable conditions mixes things up. There was some talk they would have sprinklers around the tracks some years ago, we don't want to see gimmicks like that but the changeable conditions helped today."

Rosberg buzzing after exciting race

A bit more from Nico Rosberg: "It was not nice at one point. I could not get by the Williams but then it was cool, it was a great race when it started to drizzle, that gave me the opportunity to pass both Williams and then hunt down Lewis. I was believing I was going to get him but then the rain came more and Lewis made the right call. I thought it was wrong at first.

"It was exciting at times, a lot going on, if you ask the 140,000 people around the track if F1 is exciting they would give a big cheer."

Jordan slams 'arrogant' McLaren

Eddie Jordan

BBC F1 chief analyst

On McLaren's struggles: "None of us really know the full answer but, in my opinion, McLaren have been quite arrogant or aggressive in the way they have approached it. They need to be more humble. The engine and the team have not performed to the way we know they can."

And lo, the Earth did continue to spin on its axis

hasmaldonadocrashedtoday.com

Has Pastor crashed today?

What a shining beauty

Lewis Hamilton has been complaining about F1 trophies lately.

But there is no way on earth he's going to be unhappy with this gorgeous specimen.

I wonder how many car washes that would buy Niki Lauda?

Reuters

Lotuses lacked 'common sense' - Alonso

Fernando Alonso, who finished 10th: "I am not so excited. I know it is important for the team morale and motivation for everyone. The team is focused on the job, it is a long-term project but there are no magic solutions.

"It was an unbelievable start. The two Lotus were far too aggressive at Turn 3. I ended up in a spin and touched Jenson Button. Common sense [needed] I think."

Get involved - Raikkonen under threat at Ferrari? #bbcf1

Travis: Today was more down to poor luck, but I can see Hulkenberg or Bottas taking his seat at some point.

Craig W. Bickerstaff: I'd like to see Kimi keep his seat for 2016 when the car could be more competitive vs the Mercedes.

Derek McCord: I think Hulkenberg needs a chance in a front running car.

'It was a big struggle in the end'

Valtteri Bottas, who finished fifth: "We really struggled in the wet, I could not any grip or heat in the tyre. Not easy in the end. It was a big struggle in the end. Another weekend to learn from but the pace at the beginning was a real positive."

New record for Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has set new record for consecutive F1 races led by racking up number 18 today.

That beats Sir Jackie Stewart's long-standing record, the Scot having managed 17 in succession while driving for Matra and Tyrrell in 1969-70.

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Massa laments poor wet performance

Felipe Massa, who finished fourth: "It was a fantastic start but the second stop we made was the worst. We lost the opportunity then to be on the podium and also the rain showed we are not so competitive in the wet."

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Get involved - #bbcf1

Nick Bennetts: For such an unpredictable race, an unpredictable finishing result would've made this race even better.

Edson Charikinya: Williams should have let Bottas pass Massa early on in the race he had the pace.

Kyle Mclaren: Great race today but looking forward to the day that other drivers are on the podium.

Didn't he do well?

Reuters

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"It is very difficult not to be biased. What Nico did in Austria was fantastic - world championship material - but Lewis is box-office. We thought he had made a mistake at the restart and then we were unsure about his decision with the tyres but that was inspired. A great day for British motorsport.

"You have to feel for Nico because whatever he tries he is just coming up a little short."

Reuters

Get involved - #bbcf1

Peter Hamilton: Very disappointing for Williams, delighted for Sebastian Vettel and getting a bit tired of a Mercedes P1/P2.

Greg: There's something very special about the British GP. Always gives great racing and a great atmosphere.

Marc Patterson: For the first time in a long time, that was a great race. Congrats Lewis Hamilton. Shame for Williams though.

A familiar scene

No, you are not suffering from deja vu.

This is the sixth time in nine races this season that the podium has been occupied by Hamilton, Rosberg and Vettel.

Reuters

'It was Lewis's call to come in' - Wolff

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff: "It was Lewis's call to come in. We gave him the option. He did it at the perfect time and that gave him the edge.

"Williams were very quick, they both had a superb start and then it was impossible to overtake them, but when the weather got a bit more trickier that helped us."

On the 'fake' pit stop: "Sometimes you have to play the little games but they did not swallow the dummy."

BBC

Rain key to podium - Vettel

Sebastian Vettel, who finished third: "Without the rain we would not be on the podium. We kept our head down and were patient enough until the rain poured down. That is England for you. We made the right choices and the team did a great job."

BBC

Hamilton got emotional on last lap

More from Lewis Hamilton: "I am so elated you cannot imagine. I teared up on the last lap hoping I could do it for all the guys. Thanks for all the support. Now let's party,"

Reuters

Hamilton made the better call - Rosberg

Nico Rosberg, who finished second: "I was pushing hard to try and catch Lewis under difficult conditions but he made the better call and that is where I lost it. Fair play to him."

