mobanmarketLewis Hamilton rejoiced in running flat-out around several corners at Silverstone yesterday, but with the scorching heart set to remain in force the Mercedes driver is predicting a physically challenging race on Sunday.
Hamilton set the pace in Friday’s first practice session, and while he remained a little under a second from last year’s pole time, it took nothing away from the exhilarating experience of blasting through Copse on full-throttle.
“It’s got to be the best track in the world,” said the four-time world champion who will aiming for his sixth British Grand Prix win on Sunday.
“It’s ridiculous. It’s like driving a fighter jet around the track.
“The track is so fast. Oh my god, it’s the fastest it’s ever been.
“We’re flat-out through Copse, through Turn 1, through Turn 2 with the DRS. It’s insane. It’s insane how fast it is… The faster it gets, the better it gets.”
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However, with no signs of Silverstone’s high temperatures coming down in the next 48 hours, Hamilton is predicting that drivers will be physically tested on race day when high G-forces combine with the blistering heat.
“It’s going to be the most physical race of the year for me, I think,” he said.
“It’s one of the best tracks because it’s so physical. The speeds we’re going now, the g-forces we’re pulling through Copse, through Maggots and Becketts – you’re flat-out, going all the way into Maggots.”
It’s not just the men that shall be tested insists Hamilton as the machines will also be pushed to their limits.
“The loads that you’re putting through the tyre – this is when it really impresses me what the manufacturers are able to do with these tyres, because geez…
“Tens of thousands of Newton metres… I don’t know how much that is in weight, but it’s tons of weight going through these tyres and through your body.”
Because of the track’s high temperatures, tyres were also a main concern for Hamilton’s team mate, Valtteri Bottas.
Pirelli has brought its hard compound to a race weekend for the first time this season as well as the thin-tread structure seen in Spain and in France, and destined to cope with Silverstone’s new surface.
“[We had] some overheating issues,” said the Finn after Friday’s running.
“The track temps were more than 50 degrees today and it’s going to be the same thing tomorrow afternoon and also Sunday afternoon, so we just need to deal with that.
“We’ve seen before that the hard tyre is more robust and you can push it more. It’s a bit slower but it will go longer,” he added.
“[Ferrari] look really competitive. For us, I’m sure we can still fight on performance. But as always, it’s going to be close.”
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