One of the most exciting Formula 1 campaigns to date continues with the British Grand Prix, and BBC TV and Sky Sports F1 will have all the action covered for fans throughout the weekend.
Forming part of bumper summer of sport on British soil, Silverstone will be the setting for the ninth round of this year’s Formula 1 World Championship.
This year’s race is expected to be a complete sell-out, a clear sign that the sport’s devoted British following will be out in force to support their local heroes, featuring British trio Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and Paul di Resta, who will all harbour ambitions of ascending the Silverstone podium.
Together with the Italy, Great Britain boasts the oldest continually held race in the Formula 1 calendar and, in 1950, Silverstone was chosen to host the opening race of the very first official World Championship.
That undeniably rich history is also complemented by an air of the romantic as 12 British drivers have triumphed in front of their home fans.
Five-time winner Jim Clark is the most prolific, with France’s Alain Prost the only other man to have matched that streak.
Recent British drivers who have held the glorious golden RAC Trophy aloft on the Silverstone podium include Lewis Hamilton (2008), David Coulthard (1999 & 2000), Johnny Herbert (1995), Damon Hill (1994) and Nigel Mansell (1986, ’87, ’91, ’92).
The McLaren pairing of Button and the 2008 winner Hamilton should never be counted out and, in di Resta, Britain have a young, hungry driver who has the grit and focus to potentially cause an upset in his Force India.
Incidentally, Mansell, winner of his home grand prix on four seperate occasions, will be a drivers steward at this year’s race weekend.
A fairy-tale first win for di Resta along with several of the other mid-field runners would certainly be in keeping with the nature of the season so far.
There has been a different winner in each of the first seven races and although many of the big names have delivered, few would have picked Pastor Maldonado to become the first Williams driver to come out on top since 2004.
This year’s 24-car field includes the last five winners of this race.
Last year, Fernando Alonso took Ferrari’s only chequered flag of the season after profiting from a delayed Sebastian Vettel pit-stop.
Lewis Hamilton thrilled the home crowd with his charge up the field to finish fourth by holding off Felipe Massa on the finish line.
However, the wheels literally came off for Hamilton’s McLaren team-mate Jenson Button, who is making his 13th attempt to earn his first Silverstone podium.
You can watch extensive coverage of the British Grand Prix, round nine of the 2012 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, on BBC Sport and Sky Sports F1. Full TV details below…
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British Formula 1 fans will flood to Silverstone to see this year’s British Grand Prix, and Sky Sports F1 will ensure you don’t miss any of the drama from one of the highlights of the sporting calendar.
Sky’s coverage, in its debut season, has taken fans through one of the most exciting starts to an F1 campaign in years, where a record-breaking seven different drivers won the opening seven races.
Simon Lazenby will present all the on-track action, and will be joined for expert analysis throughout the weekend by Martin Brundle, Johnny Herbert, Damon Hill and Allan McNish.
Further analysis will be provided by Georgie Thompson and a special guest at the SkyPad, Ted Kravitz will have the latest news and reports and from the pit lane, and Natalie Pinkham will interview the drivers.
Commentary on all F1 sessions comes from David Croft, and he will be joined by Allan McNish for the practice sessions, with Martin Brundle joining him for qualifying and the race.
As it is Sky Sports F1’s home race, there will be two special editions of The F1 Show with Georgie Thompson and Ted Kravitz on Thursday and Friday nights, plus an extended two hours of build-up to the big race on Sunday.
In addition to all the F1 action, Sky Sports F1 has exclusive coverage of the GP2 and GP3 races, featuring top British prospects such as James Calado, Jolyon Palmer, Max Chilton (GP2), and Alex Brundle, Alice Powell and William Buller (GP3).
Sky F1 analyst Johnny Herbert won this race in 1995, and believes the British fans are the most passionate in the world.
He told Sky Sports: “Silverstone is one of the big fan events because of the support not only for British drivers, but also others, and it is far above anywhere else.
“They are true fans and British motorsport should be proud of that.”
As always, Sky Sports F1 will be offering a unique interactive service that lets you race with the drivers and keep up with all the latest stats.
Press the red button during live coverage to access Sky Race Control, an interactive service offer subscribers the chance to create their own viewing experience once again, from on-board cameras and live radio channels between team and car, to up-to-the-minute race data and statistics.
Plus with Sky Go, you can watch the drama unfold wherever you are on iPad, iPhone, selected Android phones and laptops.