BBC

'I made the perfect choice tyre-wise'

British Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton: "Thank you everyone for coming out today and making my weekend. I really wanted to do it for you guys. I am so thankful for all the support. I could see all the fans on every lap in the corner of my eye and they spurred me on.

"My clutch was good, we had quite poor grip at the start, the same for Nico but it made the race more exciting. I just kept pushing. For the first time in my career I made the perfect choice tyre-wise."

BBC

Podium interviews

Gino D'Acampo doing the podium interviews today.

Oh wait...

BBC

Final classification

F1

Obligatory donut

Hamilton delighted the Silverstone crowd with a brief donut on his warm-down lap.

Always good to see.

BBC

Title picture

With that win, Hamilton is now on 194 points, 17 ahead of Rosberg (177).

Mercedes' lead in the constructors' is now 160 over Ferrari and they may as well give them the trophy now.

BBC

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"Thoroughly deserved. Excellent. It was a hard-fought victory. He wanted it so badly, of all the wins this year, you sensed he wanted this one above all. The crowd wanted a British winner and that is what they got."

BBC

Hamilton achieves Silverstone hat-trick

That is Hamilton's third British Grand Prix win, his fifth of this season and 38th overall.

He's the first British winner from pole since Damon Hill in 1994, and the first back-to-back winner here since David Coulthard in 1999/2000.

Reuters

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"It is brilliant and it shows the awareness Lewis Hamilton has in the cockpit he knows that radio message will get played out to the fans at Silverstone and the world."

Mercedes team radio

Lewis Hamilton: "Great job guys, I am so happy with that. Thanks to all the fans for coming."

BBC

The top 10

All the drivers were pretty spaced out after all that rain excitement.

Nico Rosberg was able to ease home in second place, 10.9secs behind Hamilton and under zero pressure from behind, with third going to a no doubt elated Sebastian Vettel in the Ferrari.

Massa takes fourth, Bottas gets home in fifth ahead of Kvyat, then it's Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Perez and Alonso.

Chequered flag

LEWIS HAMILTON WINS THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX

BBC

Final lap

Order is Hamilton, Rosberg, Vettel, Massa, Bottas, Kvyat, Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Perez, Alonso

Blues skies emerging over Silverstone now, the British crowd is cheering its man home.

Hamilton about to enjoy his moment in the sun...

BBC

Mercedes team radio

"Rain intensity is increasing."

Hamilton cruising to flag

Reuters

His lead is out to more than 10 seconds over Rosberg.

He just has to keep it on the island but more rain is forecast.

Two laps to go...

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"It is a familiar look to the top three. It is disappointing for Williams, I am not sure they could do much more. It is the luck of the draw. Hamilton coming in for the change of tyres was inspired in the end."

Tom Clarkson

BBC F1 pit-lane reporter

"The plumes of spray coming past me on the pit straight are reducing with every lap so I think the drivers are going to have to go off line to protect the tyres to the end of the race."

Stevens spins off, loses nose

Bad news for Will Stevens, who spins his Manor just after Brooklands and has a fairly heavy bump into the barriers, swiping off his nose.

He continues but needs to stop for repairs.

BBC

BBC

Alonso on for first points of season

Just to flag up a potential breakthrough for Fernando Alonso at McLaren.

He's 10th and on for his first points of the season.

Six laps to go - top 10

F1

Manor on Twitter: Significant precipitation in the pit lane.

Manor

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"If it stops raining now, they can make it to the end of this race. There will not be enough time for someone to get in on the slicks and make up the difference."

Mercedes team radio

"Expect this to be the worst of the heavy rain and then it should dry out."

Tom Clarkson

BBC F1 pit-lane reporter

"There is blue sky coming this way. It could really turn out to be another pit stop back to dry tyres."

BBC

Vettel benefits from early switch to inters

The Ferrari of Vettel took an early gamble on the inters and it's paid off.

The German is up to third place, behind leader Hamilton and Rosberg.

Massa and Bottas have been in for inters and they are running fourth and fifth respectively.

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"Rosberg is losing a huge amount of time and the rain is really coming down now. Hamilton has extended his lead. Rosberg, Massa and Bottas all in. They will have to stack them up at Williams."

Actually, that looks inspired from Hamilton

Wow. That was brilliant from the Mercedes pit wall.

Hamilton's stop was timed to perfection. He goes on the inters JUST as the rain falls.

Team-mate Rosberg has to do a slippery lap on the dries before coming in and Hamilton is back into the lead.

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"Let's start doing a rain dance if we want to see a British winner this afternoon."

Hamilton pits from lead

OK, we were not expecting this.

Hamilton has gone for intermediate tyres!!

Rosberg leads and Hamilton is left praying for rain.

BBC

Ian Fergusson (BBC Weather) on Twitter: 1414 BST More showers are on way so this tricky phase not over yet

More rain coming

Race control says more rain is coming at 14:20 BST.

That does not stop Ericsson from going back onto the dry-weather tyre.

Who's on what tyre?

Five drivers, Raikkonen, Ericsson, Alonso, Stevens and Merhi, are on the intermediate tyre.

