Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at Silverstone

Image source, Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton took pole by more than 0.3 seconds on Saturday and the lap that did it was a peach under pressure after his first run in the top-10 shoot-out had been ruled out for exceeding track limits.

But it was not his best of the weekend - that honour went to his Q2 lap, which was 1.5secs quicker than he had gone in Q1 and 0.7secs ahead of Nico Rosberg at the time.

"It was a very good lap, a really, really nice lap," Hamilton said as he savoured it later that afternoon.

The key - to that lap and his pole time - was the middle sector, particularly the fast Copse and Becketts section.

“It was amazing,” Hamilton said. “I have never had such speed through there before. It is flat out through the first left and still flat-out through the right. In the past you would probably downshift two into the left and coast a little but I was still on a bit of power through there. Come through the right and then lift a little bit and then carry throttle and still be able to get it to Turn 13, which I have never been able to do before.

"I just hit all the right spots. It is like a pinball machine, if you hit all the right spots you get all the maximum points. Ping-ping-ping-ping. I came through that section and I don’t think I could have done it much faster.”

Gary Rose
BBC Sport at Silverstone

Image source, BBC Sport

I took an early wander to the Abbey Grandstand this morning to see which hardy fans had braved the early morning drizzle to get a spot near the start/finish line. Katie and Jordan are two such people. They've travelled over from Worcester and queued from 5am. "It's our first British Grand Prix and we've been here all weekend so knew where we wanted to sit," said Katie. And as for the excllent headgear? "I made them specially for the race. We're cheering on Lewis."

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, AP

Rhys Williams: Overachievers? Surely Grosjean in the Haas...get a "Haas" clap-chant going?

It's probably the most important question of the morning.

And we have a very clear answer: We're not sure.

The weather forecast is for it to stay dry until later in the afternoon.

But the latest techno-wizardry (techno-wizardry is also a dance craze sweeping the nation) shows that there could be wet stuff over Silverstone for the start if the race.

Our weather genius Ian Fergusson has tweeted this image. I've checked my copy of Meteorology for Dummies - and blue dots are bad.

Unless you're a Jenson Button fan of course, then blue dots are good.

Image source, Getty Images

So, which driver is the plucky underdog of Iceland?

Who are the overachievers of Wales?

Who are the perennial disappointers of England?

Which Euros team is most like which F1 driver?

Use #bbcf1 to get involved and join the debate.

Image source, .

You may have noticed that there's a Euro 2016 final on today - Portugal v France, if you're asking.

And to get into the spirit, we've reinvented Formula 1's biggest footy fans as football players and put them into a team.

Hamilton? Ronaldo, of course.

Rosberg? Kasper Schmeichel...

Take a look at our full selection right here.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at Silverstone

Image source, Reuters

Lewis Hamilton on pole position. Cheered on by nearly 140,000 fans. A fourth career British Grand Prix victory the target. Team-mate Nico Rosberg with a score or two to settle after their contretemps on the final lap of last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix. Perhaps even a Red Bull or two in the mix, you never know.

The atmosphere is crackling already and a great race is in prospect on one of the world’s greatest race tracks.

Image source, Getty Images

Yes, he may wear spherical sunglasses. He may have dressed like a right plonker on occasions. And sure, he may form stronger emotional relationships with canines than humans.

But boy, Lewis Hamilton is one hell of a racing driver.

Can he make it a hat-trick of British GP victories and a fourth overall?

You'd need to have a word with Nico Rosberg about that, because the world championship leader will not be brimming with sentiment, regardless of the hometown love for Hamilton.

Image source, Getty Images

Wales went all the way to a Euros semi-final.

Scotland's Andy Murray has Wimbledon glory in the palm of his hand.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy could be a two-time Open champion next week.

And, on the border of Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire, an Englishman could keep Britain's brilliance rolling on.

Welcome to race day at the British Grand Prix.