Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Silverstone

Family members Lisa Scott and Laura Evans have been to at least five Formula 1 races each, including at Melbourne and at Spa but both agree there is just something really special about the British race, which will be remaining at Silverstone until 2024

Laura (pictured on the right) said: “The atmosphere here is always amazing, there’s never any trouble and nice that there’s now more than one British driver. It was amazing to hear them announce the new deal and everyone on social media was saying they had to keep it here and when it was announced there was just so much excitement.

“If they had a London race it wouldn’t have stopped us - we would’ve gone,” added Lisa. “It’s such a community here and you can’t explain it until you’ve been here - we just love racing.”

The pair are wearing Niki hats in tribute to three-time world champion Niki Lauda, who sadly died in May.

“One of the Facebook groups decided to get Niki hats. Everything here (the merchandise) is James Hunt and Senna but nothing Niki,” explained Laura and Lisa added: “It’s just a real shame not seeing him in the pits at this race.”

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Our 5 Live commentary team of Jennie Gow, Jolyon Palmer, Andrew Benson, and Alex Jacques will be back at 13:55 BST with qualifying commentary!

F1 have helpfully put this 'what happened so far' video together.

Kris Holland
BBC News

Race control, but of a different kind.

Every aspect of the police operation at Silverstone is being run from this command centre, just outside the circuit. From patrolling the campsites, to making sure spectators can get in and out of the track safely... there are even officers policing the use of drones - with a two mile no fly zone for the devices around the venue.

Roxy: Nope, don't believe it, Mercedes will switch on party mode for a 1-2 in qualifying. Hope I'm wrong though.

Charlie Singleton: Does anyone else think Ferrari just wacked the engines up to full power because of the gap to Mercedes?

Bax Elisha Dibakoane: Lewis is the best British driver if all times however, Lando Noris is a promising prospect indeed

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Silverstone

Ever wondered how Mercedes got the nickname Silver Arrows?

This is the W 25, which was the first Mercedes-Benz racing car for the new Grand Prix format in 1934 and rules said it could not weigh more than 750kg.

Overnight, before the first race, mechanics sanded off the white paint to meet the weight limit and thanks to its silvery aluminium skin the car was given the nickname Silver Arrow.

It made a victorious start too with Manfred van Brauchitsch winning its first ever race with Rudolf Caracciola becoming the European champion in it a year later.

Image source, .

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer at Silverstone

Image source, Getty Images

It’s summer, so that means it’s driver-market silly-season time. And one of the focuses of speculation is a man who is not even in a car this season.

Mercedes reserve driver Esteban Ocon, who is on the sidelines this year after being the last man standing in last year’s game of musical chairs, is a man in demand, with Renault, Haas and Alfa Romeo all being mentioned as possible destination. And Racing Point cannot be ruled out either, if Sergio Perez and his Mexican backers decide it’s time to move on.

The season finale begins today with a race tonight, and the final one one tomorrow around the streets of New York.

Coverage starts from 20:30 BST, and you can watch on the BBC Red Button and follow the live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Silverstone

“What did you make of third practice?”

“Dunno, slept through it.”

Image source, BBC Sport

Kris Holland
BBC News

BBC reporter Kris Holland is also at Silverstone, he says:

"I can’t decide if this is a typo on the advertising for tonight’s entertainment at Silverstone, or a genius tribute act name."

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer at Silverstone

Image source, Getty Images

Pierre Gasly came into this weekend under huge pressure after finishing the Austrian Grand Prix a lap down on his winning team-mate Max Verstappen, who ended the first lap behind the Frenchman after a bad start. It was the latest in a series of poor performances this season and Gasly knows he needs to step it up, or his place in the team could be under threat.

So to be quicker than Verstappen in all three practice sessions was exactly what he needed at the start of a weekend on a track that he likes. But Gasly, who also looked in decent shape on Friday in Austria before messing up qualifying, was not about to get carried away.

“We’ll wait until tomorrow and Sunday to see,” he said yesterday. “But for sure it’s the best Friday of the season. The changes seemed to work so we need to keep going in that direction. It was a really good day on our side. I’m happy because we made a lot of changes since Austria and we have a good plan and things to improve on my side also with the team all weekend. It seemed to work. We need to confirm tomorrow, but the feeling is a lot better from today.”

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer at Silverstone

Image source, Reuters

Ferrari bounced back after a difficult first day at the British Grand Prix to finish one-two in final practice and appear in position to challenge Mercedes.

Charles Leclerc set the pace from team-mate Sebastian Vettel by 0.026 seconds and Lewis Hamilton was a further 0.23secs behind, suggesting a close fight in qualifying from 1400 BST.

Red Bull, too, appear in the mix, with Pierre Gasly continuing a much-needed stronger weekend in fourth place, 0.2secs off the pace and 0.3secs ahead of team-mate Max Verstappen, whose best lap was compromised by a slide at Luffield corner.

Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas failed to improve on his qualifying simulation lap and ended up sixth fastest.

McLaren head the best of the rest, with Lando Norris in seventh, just a few days after the 19-year-old was confirmed to be staying with the team for next season.

Ferrari quickest! That was largely unexpected, not to mention Gasly three tenths faster than Verstappen...

Top five:

1. Charles Leclerc 1:25.905
2. Sebastian Vettel +0.026
3. Lewis Hamilton +-0.049
4. Pierre Gasly +0.213
5. Max Verstappen +0.535

This was Daniil Kvyat's 'torpedo' moment a few minutes ago.

Can we have a race without penalties, please?