All are praying for more rain.

Get involved - #bbcf1

Nik: Would have been better for Kimi to go onto the softer medium tyre than the inter I'd of thought?

Neil B: The inters are just going to self destruct on half of the circuit as it's clearly too dry…

Paul Thompson: Jenson Button would be relishing these conditions right now. He must be gutted he's out of the race!

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"Kimi Raikkonen is struggling on the intermediates. I suspect he will have to come in on this lap."

But the drivers have just been told more rain is coming.

Rosberg loving the wet

Nico Rosberg is flying in these conditions.

He's just got a pass done on Massa for second, diving up the inside into Village.

The damage limitation job is done. Can he close in on Hamilton?

BBC

Hamilton off through Copse

Leader Hamilton has a moment through Copse too, running wide on the exit in the slippery conditions. He gathers it together and still leads from Massa, who is still five seconds back.

"It's incredibly dangerous," Hamilton says on the radio, referring to the offending corner.

Rosberg passes Bottas for third

Bottas is really unhappy in these changeable conditions.

The Williams driver gets a real wobbled on through Copse and Rosberg is able to sail past.

New order: Hamilton, Massa, Rosberg, Bottas.

Raikkonen into the pits

He's gone for the intermediate tyre.

Inspired or foolhardy?

We'll see.

BBC

Rosberg off through Woodcote

Rosberg gives a demonstration of how wet it's getting.

He sails well of track at Woodcote.

There's wet patches and dry patches. Very touch call for the teams.

BBC

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"Bottas is struggling perhaps he hasn't managed to get the heat into those tyres. The team clearly did not say stop, stop, stop otherwise he would be in. In these conditions the driver has to make the decision to stop or not, he knows the condition out there. Bottas is dropping back and Massa is looking comfortable."

Mercedes team radio

Lewis Hamilton: "The rain has stopped."

Williams team radio

Bottas: "There are drops, I think we need to stop."

At least give it at try, Valtteri.

James Allen

BBC Radio 5 live commentator

"Michael Fish got it very wrong once - it looks like the F1 teams have got it very right."

Topical from James, there.

Rain is falling

What happens now?

BBC

Ben Edwards

BBC F1 commentator

"What the VSC doesn't allow is everyone to close up, which is a shame but it does mean you get the restart more quickly."

Virtual safety car period over

Green lights flash around the track.

We're racing again.

Top 10 on lap 35

1 Hamilton leads by from around six seconds from Massa.

Then it's 3 Bottas, 4 Rosberg, 5 Raikkonen, 6 Vettel, 7 Kvyat, 8 Hulkenberg, 9 Perez, 10 Ericsson.

Sauber on Twitter: Could be an interesting last part of the race as there is rain expected in about ten minutes! Let's see...

Sauber

Get involved - #bbcf1

Clare Angela O'Brien: Got my sunhat and shorts on sat in Stowe at the Grand Prix, please don't rain!!

James Bennett: I'm 30 miles away in South Warwickshire and it's raining...

Jan Wilkins: The fact everyone seems to be praying for rain to stir things up says a lot about the state of F1 today!

Sainz slows to a halt

We've not long seen Carlos Sainz sail off the track and just couple of laps later he has ground to a halt just on the outside the final corner.

The virtual safety car has been deployed, which means the drivers must run at reduced speeds.

BBC

BBC

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"The rain is definitely out there, and it is definitely coming this way."

Red Bull explain Ricciardo retirement

The team says "engine electrical issues" forced the Austraian out.

Love a rain chart

Formula 1

Mercedes team radio

Team to Rosberg: "Nico, give it everything. Give it everything."

Rosberg ups ante in battle for third

Bottas looks to be falling off the back of Massa as things stand.

Rosberg is around four tenths off the Finn. He needs to get this pass done.

As things stand, Rosberg will lose 13 points to Hamilton, and fall 23 back in the title race.

Jennie Gow

BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter

"It's raining in Brackley [Mercedes' nearby factory]."

Coverage options

BBC

Don't forget you can view extra camera streams across the race, including driver tracker, pit lane channel, on-board and timing screens.

C'mon the rain...

The Mercedes drivers are told rain is "quite likely, quite likely".

Mercedes pit dummy 'against the rules'

Williams chief technical officer Pat Symonds, speaking to BBC Sport: "We can't get away from the fact Mercedes have good pace. It will be interesting to see now what Rosberg does, will he switch to a two-stop and have a go at us? It also looks like the rain is coming.

"You have to try and outthink them. I think coming out in the pitlane is against the rules if it is not a genuine call. We didn't fall for that one."

Rain will hit Stowe first

Ferrari's weather gurus say the rain is blowing from such a direction that it will hit Stowe first.

So, a nice slow corner, then...

Mansell opines on the action

Twitter

Mercedes team radio

Lewis Hamilton asks if he needs to increase the gap on his rivals.

"The main thing is getting to the end Lewis, 29 laps remain and threat of rain in 30 minutes," is the response.