Further information, news and video content can be found at skysports.com/f1, and viewers are encouraged to interact with the live programmes via Twitter – @SkySportsF1, #SkyF1
British Grand Prix weekend on Sky Sports F1 TV Schedule | All programmes on Sky Sports F1 HD (Sky ch. 408) Thursday 5th July F1 – Drivers Press Conference – LIVE – 3pm-3.45pm The F1 Show – British Grand Prix Preview 1 – 8pm-9pm Friday 6th July F1 – Free Practice 1 LIVE – 9.45am-11.50am | Session start: 10am GP2 – Practice – LIVE – 11.50am-12.30pm F1 – Free Practice 2 LIVE – 1.45pm-3.55pm | Session start: 2pm GP2 – Qualifying – LIVE – 3.55pm-4.45pm The F1 Show – British Grand Prix Preview 2 – 8pm-9pm Saturday 7th July GP3 – Qualifying LIVE – 8.40am-9.45am F1 – Free Practice 3 LIVE – 9.45am-11.10am | Session start: 10am F1 – Qualifying LIVE – 12pm-2.35pm | Session start: 1pm GP2 – Feature Race LIVE – 2.35pm-4pm GP3 – Race 1 LIVE – 4.15pm-5.05pm Sunday 8th July GP3 – Race 2 LIVE – 8.10am-9.10am GP2 – Sprint Race LIVE – 9.25am-10.30am F1 – Race LIVE – 11am-4.15pm | Race start: 1pm Legends of F1 – Sir Stirling Moss – 4.15pm-5.15pm F1 – Race Highlights – 7pm-8.30pm Replays of all programmes will be shown throughout the weekend. Check TV listings for more information..
BBC Sport will have free-to-air coverage of the 2012 British Grand Prix, with every single moment of the on-track action live and uninterrupted.
Live action begins on Friday with two 90-minute free practice sessions, which will be shown live on BBC Red Button.
Then on Saturday and Sunday, Jake Humphrey introduces live coverage of qualifying and the race, where he will be joined as ever by David Coulthard and Eddie Jordan, who will provide lively analysis and discussion in the pits and paddock area.
The BBC team will be joined by a variety of special guests throughout the build-up shows, which will also feature behind-the-scenes features and interviews with some of the sport’s biggest names.
Commentary comes from Ben Edwards, commentating on first British Grand Prix for the BBC, alongside David Coulthard, with technical analysis from pit lane by Gary Anderson, and driver interviews from Lee McKenzie.
Due to a clash with both Wimbledon singles finals over the same weekend, the British Grand Prix qualifying session and the race itself will be broadcast live on BBC Two and the BBC HD channel.
Build-up to Sunday’s race will be screened on BBC One prior to switching across to BBC Two five minutes before the start of the race, which begins at 1pm.
During the race, press the red button or log on to the BBC Sport website to access on-board cameras, pit-lane channel and alternate commentary from Radio 5 Live.
Following BBC Two’s live race transmission, viewers can press the red button to access the BBC F1 Forum.
This year’s post-race show will be part of Silverstone’s traditional post-race finale the Grand Prix Party.
Jake Humphrey, David Coulthard and Eddie Jordan will analyse key moments from the British Grand Prix on the main stage in front of around 20,000 fans, providing them with the opportunity to put questions to the presenters and guests.
Further information, news and video content can be found at bbc.co.uk/formula1, and viewers are encouraged to interact with the live programmes via Twitter by contacting presenter @mrjakehumphrey, or via the hashtag #BBCF1
British Grand Prix weekend on the BBC TV Schedule Friday 6th July F1 – Free Practice 1 LIVE – 9.55am-11.35am – BBC Red Button F1 – Free Practice 2 LIVE – 1.55pm-3.35pm – BBC Red Button Saturday 7th July F1 – Free Practice 3 LIVE – 9.55am-11.05am – BBC Red Button F1 – Qualifying LIVE – 12.10pm-2.30pm – BBC Two / BBC HD Sunday 8th July F1 – Race Build-up LIVE – 12.05pm-12.55pm – BBC One / BBC One HD F1 – Race LIVE – 12.55pm-3.30pm – BBC Two / BBC HD F1 – Post-race Forum – 3.30pm-4.30pm – BBC Red Button F1 – Race Highlights – 7pm-8.30pm – BBC ThreeEvery programme will be available to watch live online via the BBC Sport website, and on-demand via the BBC iPlayer shortly after transmission.
BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra will have live audio commentary of every on-track session, all provided by James Allen, Jaime Alguersuari and Jennie Gow, with special guests joining them throughout the weekend.
Sunday’s race will be broadcast on within 5 Live Sport from 1pm, with updates from the Wimbledon men’s singles final from 2pm.
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