Silverstone Preview: The triple header ends with a high-speed test

Round 8 of the 2024 FIA Formula 2 season and the final round of the triple header sees the drivers and their teams head to Silverstone, as both title fights continue to heat up.
Gabriel Bortoleto and Invicta Racing claimed their first victory of the year last time out in Spielberg while Paul Aron and Campos Racing continue to lead both Championship Standings.
So, as we head into the second half of the campaign here is everything you need to know before we hit the ground running at Silverstone.
THE FORM BOOK
Paul Aron made it seven podiums from the opening seven rounds after finishing third in the Spielberg Sprint Race and he heads to Silverstone with an 11-point lead over Isack Hadjar in the Drivers’ Standings.
Hadjar also finished on the podium in Spielberg joining Gabriel Bortoleto on the rostrum, the Invicta Racing driver achieving his first Formula 2 victory in the Feature Race.
The Brazilian driver is now third in the Championship ahead of Rodin Motorsport’s Zane Maloney, who had a tough weekend at the Red Bull Ring as he went without scoring a point.
Maloney is tied on 75 points with fifth-placed Franco Colapinto, the MP Motorsport rookie finishing second behind Bortoleto and in front of Hadjar in the Spielberg Feature Race.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
He is ahead of DAMS Lucas Oil’s Jak Crawford in sixth and his teammate Dennis Hauger, who has 62 points, in seventh and he will no doubt be keen to bounce back at Silverstone after difficult Sunday in Spielberg.
In the Teams’ Standings, Campos Racing lead the way with 143 points but are just a point clear of their second-placed rivals Hitech Pulse-Eight. MP Motorsport and Invicta Racing are tied for third on 137 points while DAMS Lucas Oil round out the top five on 96.
FROM THE GRID – Zane Maloney, Rodin Motorsport
“I love Silverstone in general, of course Maggots and Becketts is the first thing that comes to mind, but in general it has many high-speed corners, followed by some low-speed corners.
“It’s a very difficult circuit, the wind is also a big factor around Silverstone, as every session the wind is coming from a different direction which makes it again very difficult. Generally, one of the most technical tracks on the calendar and it’s a circuit that I’d say is good for confident drivers.
“There are a few overtaking spots of course, DRS helps down the Kemmel Straight, into Stowe, also into Brooklands and Luffield. But tyre degradation is a big factor in Silverstone, so usually overtaking comes once everyone’s tyres start going off and whoever does the best job is able to come through the field usually.
“Obviously you are in the UK so it can rain at any moment, it can also be sunny at any moment, so the strategy is always a big thing at Silverstone.
“Most races, it’s either drizzling at the start, at the end of the race, or it’s wet at the beginning and then into dry conditions, so for sure there is always a lot of drama at Silverstone, and generally when it’s a dry race there is a lot of degradation, so the strategy is a big factor there as well.
“Of course, the hope is to win every round. We finished second last year at Silverstone, so I guess we can only do one better than second. I love SIlvestone, I’ve always gone well there as well, so it’s one of the tracks I look forward to the most in the season and hopefully I can win there.”
TECHNICAL PREVIEW
Silverstone is a favourite for many on the grid because of its high-speed nature but this also means it demands plenty from the cars, in terms of setup, as well as from the tyres, with management of the Pirelli rubber crucial.
Downforce requirements will be quite high as while there are a couple of long DRS zones, the sweeping nature of the circuit will mean finding the right balance while going through the corners will be key, which will also help keep the tyres in good shape.
Heavy braking is not a huge requirement at Silverstone with Turns 3 as well at the Vale Chicane the main corners that demand sudden deceleration.
RACE STRATEGY
Pirelli have brought to the track the Soft and Hard tyres as last seen in Barcelona with Silverstone one of the hardest tracks on the tyres.
Expect the Hards to be the compound of choice in the Sprint Race but Sunday’s event could lead to differing strategies. Last year’s Feature Race winner Victor Martins started on the Softs before ending on the Hards.
We did see the likes of Arthur Leclerc do the alternative strategy to finish in the points after starting 12th, although his tyres gave way towards the end, with the fronts, especially the left, under the most strain.
Gareth Haynes, F2/F3 Pirelli Trackside Engineer
“The choice of the Hard for the Sprint Race is pretty much a given. This compound is very consistent and makes it possible to maintain a strong pace, without being particularly hard to manage. Therefore, on paper, starting on the Hard, then switching to the Soft should be the quickest strategy for Sunday’s Feature Race, although we believe it’s quite likely that several drivers will opt for the Soft for the opening laps with the aim of making up places, thanks to the increased amount of grip available. Of course, they will have to manage the risk of graining very early on, along with the inevitable degradation, but a Safety Car could help if it comes out around Lap 6 or shortly after, thus reducing the time lost for a pit stop. As always here, the weather could play its part as the English summer is not known for its stable meteorological conditions!”
STAT PACK