Reuters

Lap 25 of 52

The order is

1 Hamilton, 2 Massa, 3 Bottas, 4 Rosberg, 5 Raikkonen, 6 Vettel, 7 Kvyat, 8 Hulkenberg, 9 Sainz, 10 Perez, 11 Ericsson, 12 Alonso, 13 Stevens, 14 Merhi.

Just 14 cars running.

Hamilton opening up clean air

Hamilton is getting the hammer down here.

He's now four seconds up the road from Massa.

Williams team radio

Both drivers are told: "This is a straight fight to the end."

Mercedes team radio

To Nico Rosberg: "Nico we are going to go to plan B."

Ricciardo out

Tom Clarkson

BBC F1 pit-lane reporter

"Bad news for Daniel Ricciardo, the engine is off and he is being pushed into the garage."

BBC

How much excitement can we take?

Formula 1

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"That was brilliant. Bottas said: 'ok I was made to look like a dummy first time, I am going to fight back'. Great driving from both Bottas and Rosberg."

PA

Hamilton leads after pit stops

It's between the Finn and Hamilton for the lead.

Bottas has a 3.2 second stop but it's not enough to beat Hamilton, who surges through into the lead.

Bottas feeds in just behind Massa and almost loses a place to Rosberg in turn, but the Finn just holds off the Mercedes.

The new race order is: Hamilton, Massa, Bottas, Rosberg.

BBC

Massa and Rosberg in together

Massa had a 3.8 second stop there and that slow turnaround allows Rosberg to get alongside him as they went down the pit lane.

Massa just had the lead though and the Mercedes driver had to cede the line.

While they were squabbling, Hamilton passed both after making that earlier stop.

BBC

James Allen

BBC Radio 5 live commentator

"Some darker clouds arriving on the horizon."

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"That is why it is so important the team perfect the pit stop. He has clean air and fresh tyres. Let's see how others react."

Hamilton in

Good stop - 2.4secs stationary. You cannot do it much quicker than that.

He feeds out behind the Force India of Sergio Perez but crucially is able to pass the Mexican.

Mercedes team radio

Team to Hamilton: "Box box, box box."

Get involved - #bbcf1

Teebo's Ghost: It'll be won & lost in the pits. You heard it here first.

Tom Bennett: People saying Williams are throwing this away. They're racing not just having a procession surely that's a good thing for F1.

Benedict Salido: Put these top 4 drivers in a same car and this race gives you a glimpse of who really is a better driver. Hamilton champ only because of the car.

Bottas looks again at Stowe

If it's going to happen, it's going to happen at Stowe.

But yet again Bottas cannot quite get it up alongside his team-mate.

Massa is driving very well here. A cool head using all the experience he has amassed since coming into F1 in 2002.

Reuters

Red Bull team radio

Daniel Ricciardo, currently 12th: "I've got a loss of power."

Raikkonen flying

Raikkonen has done a 1:38.954 on his new tyres.

When these stops shake out expect to see the Finn in fifth place.

Both Ferraris now have stopped

Vettel stops in the second Ferrari as he, too, appears to have switched to a two-stopper.

The Ferrari boys are trying to get the better of Nico Hulkenberg, who is running very impressively in fifth place.

Ferrari came into this weekend thinking they would be battling Mercedes - I don't think the back end of a Force India was the expected view.

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

On Mercedes' pit antics: "It was a dummy run, trying to force Williams. You are not systematically allowed to do that, but you can only get away with it once. I think they have used their joker."

Mercedes fail to trick Williams

We've just seen the Mercedes mechanics in the pits trying to tease the Williams boys out.

But Williams don't fall for it.

On they go.

Massa, Bottas, Hamilton, Rosberg. Nothing between them.

Raikkonen pits

We've had a few stops already but Ferrari's Raikkonen is the first of the big boys to come in from sixth place.

He's onto the hard and could now be on a two-stopper.

'We will allow them to race, it is the Williams way'

Williams chief technical officer Pat Symonds to BBC Sport: "No we are not going to say let him through, we will allow them to race, it is the Williams way.

"It gets the heart beating but it is the way we choose to do it.

"We told them not to race while we sorted out how we thought Mercedes reacted to the race position. We'll see what happens now. We have the pace at the moment, it is a difficult place to overtake, it will all happen around the pitstops."

Can I just say right here and now that I love Williams. What a great team.

Get involved - #bbcf1

Mark Lander: Williams are throwing this race away.

Skeems: Williams need to let Bottas through.

Martijn Kösters: Williams not really used to managing two cars racing for P1, Dubious calls being made.

Giedo van der Garde

Williams team radio

Bottas: "I'm going to overtake - I can do it in the back straight."

Team: "It has to be a clean move and pull away when you are in front."

Bottas: "Copy."

Reuters

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"Valtteri Bottas has the better car right now, Williams should release him and allow him to go."

"Felipe, Valtteri is faster than you"

Bottas is looking far racier than Massa here. He's been having a look into Stowe for the last few laps.

