For the moment, however, drivers have the green intermediate tyres bolted on.

After three grands prix in a row nominating the softest tyres in the range, Pirelli have allocated the hardest compounds for this weekend's Silverstone test.

Teams can select from the C1 (hard, white), C2 (medium, yellow) and the C3 (red, soft) tyres.

Carlos Sainz gives Ferrari an update on the condition of the track and says various points are already looking slippery. There's a fair amount of spray coming off the back of team-mate Charles Leclerc's car too.

Image source, Getty Images

If you were watching the F1 Show on Sky Sports last night you will have seen a space hopper race between the McLaren boys end with Daniel Ricciardo accidentally (but hilariously) hit Lando Norris full in the face with his his hopper as the pair battled it out for bouncing supremacy.

Hopefully, Lando will still get Daniel a birthday card, as the Australian turns the big 33 today.

A decent weekend in the points would also be the perfect present for both drivers after a disappointing performance run last time out in Canada. Norris came home in 15th place, while Ricciardo started ninth but finished just outside the points in 11th spot.

Early team radio message for George Russell. "It's about to get wetter in the next few minutes," his engineer says. At least the crowd gave out a massive roar when the Mercedes man appeared out on track.

It's raining.

Sidepods, front suspension, beam wing, floor edges. Plenty of updates around the various team garages this weekend.

Image source, Getty Images

So, not exactly sunbathing weather at the track today but we still want to see you lot enjoying yourselves at Silverstone.

Send us your pictures if you have any using the hashtag #bbcf1 on Twitter - especially if you've knocked up a big flag for the occasion, I like a flag - and we'll give you mention on the page.

If you're following along at home or at work, feel free to post your thoughts and predictions too. The door is wide open until the school bell goes after second practice.

Sweltering Silverstone of previous years is sadly not making an appearance this year. Sunny intervals with a moderate or gentle breeze for today and Sunday, light rain showers and a moderate breeze is on the cards for Saturday.

Image source, Google

BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast has been at Silverstone all morning and presenter Rick Edwards spoke to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff about what Hamilton has faced this week.

"It's absolutely incomprehensible some of the comments that have been made," said Wolff. "These comments from the sidelines are disappointing.

"But he is strong; we have seen in the past, in the face of that adversity, things that have been thrown at him, the stronger he has got. And that's what I have realised this week, again."

Image source, Getty Images

Max Verstappen was asked his thoughts on the racist language used by Nelson Piquet and Red Bull reserve driver Juri Vips, who has kept his seat in Formula 2 despite being sacked by backers Red Bull for using a racist slur.

The Dutchman, whose partner Kelly Piquet is Nelson Piquet's daughter, told Sky Sports the behaviour should be condemned "all over the world" and not just Formula 1, and added education should start from a young age "at home and at schools."

"You need to be taught that these type of things cannot be said - or used in general," said Verstappen. "And that's what we are working on, F1 - and of course, Lewis, they are working on that for the future and all the drivers are behind that. We are all supporting that."

Image source, Getty Images

In Thursday's driver press conference, Lewis Hamilton also had to field questions about former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, who during an interview with ITV's Good Morning Britain said he would "take a bullet" for Russia's president Vladimir Putin, and also said the Mercedes driver should have "brushed aside" racist comments.

F1 said Ecclestone's comments were in "stark contrast" to "modern values".

"Discrimination is not something we should be giving a platform." said Hamilton.

"We need people to be bringing people together. We are all the same and the comments we are seeing are not helpful."

You can read the full story here

Image source, Getty Images

Other drivers and teams rallied around Lewis Hamilton this week, with Mercedes team-mate George Russell tweeting the seven-time world champion "has done more for the sport than any driver in history, not just on the track but off it."

Charles Leclerc added that F1 "should continue to push for a more diverse and inclusive sport", while the FIA expressed solidarity with Hamilton and said it "fully supports his commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in motor sport."

Hamilton said he was grateful to every driver and member of the F1 paddock who has spoken out this week.

Image source, Getty Images

Nelson Piquet says his racially abusive remark about Lewis Hamilton was "ill thought out".

The 69-year-old said he "strongly condemned any suggestion the word was used by me with the aim of belittling a driver because of his skin colour".

"I apologise wholeheartedly to anyone that was affected, including Lewis," Piquet added.

The British Racing Drivers' Club has also suspended the three-time world champion's membership following his racist comments about Hamilton.

The BRDC, which owns Silverstone, said it "noted" the apology from Piquet.

Its statement said that the BRDC board had concluded Piquet's "racially offensive language is unacceptable".

It added: "It is anticipated that the board will terminate Mr Piquet Sr's membership at a board meeting after the required seven-day notice period."

Image source, Getty Images

Unfortunately for Lewis Hamilton, the build-up to his home race at Silverstone hasn't been a pleasant experience following the news three-time world champion Nelson Piquet had used racially abusive language about him in a podcast.

The Mercedes driver responded by saying the racially offensive term used by Piquet was "more than language".

"These archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in our sport," added Hamilton. "I've been surrounded by these attitudes and targeted my whole life.

"There has been plenty of time to learn. Time has come for action."

Full story here

Image source, Getty Images

Good afternoon, folks. We've arrived in the month of July, which means a packed run of races starting with the British Grand Prix this weekend and the Austrian Grand Prix next weekend.

The humongous crowd at Silverstone would love a moment to savour but Max Verstappen is still the man to beat, after the world champion took another victory in the Red Bull at the Canadian Grand Prix two weeks ago.

First practice gets under way at 13:00 BST

Second practice goes green at 16:00 BST

(We'll chat about the space hoppers shortly)

Image source, Getty Images

The camp sites are packed, tents are up, drinks are flowing and the weather is typically... British.

Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris and George Russell are all flying the flag for United Kingdom this weekend, but will we see any of the trio pushing for the ultimate glory of a race win on Sunday?

Umbrellas and ponchos at the ready, Silverstone here we come...