[Scukonah]

"It is a crucial moment in the season, with three races coming up in the space of four weeks," said Alonso.


"We are ready, both on the technical front and physically.


"In Valencia, we introduced significant updates on the F10 and there will be more in Silverstone and the races after that.


"The development programme is intensive and I think we will see it produce results."

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.a...48767&PO=48767

This guy Fred is just blowing smoke! No one should take him, and his team of mental midgets seriously!

[lymnCymment]

Well, at the moment the weather is for a dry race although there is a wet, stormy front moving in for Monday morning. Who knows, perhaps it might be early.

[jincomplet]

Why do drivers have this dratted desire to change their helmet designs at a whim?

This weekend, Hamilton is going to have a different design - Jenson also did that in 2009.

Instead of Lewis' usual helmet design featuring the national colors of Granada, he will now have the helmet showing a Union Jack with the Grenada flag in addition to the usual colors on top of the UJ.

And split evenly on top.

At Valencia Barrichello changed the helmet.

Its bad enough that too many drivers have such awful busy "designs" that recognizing the helmet in detail is impossible - but they change them too.

At least Hamilton's Granada coloured usual helmet is straightforward compared to the ugliness of Kovaleinen's or the confusion of Vettel's.

I hope Jenson sticks with his usual lid sporting the UJ. Period!

[Scukonah]

Why do drivers have this dratted desire to change their helmet designs at a whim?

This weekend, Hamilton is going to have a different design - Jenson also did that in 2009.

Instead of Lewis' usual helmet design featuring the national colors of Granada, he will now have the helmet showing a Union Jack with the Grenada flag in addition to the usual colors on top of the UJ.

And split evenly on top.

At Valencia Barrichello changed the helmet.

Its bad enough that too many drivers have such awful busy "designs" that recognizing the helmet in detail is impossible - but they change them too.

At least Hamilton's Granada coloured usual helmet is straightforward compared to the ugliness of Kovaleinen's or the confusion of Vettel's.

I hope Jenson sticks with his usual lid sporting the UJ. Period!

A couple of years back "Jense" changed his helmet livery to " The Cross of Saint George" for Silverstone.
Quit bugging us with such petty bitching.
Oi vay....Suddenly I'm reminded of the refrain to a Jackson Browne song:

I'm not worried 'bout the ozone layer, Just let those rays come through.
When I'm outside I'll keep my clothes on.
My problem is you

And I don't worry 'bout Madonna or the next thing she might do
And I don't worry 'bout your momma
My problem is you.

[Savviioor]

I want to see Jenson winning his home race ahead of Alonso and Michael, but it will be likely an easy win for Red Bull and third place for Hamilton.

[bestonline]

There's a cheeky little bump in the new section which has unsettled a few cars.

I wish I'd known that when I was driving the circuit in a simulator last week - I could have had a handy excuse!

[Arkadiyas]

Good to see so many spectators at Silverstone for the first free practice Looks like there are more there than attend race days at some other events

[ropinirole]

Looking at practice, comparing the onboard footage from both Vettel and Hamilton's cars, it's amazing how much more unstable and bumpy the Mclaren is compared to the Red Bull. Both Jenson and Lewis have a really hard time over bumps, all the time correcting the steering, while the way that Red Bull rides the kerbs so smooth, it's like they have cotton balls stuffed in their suspension.

[bestonline]

Why do drivers have this dratted desire to change their helmet designs at a whim?

Because they have personalities? Because they like to recognise fans and family? Maybe just because they can.

[bestonline]

Good to see so many spectators at Silverstone for the first free practice Looks like there are more there than attend race days at some other events

"A few empty seats, but not many" according to the BBC commentary.

[jincomplet]

I want to see Jenson winning his home race ahead of Alonso and Michael, but it will be likely an easy win for Red Bull and third place for Hamilton.

Silverstone is a track that Vettel is mega at - if there is one thing a British Grand Prix tends to be and that is unpredictable.