Is it time for Williams to release the Finn from behind the Brazilian?

Button on lap-one retirement

McLaren's Jenson Button to BBC Sport: "Fernando Alonso's front was coming around but I didn't know he was spinning, he hit the rear tyre, the car jumped and came down aggressively and everything switched off.

"I love coming here. Whatever the result it is such a special race. I enjoy the circuit but it doesn't work out for me often."

BBC

Battled joined at the front

There is nothing between the top four at all here.

About three seconds covers Massa in first to Rosberg in fourth, with Bottas and Hamilton in between.

What a great race so far.

BBC

Jennie Gow

BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter

"There are showers in Swindon - we're keeping an eye on it."

Williams team radio

Team to Felipe Massa: "Felipe, this is very good. Look after the front left tyre."

Lap 8 standings

F1

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"A combination of issues for Mercedes at the start but Lewis Hamilton would not give it up to Valtteri Bottas. He could have backed out and not take the risk but that is not the way he is wired. He only knows one move and that is attack."

Get involved - #bbcf1

James Matthews: C'mon Bottas, it's time for your first victory.

Jenna Morrison: Is it too early to call this the best race of the season?

Stewart: There's been more action in the first 6 laps here than the last 6 races put together!

So, sit rep

.

We've got five retirements after all that excitement.

Nasr didn't start, Button out, along with Grosjean, Maldonado and Verstappen.

Mercedes

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"Race control are saying Romain Grosjean and Jenson Button caused a collision but I fail to see how Fernando Alonso spinning into his team-mate is the responsibility of Jenson Button."

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"It was like expensive ping pong between Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button."

Unpicking the first-lap midfield drama

So it seems the problems in midfield on that first lap occurred when the Lotus of Grosjean tangled with a Red Bull, sending the Frenchman into the sister car of Maldonado.

That triggered a secondary impact between Alonso and Button, the Spaniard attempting to avoid the Lotus tangle and spearing into team-mate Button, taking him out of the race.

Verstappen out!

Verstappen has spun off in the gravel into turn two and he's out.

This is a mad start to the British Grand Prix.

Safety car in

And there's drama immediately!

Hamilton flies off the circuit attacking Massa into Club and loses a place to Bottas.

Williams lead, Williams second.

BBC

Bottas nearly had Hamilton too

A replay of the start shows just how close Bottas was to making it a Williams one-two. Only some brave driving from Hamilton kept the pole-sitter in second place.

BBC

Lotus team radio

Team: "Switch the car off Pastor."

Safety car

We've got cars off following a coming-together in the midfield and I'm sad to say Jenson Button is one of them.

The Lotus cars of Maldonado and Grosjean were also involved and are out. Fernando Alonso has pitted with damage.

BBC

Woah!! Massa surges into the lead

Amazing start from Felipe Massa! He leads!

He simply got the jump on the two Mercedes drivers off the line, boiling through from third as the Mercedes struggled for traction off the line.

Hamilton is second, Bottas in the second Williams in third. Rosberg drops back to fourth.

Clutch problems for Mercedes?

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LIGHTS OUT!!

The 2015 British Grand Prix is under way.

BBC

Verstappen goes alone on hards

All the drivers are starting on the medium (quicker) tyre bar the Toro Rosso of Max Verstappen, who is taking a punt on the hard (slower) compound. The Dutchman is starting from 13th.

The cars are forming up on the grid now.

Sauber

Green lights

Formation lap begins.

Nasr not racing

We've just seen Felipe Nasr's car under covers in the pit lane.

He's not taking the start after all.

BBC

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"I think this will be very interesting. Nico Rosberg was a little nervous about the start. He has seen in the other racing categories this weekend, those lining up second and on the dirty side of the track have not been getting away well and he will be under a bit of pressure."

The grid

1 Hamilton, 2 Rosberg, 3 Massa , 4 Bottas, 5 Raikkonen, 6 Vettel, 7 Kvyat, 8 Sainz, 9 Hulkenberg, 10 Ricciardo

11 Perez, 12 Grosjean, 13 Verstappen, 14 Maldonado, 15 Ericsson, 16 Nasr*, 17 Alonso, 18 Button, 19 Stevens, 20 Merhi

* Nasr will start from pit lane.

Eddie Jordan

BBC F1 chief analyst

"Nico Rosberg needs to make a big move at the start.

"I think Williams will stay with them for two or three laps, find their own pace but then realise their fight is really beating the Ferraris and getting a place on the podium."

One stop expected

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

"Strategy-wise, this should be a straightforward one-stop race for most. A two-stop is little different in terms of overall race time but it puts the driver out of position on a track on which overtaking is not easy.

"For those starting on the faster medium tyre, the first stops are expected to be in the region of laps 18 to 22. A pit stop takes about 19 seconds. And the undercut - where a driver tries to overtake a slower car he is stuck behind by stopping first - is not that powerful as it is not clear how easy it will be to switch on the hard tyre."

AFP/GETTY

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Martin: Disappointed Alesha Dixon didn't do a rap in the middle of that, Misteeq style.

