Formula 1 arrives at the Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire for the 2025 British GP, the 12th round of the season, from July 4 to 6. The main race, set for Sunday at 11 a.m. (Brasília time), will be broadcast live on Band and F1TV, with practice sessions and qualifying shown on Bandsports and F1TV. The event, marking the season’s midpoint, showcases McLaren’s lead in the Constructors’ Championship and Gabriel Bortoleto’s rise after scoring points in Austria. Silverstone, host of F1’s inaugural race in 1950, promises a weekend of high speed and fierce rivalries.
The British GP is a highlight of the calendar, bringing teams like McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes to their home turf. The schedule includes practice sessions on Friday and Saturday, plus the qualifying session to set the grid. Known for fast corners and unpredictable weather, the track challenges drivers and strategies.
- Main broadcast: Band and F1TV for the race; Bandsports for practice and qualifying.
- Race duration: 52 laps or 120 minutes on the 5.891 km track.
- Weather forecast: 20-25°C, with possible rain on Saturday.
Expectations are high after McLaren’s one-two finish in Austria, led by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Bortoleto’s eighth-place finish, earning his first F1 points.
RACE 🇬🇧 WEEK
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 30, 2025
Silverstone, we're on our way! 🤩#F1 #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/sG4p8acHPd
Full weekend schedule
The British GP follows F1’s standard format, with three practice sessions, a qualifying session, and the main race. Activities kick off on Friday, allowing teams to fine-tune cars for Silverstone’s demanding layout.
Friday features Free Practice 1 at 8:30 a.m. and Free Practice 2 at 12 p.m., both on Bandsports and F1TV. Saturday hosts Free Practice 3 at 7:30 a.m., followed by qualifying at 11 a.m., covered by Band, Bandsports, and F1TV. The race on Sunday starts at 11 a.m., broadcast live on Band and F1TV.
- Friday, July 4:
- 8:30 a.m.: Free Practice 1 (Bandsports, F1TV).
- 12 p.m.: Free Practice 2 (Bandsports, F1TV).
- Saturday, July 5:
- 7:30 a.m.: Free Practice 3 (Bandsports, F1TV).
- 11 a.m.: Qualifying (Band, Bandsports, F1TV).
- Sunday, July 6:
- 11 a.m.: Race (Band, F1TV).
The timings, in Brasília time, make it easy for Brazilian fans to follow. Without a sprint race, the focus remains on traditional sessions, offering extra setup time.
Silverstone: a legendary circuit
Silverstone, stretching 5.891 km with 18 corners, is a cornerstone of Formula 1. Since 1950, when Giuseppe Farina won the first-ever F1 race in an Alfa Romeo, the track has hosted the British GP 58 times. Its layout blends long straights like Wellington with fast corners like Copse and Maggotts-Becketts, demanding precision and power.
In 2024, Lewis Hamilton won, followed by Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. George Russell took pole with a 1:25.819, and Carlos Sainz set the fastest lap at 1:28.293. For 2025, Pirelli supplies C1 (hard), C2 (medium), and C3 (soft) tires, suited to Silverstone’s abrasive surface. Rain forecasts could impact tire choices and strategies.
Where and how to watch the GP
Brazilian fans have several ways to catch the British GP. Band, on free-to-air TV, airs the qualifying and race, while Bandsports covers all practice sessions and qualifying on cable. F1TV, the category’s official platform, streams every session with on-board cameras and real-time data.
Bandplay, Band’s app, streams the race and qualifying for free, and Band.com.br also offers live broadcasts. Radio stations like BandNews FM and Rádio Bandeirantes provide live commentary, ideal for fans on the move.
- TV channels: Band (qualifying and race), Bandsports (practice and qualifying).
- Streaming: F1TV, Bandplay, Band.com.br.
- Radio: BandNews FM, Rádio Bandeirantes.
F1TV Pro, though subscription-based, is a comprehensive option for fans seeking detailed coverage, including access to all sessions of support categories like F2 and F3, also racing at Silverstone.
2025 season highlights
The 2025 season hits its midpoint with McLaren leading the Constructors’ Championship, driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. In the Drivers’ Championship, Piastri has 216 points, 15 ahead of Norris, while Max Verstappen, with 155 points, aims to rebound after retiring in Austria. Sauber’s rookie Gabriel Bortoleto shines after scoring four points in Spielberg.
Ferrari, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, seeks to close the gap to McLaren, while Mercedes, led by George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, bets on upgrades to return to the podium. Red Bull, hampered by recent incidents, needs consistency to keep Verstappen in the title fight.
Weather and strategies at Silverstone
Weather plays a critical role at Silverstone. Forecasts for 2025 predict 20-25°C temperatures, with rain likely on Saturday, especially during qualifying. Rain, common in the region, can disrupt car performance and force shifts in tire and setup strategies.
Teams like McLaren and Ferrari, with cars suited to wet tracks, may gain an edge, while Sauber, with Bortoleto, hopes its suspension upgrades ensure stability in tricky conditions. Tire wear, worsened by the abrasive track surface, will also be a challenge, particularly in high-speed corners.
Support categories in focus
Beyond Formula 1, Silverstone hosts the seventh rounds of Formula 2 and Formula 3, featuring Brazilian talent. In F3, Rafael Câmara of Trident leads with 117 points after Nikola Tsolov’s disqualification in Austria. In F2, drivers like Isack Hadjar and Zane Maloney, winners in 2024, are ones to watch.
F2 races are set for Saturday at 9:15 a.m. and Sunday at 7:05 a.m., while F3 races run Saturday at 5:15 a.m. and Sunday at 5:30 a.m. (Brasília time). Bandsports airs the main races, and F1TV covers all sessions. These events add excitement to the weekend, drawing motorsport fans.
History and passion at Silverstone
Silverstone is more than a track; it’s an F1 icon. Originally a World War II airfield, it was adapted for racing in 1948 and hosted the first F1 race in 1950. Lewis Hamilton, with eight wins, holds the record, followed by Alain Prost with five. Among Brazilians, Emerson Fittipaldi won in 1972 and 1975.
The British crowd, one of the most passionate in F1, fills the stands, creating an electric atmosphere. In 2025, local stars like Hamilton, Norris, and Russell, alongside rookie Bortoleto, fuel excitement. The circuit, upgraded with the Arena Grandstand in 2010, offers great views and comfort for spectators.
Technical challenges of the circuit
Silverstone’s layout demands a balance of speed and grip. Fast corners like Maggotts-Becketts test aerodynamics, while the Hangar Straight enables DRS overtakes. Pirelli notes that the abrasive surface increases tire wear, requiring one- or two-stop strategies.
Teams tweak suspension and downforce to optimize traction, especially in corner sequences. Sauber, with floor upgrades, aims to boost Bortoleto’s pace, while McLaren leans on aerodynamic efficiency to stay ahead.
Race expectations
McLaren enters as the favorite after Austria’s one-two, but Ferrari and Mercedes promise a tight fight. Lando Norris, racing at home, eyes victory, while Oscar Piastri aims to extend his championship lead. Gabriel Bortoleto, fresh off a Q3 in Austria, targets more points, and Lewis Hamilton seeks to repeat his 2024 win with Ferrari.
Saturday’s qualifying will be pivotal, as pole position at Silverstone often secures the lead into Turn 1. Rain could shuffle the grid, favoring veterans like Hamilton and Verstappen. The 52-lap race promises thrills until the checkered flag.