Its only first practice and I think Webber will have something to say before the weekend is out!

[Nmoitmzr]

"A few empty seats, but not many" according to the BBC commentary.

But then again with free practise there is free roaming for general admission anyway, so you're likely to see a few empty seats as people wonder the grandstands. That sounds like a comment Legard would say, but he doesn't join them for practise does he? In my experience you usually find around 20 to 30 thousand people attend practise compared to 120 thousand on a very good Silverstone weekend.

[Xtatotvk]

What does everyone think of the new track then? It certainly looks weird, especially around Club and along the pit straight where they've tweaked the layout and the run off areas. Overall though, pretty good.

[Teomaderm]

One thing David Croft mentioned on the commentary during FP2

On Top Gear this sunday, Rubens Barrichello will be on taking the reasonably priced car (Suzuki Liana) for a spin.

http://www.carsuk.net/rubens-barrichello-does-top-gear/

Deffo worth watching if the World Cup Final isnt your thing. Wonder if he'll beat Hamilton & Button or even the best F1 driver so far, Mansell

[Scukonah]

McLaren has abandoned its exhaust-blown diffuser for the rest of the British Grand Prix weekend, AUTOSPORT can reveal, after a difficult first day of running with the concept at Silverstone on Friday.

The Woking-based team had high hopes that the update package it brought on to the car for this weekend's race would help lift its performance to take the fight to pre-event favourites Red Bull Racing.

However, both Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button failed to get comfortable with the new handling and set-up of the revised MP4-25 at Silverstone - with Hamilton running off-track several times as he took the car to the limit. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/85141

Saturday morning practice should be quite interesting as McLaren will need to come to terms with Silverstone’s new configuration post haste!

[jincomplet]

Mclaren have a problem - Jense and Lewis [getting all crossed-up and off track several times during fp2] so far back during fp2 I thought they were running full tank tests. It looks unlikely that either can win this weekend.

Mark Webber with that SUPERB lap was the highlight. Also Speed had a few questions with the great Patrick from WGPE. Another highlight.

Not surprising and nice to see Scuderia Ferrari at the sharp end with Brawn-Illmor on their tails.

If Jense does not then I hope Webber wins pole.

Vettel's helmet is pretty kewl - similar to what he ran in 2009 when he won in fine style.

New circuit looks good and as usual Silverstone provides a tremendous sensation of speed as the cars power around. Great to see a track where the fans and supporters are so many.

[jincomplet]

A couple of years back "Jense" changed his helmet livery to " The Cross of Saint George" for Silverstone.
Quit bugging us with such petty bitching.
Oi vay....Suddenly I'm reminded of the refrain to a Jackson Browne song:

I'm not worried 'bout the ozone layer, Just let those rays come through.
When I'm outside I'll keep my clothes on.
My problem is you

And I don't worry 'bout Madonna or the next thing she might do
And I don't worry 'bout your momma
My problem is you.

You are another exceptionally rude individual that is I see allowed to get away with flaunting the rules here.

In future, please ignore me.

[nithhysfusy]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/85141

Saturday morning practice should be quite interesting as McLaren will need to come to terms with Silverstone’s new configuration post haste!

good,

I was a bit unconvinced by the performance of the update, or actually why mclaren needed it in the first place. I thought the cars were running fine before and maybe some updates in other areas (especially handling in lower speed corners) might be more important.

This just highlights the problem with no testing.
A wasted Friday, but an important lesson learned.

"if it ain't broke, don't try to fix it"

[jincomplet]

With the Barmy Army out in full force its time for Jense to kick some butt at Silverstone

Pimpin' yo! PIMPIN'!!!

[JTS_tv]

With the Barmy Army out in full force its time for Jense to kick some butt at Silverstone

Pimpin' yo! PIMPIN'!!!

Here is a picture I found of some Barmy Army members relaxing in a pool near Silverstone, waiting for the race weekend to start.