BBC

Toro Rosso fail to deliver on promise

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

"Toro Rosso have been impressive all weekend and had hopes of a third-row grid spot, only for things to unravel a little in qualifying. Max Verstappen complained of a loss of traction, which turned out to be down to two things. One was track-temperature related - the tyres were not in the right operating window. On top of that, there was a problem with the torque delivery of the engine, which has now been fixed for the race.

"As for Carlos Sainz, his final run did not come together. Technical director James Key said that looking at the ultimate grid times, sixth might have been possible."

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Sir Frank does a selfie

Williams

Williams on Twitter: Time for a Williams family selfie during build up to what should be a fantastic race.

Nasr update

Tom Clarkson

BBC F1 pit-lane reporter

"I have asked various people what the problem with Felipe Nasr's car is and they say they have nothing to say. At the very best he will be starting in the pitlane this afternoon."

His engine has just fired up so as things stand we expect him to start.

Allan McNish

BBC Radio 5 live analyst

The grid...

Allan McNish

Get involved - #bbcf1

Graham Dewar: All set for the British Grand Prix

Graham Dewar

What the papers say

Sun

Most of today's newspapers are dominated by the goings on at Wimbledon but Lewis Hamilton gets a decent amount of column inches in the Sun.

The newspaper carries a story saying Bernie Ecclestone has guaranteed a Hamilton win today, saying: "Lewis will win it. Don't worry."

Clark & Prost lead way among British GP winners

Jim Clark and Alain Prost are the most successful drivers in the history of the British Grand Prix with five wins apiece.

British driver Clark won in his title-winning years of 1963 and 1965, as well as in 1962, 1964 and 1967.

Prost, meanwhile, rattled off near enough 10% of his 51 career wins on British soil, taking the chequered flag in 1983, 1985, 1989, 1990 and 1993.

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McLaren spared further pain

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

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"For McLaren, it could have been even worse than it already is. Ahead only of the Manors, they were lucky that the stewards took pity on them and let them off with a reprimand for the team erroneously fitting one of Jenson Button's tyres to Fernando Alonso's car in a mix-up ahead of their final qualifying runs.

"This would normally mean the back of the grid. Between the drivers, Alonso has had a comfortable edge on Button all weekend and ended up 0.248secs quicker. After a slow-ish start to his qualifying performances with his new team, with Button out-qualifying him in their first two races together (although in Malaysia this was down to Alonso dropping 0.5secs+ at one corner with an error), Alonso is now three-two up in the races in which neither have been hit by some form of reliability problem."

F1 journalist Pablo Elizalde ‏on Twitter: The Spice Girls are in the pitlane. My time machine works.

Constructors' championship standings

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Drivers' championship standings

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Nasr stops on track

BBC

A bit of pre-race drama to report.

The Sauber of Felipe Nasr has ground to a halt as he made his way around to the starting grid.

The Brazilian rookie is due to start 16th today. More as we get it.

Drivers' parade lap inerviews

BBC

Lewis Hamilton: "You can never get used to the crowds. I am just trying to really enjoy the moment because you only have this a few times in your life."

Jenson Button: "Starting 18th, alongside my two-time world champion team-mate in 17th. We will have a bit of fun out there."

Watch: Hamilton's third Silverstone pole

BBC

Re-live Lewis Hamilton's pole lap around Silverstone from yesterday.

Hamilton recorded a lap of 1:32.248 beating Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg by 0.113s, with Felipe Massa of Williams third.

Get involved - #bbcf1

Steve Nicoll: 140,000 fans!

@steve_nicoll

Six of the best

BBC

Raikkonen plays down qualifying display

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

Reuters

"Kimi Raikkonen came into this weekend under building pressure, well aware that he needed to start improving his performances to convince Ferrari to keep him on for 2016. So out-qualifying Sebastian Vettel on merit for the first time this season was the perfect response.

"Not that you would have known it from Raikkonen. What was it that had enabled him to do this, I asked? 'I've always said I'm not happy about it,' Raikkonen replied, not answering the question. 'I don't care if he is in front of me in these positions - yes maybe if we are one and two. It doesn't make me happy to be in front of him. Maybe people look at it differently but for me it is just a number.'"

'An F1 paddock. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious'

Mercedes

Star Wars guru George Lucas has been spotted down at Mercedes.

Mercedes eye hat-trick of British GP poles & wins

Mercedes are today chasing a third British Grand Prix pole position and win in a row.

Only Williams (in early 1990s) and Lotus (in the early 1960s) have previously achieved a pole and win hat-trick at this race.

Getty Images

Getty Images

Your #BritishF1hero

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We've been asking for your British F1 heroes in the build-up to the British Grand Prix and we've popped the best of your suggestions into a story, which you can check out now.

Keep your suggestions coming though, let us know who your #BritishF1hero is.

Get involved - #bbcf1

Nicky Ridge: In Club Corner Waiting For Lewis!

Nicky Ridge

Fractures emerging at McLaren?

