The 70th Anniversary Formula One Grand Prix 2020

 Even though we are in a strange time of our lives with COVID-19 still taking a hold of so many of our lives, including Segio Perez, whom have tested positive again, ahead of this weekends 70th Anniversary Formula One Grand Prix, taking place yet again at Silverstone.

Judging from qualifying and the free practice sessions, we are in for yet another memorable Grand Prix.

Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas managed to secure pole position from Lewis Hamilton, with a lap time of 1:25.154, which is 0.063 seconds faster than Hamilton's time of 1:25.217

The surprise of qualifying was Nico Hulkenberg. The Hulk securing 3rd place with a 1:26.082 lap time. Hulkenberg is yet again substituting for Sergio Perez in his Racing Point Mercedes again this weekend.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen was only able to secure 4th place, with Renault's Daniel Ricciardo a very impressive 5th, lining up behind Hulkenberg on the starting grid.

The remainder of the top ten is rounded out with Lance Stroll in the other Racing Point in 6th place, Pierre Gasly for AlphaTauri Honda in 7th place, an 8th place for Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari, Alex Albon taking 9th in the other Red Bull, and Lando Norris securing 10th place in the McLaren Renault.

Tyre management are going to place a key role again with this weekends race. I'm hoping that all teams opt for a two stop strategy, as compared to last weekends, where most teams opted for a one stop strategy.

Silverstone traditionally is a very high speed, high G-Force circuit, with drivers experiencing up to 5.95G with the cars going though certain corners at well over 250km/h (155mph), and clocking the speed trap at the end of the hanger straight at over 320km/h (200mph) on the approach to turn 15. The G-Force experienced at Silverstone is amongst the highest of the 2019 races.

The drivers only use the brakes about 11% of each lap due to the high speed corners, the lowest percentage of the entire season.

Tyres experience a very high load and degradation on this track, due to the very high cornering speeds. Track temperature also plays a roll, with track temperature during qualifying being measured at over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit)  

Top Ten Qualifying Results

POS     NO       DRIVER                       TEAM                                                      Time

1          77        Valtteri Bottas               MERCEDES                                              1:25.154

2          44        Lewis Hamilton             MERCEDES                                              1:25.217

3          27        Nico Hulkenberg           RACING POINT BWT MERCEDES       1:26.082

4          33        Max Verstappen            RED BULL RACING HONDA                 1:26.176

5          3          Daniel Ricciardo           RENAULT                                                  1:26.297

6          18        Lance Stroll                  RACING POINT BWT MERCEDES        1:26.428

7          10        Pierre Gasly                 ALPHATAURI HONDA                              1:26.534

8          16        Charles Leclerc             FERRARI                                                    1:26.614

9          23        Alexander Albon           RED BULL RACING HONDA                 1:26.669

10        4          Lando Norris                 MCLAREN RENAULT                              1:26.778

I'm looking forward to an exciting race to mark the 70th Anniversary of the first ever Formula One race that took place in 1950.