Lando Norris’ lap guide to the world-famous Silverstone ahead of the British Grand Prix

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Built on the site of a Royal Air Force bomber station from the Second World War, Silverstone is one of the most famous sights on the Formula 1 calendar.

Here, British driver Lando Norris takes the PA news agency on a lap of the world-famous race track.

Abbey and Farm Curve

The first corner at Abbey is flat out. The driver has to throw the front of the car into the corner and then hold it on the exit because we are about to enter the second corner – the Farm Curve. There is also a small bump there, so if we are too aggressive the car will be destabilised.

Village and The Loop

Next up is the slow section of the track. We have to apply the brakes as we enter the Village, which offers an overtaking opportunity, but it is not an easy one even with the best will in the world. When braking, the right front tyre can very easily lock up, affecting our line into the left-hand bend, The Loop. The exit is crucial, however, as the corner at Aintree takes us onto the long Wellington Straight and the first of two DRS zones.

Brooklands

We then head into the old part of the race track at almost 350 km/h before approaching the long left-hand bend at Brooklands. Here we brake and shift down a gear. There is an opportunity to overtake on the outside.

Luffield and Woodcote

Luffield, the right-hander that follows, is endless and the most frustrating corner on the track. We turn in and want to get on the gas immediately, but we have to be patient and wait while battling understeer. There are two options: turn in deep and focus on a good exit, or brake earlier and take a tight line. If we do the latter, we’ll be quicker through the corner, but our exit will be compromised.

Pit Straight and Copse Corner

Next up is the old start/finish line and the high-speed right-hander at Copse, where Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen collided in 2021. We take the corner at 305 km/h, so if we miss the apex we’ll never get into the corner and be forced to use the run-off area on the exit.

Maggots, Becketts and Chapel Curve

This has to be the best set of corners in Formula 1. The first left-hander at Maggots is a small turn, but on the next right-hander it is important to drive fast enough to use three quarters of the track. If you use all the tarmac, it is difficult to get back on track for the next left-hander at Becketts. If you go a little too wide in the first part, it multiplies the problem in the rest of the set of corners.

Hangar Straight and Stowe

We leave Chapel Curve and head onto Hangar Straight and the second DRS zone before reaching Stowe. Stowe does offer an overtaking opportunity, but not a good one because the track is so fast. Hitting the apex at Stowe is crucial, if you don’t the front of the car will wash away and you’ll end up on the astroturf at the exit.

Vale and Club Corner

We head down to Vale and then back up again just after the pit entrance. We hit the brakes again – it gets bumpy – and again there are two options: carry a lot of speed through the left-hander at Vale and go through Club, or slow down to Vale and squeeze out of Club Corner. Then we head through the final corner and up and over the start-finish line – renamed the Hamilton Straight after Lewis won his record-equalling seventh world title in 2020 – to finish the lap.