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

Reuters

"Cracks are beginning to show in the so-far positive public face presented by McLaren and Honda after yet another difficult weekend. Reliability has not been as much of a problem as it was in the preceding races in Canada and Austria but Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button have been hurt by a lack of mileage because of the need to protect their engines.

"They have qualified 17th and 18th and behind the positions is the worrying statistic that, in percentage terms, they are slightly further from pole than in Canada, even though Silverstone and its fast corners should better suit the car-engine trade-off of a partnership that is massively down on power compared to the rest. Honda F1 boss Yasuhisa Arai continues to look unflappable and talk about it being a 'long-term project'. But McLaren racing director Eric Boullier admitted that "I don't think we can wait that long anymore'.

Get involved - race predictions #bbcf1

Kayleigh Gray: Nico to win, Bottas on the podium, Hulk top 5 and McLaren to finish!

KnowhowE1: Kimi leads Seb for a Ferrari one-two! The two Mercs' have a bit of a coming together. The Williams's slide back to 5th & 6th.

Paul Kent: Lewis Hamilton. P1. Hear that Lewis? The fans are going to get you there!

Pole position ain't everything round these parts

Getty Images

Get involved - #bbcf1

Phil Barnes: Sat at Vale waiting for the British GP to start.

Phil Barnes

Smedley 'surprised' by Williams pace

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

AFP/GETTY

"Williams were pleasantly surprised to beat both Ferraris in qualifying - and quite comfortably, too. A major aerodynamic upgrade that was introduced for Austria was always expected to pay better dividends around the demanding swerves of Silverstone and so it proved, Felipe Massa nearly 0.3secs quicker than the best of the Ferraris, Kimi Raikkonen.

"'I said pre-weekend that this is a circuit that would suit our car with all the high-speed sections," said head of performance Rob Smedley. 'So we knew if we did all the numbers and all the modelling, it looked like we would have a reasonable chance against Ferrari. I'm pleasantly surprised about the size of the gap.'

"Massa's strong season continued - the Brazilian was 0.064secs quicker than team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who he has now out-qualified six times in nine races this season. Which won't be doing much for the Finn's market value."

Get involved - #bbcf1

Andy Wilcox: Young Jenson celebrating his 3rd birthday today getting ready to watch the GP.

Solid F1 name, there. Nice work.

@AndyMWilcox

Mrs Horner, I presume?

Red Bull are having a tough time at the moment but I have to say I don't have too much sympathy for team boss Christian Horner for the following reasons:

1) He is married to a Spice Girl.

2) See 1.

Here endeth the list.

AFP/GETTY

BBC

Allan McNish

BBC Radio 5 live analyst

ALlan McNish

"Fifty minutes to go."

Well, 44, but you get the idea.

Can Hamilton win on Hawthorn anniversary?

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If Lewis Hamilton wins today we will have a British driver winning the British Grand Prix on the anniversary of the first ever F1 race victory for a British driver.

Mike Hawthorn won the French GP at Reims for Ferrari on 5 July 1953 to claim the first of 241 wins and counting for British drivers.

By way of an aside, Jackie Stewart claimed the 100th win by a British driver at the 1973 Dutch GP, Damon Hill the 150th at Spain 1994 while the 200th was delivered by Jenson Button at the 2009 Australian GP.

Get involved - #bbcf1

Tim Nicholls: How I feel as a Rosberg fan at Silverstone.

Tim Nicholls

'Ferrari's least competitive performance of the season'

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

AFP/GETTY

"A few races ago, Fernando Alonso caused a bit of a stir with a comment that 'nothing has changed at Ferrari' since last year. It came not long after Sebastian Vettel's victory in Malaysia and was cynically derided at the time as Alonso trying to put a positive spin on his move to struggling McLaren. The more time goes by, though, the more it looks as if the Spaniard was bang on the money.

"This was Ferrari's least competitive performance of the season, with neither car on the second row and 1.2 seconds off pole. Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen both dodged questions about the sliding back from Mercedes, but that is certainly the impression. And the numbers back it up - in percentage terms, this weekend is the furthest Ferrari have been from pole since the first race of the season."

The reliable stalwart

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'There ain't no telling who you might meet... workin' at the car wash'

Getty Images

No, not a pot plant. An F1 trophy, apparently

Here's a nice tale you might have missed yesterday.

Three-time world champion Niki Lauda has revealed he gave his "ugly" F1 winner's trophies to his local petrol station in exchange for a lifetime of free car washes.

However, he revealed that he "now has to pay" for car washes after his children took back the trophies, polished them up and sold them on eBay.

His comments came after Lewis Hamilton has complained about the low quality of Formula 1 trophies.

Get involved - #bbcf1

Jo Derviller: Hamilton getting pole! All the excitement was too much!

@jo215jo

McLaren's dismal campaign

Getty Images

Just a little stat to sum up McLaren's lamentable season.

Ahead of the ninth round of the season, drivers Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button have completed only 59% of the total laps this year.

For comparison, Manor have completed 72% - and they didn't even compete in Australia.

Get involved - #bbcf1

Daniel Gibbs: Sweeper, you are faster than Fernando!

Daniel Gibbs

'Hard to see' Rosberg troubling Hamilton

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

PA

"Lewis Hamilton's pole position at the British Grand Prix was the 46th of his career, moving him one ahead of Sebastian Vettel into third place in the all-time list. It is testament to the pure pace of a man his former team-mate Jenson Button has described correctly as 'one of the fastest drivers ever to race in Formula 1'.

"Just as impressive is that it was Hamilton's eighth pole in nine races this season, and he seems to be able to pull it out of the bag even when he is not having a great weekend. The championship standings remain close, largely because of the big swing that was created by the Mercedes strategy mix-up at the end of the race in Monaco.

"But if Hamilton gets off the line well - avoiding the technical problems that afflicted him in Austria, and which Mercedes tech boss Paddy Lowe said Hamilton had done an 'amazing job' to get around as well as he did, it is hard to see Rosberg giving him too much trouble in the race."

Rain a rarity at British GP

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The 1966 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch was a wet one

Despite this country's reputation, rain is actually pretty rare at the British Grand Prix.

Indeed there have only been 10 rain-affected races in 65 British GPs today, in 1953, 1954 , 1961, 1966, 1975, 1988, 1998, 2002, 2008 and 2011.

Rain an 'advancing risk'

Ian Fergusson (BBC Weather) on twitter: A dry race most likely outcome *but* an advancing risk of light-moderate showers from W later into race (25% prob)

Lounger placement fail

BBC

BBC

General admission ticket for the 1987 British Grand Prix: £18

Luxurious sun lounger: £8

Facing the wrong way while Andrea De Cesaris' Brabham explodes: PRICELESS

F1 Rewind update

Mansell has just pulled an awesome move on Nelson Piquet into Stowe.

I say, what a pass, they'll be replaying that one (ad nauseum) for decades...

Get involved - The traitor in our midst #bbcf1

I was about to say this chap in red clearly didn't get the memo, but on closer inspection it seems he has Fernando Alonso written on his shirt.

Nowt like having a boot in both camps...

Lynseyhad

F1 maths with Vorderman

PA

I'm pretty sure Carol Vorderman is still on Countdown.

She must be. I'd have heard if that had changed.

Anyway, she's at Silverstone today so I reckon a picture of her is a good way to illustrate the number situation in the title race.

Very simply it is thus: Lewis Hamilton has chalked up 169 points from eight races so far this season, 10 more than Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg. Then there's a 39-point gap back to Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari.

In the constructors' race... well, it's not really a race: Mercedes 328, Ferrari 192, Williams 129.

Murray Walker 200 feet in the air on a cherry-picker?

It could only be F1 Rewind.

Today, classic British Grands Prix from 1987, 1995 and 2008.

It's on BBC Two RIGHT NOW, or you can navigate to it at the top of this page.

BBC

Get involved - #bbcf1

Elena Tsangarides: So happy to be here!

Send your snaps from the Silverstone grandstands and grassy banks to #bbcf1 and we'll use as many as we can.

@Els_T

Largest crowd expected since days of Mansell-mania

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

AP

"Ultramarine skies, warm sunshine, the local boy on pole after a close and exciting battle with his team-mate. So far, the British Grand Prix could not have been more perfect for the tens of thousands of fans who've flocked to Silverstone this weekend for their annual motorsport pilgrimage.

"The blue skies have gone, to be replaced by grey, but even more fans are due on Sunday, the predicted crowd of 140,000 marking the largest since Nigel Mansell won in 1992 at the height of what was then called Mansell-mania.

"As Lewis Hamilton walked out on to the fans' stage on Saturday night to a deafening roar, it looked very much like a new era of worship for a new British hero had finally arrived. Would that be 'Hamilton hysteria'? Whatever it's called, this place will go wild should the world champion take his second consecutive home victory this afternoon, after starting from pole."

Good morning and welcome

AP

Morning everyone. We're very pleased you could join us for what really is a rather special moment in any F1 season - British Grand Prix day.

An ever-present on the F1 calendar since the inception of the sport in 1950, this will be the 66th staging of a race that has delivered a whopping 22 home winners to date.

Lewis Hamilton will look to increase that tally to 23 when he leads the field away from his eighth pole position of the season at 13:00 BST, but team-mate Nico Rosberg will be right there alongside him, bidding to make it four wins from the last five races.

It has the makings of a belter. Let's hope it delivers.

'Hello Silverstone!'

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*BEEEEEEEP* "Hello, hello... is this thing working?" *BEEEEEEEEEEEP* "Hello, hello... one, two, one, two...."

"Get off!"

"OK OK. Right, hello everyone and welcome along to Silverstone! Can I get an 'S'?"

"Where's Toto Wolff?"

"I said, 'can I get an 'S'?"

"Pipe down, Horner."

"Errr.... erm... My dog's got no nose..."