Your guide to… Silverstone round 5

The high-speed Silverstone Circuit challenges the F2 paddock once more for Round 5 of the 2020 FIA Formula 2 Championship.

WHEN TO WATCH All times local (GMT +1)

Friday Free Practice: 12:55 – 13:40 Qualifying: 17:00 – 17:30 Press conference: 18:15

Saturday Feature race: 15:45 (29 laps) Press conference: 17:05

Sunday Sprint race: 10:10 (21 laps) Press conference: 11:15

THE STORY SO FAR

Seven separate winners from eight races so far in 2020 is proof, if proof be needed, of how competitive the FIA Formula 2 Championship is. Last weekend saw Nikita Mazepin take Feature Race victory before Dan Ticktum claimed the Sprint Race, adding two new names to the F2 race winners list.

Following a couple of damp rounds in Spielberg and Budapest, Friday’s action at Silverstone was bathed in sunshine. Yuki Tsunoda topped Free Practice for the third time in four rounds, before Felipe Drugovich fired in a lap as hot as the day itself in Qualifying to take both his, and MP Motorsport’s, first F2 pole position.

Mazepin started well from P5 on Saturday, as did Mick Schumacher who took the lead into the first corner. Mazepin was relentless, right behind the German, and by Lap 3 had moved into first and was building a gap. Guanyu Zhou opted for the alternate strategy, switching tyres late on before dramatically scything through the field from P8 to grab second, but Mazepin alluded him to take his first F2 win. Tsunoda left it late but snatched third place with just three corners to go to make the podium.

Sunday’s Sprint Race provided more tyre drama. Ticktum led from lights-to-flag to take his first victory in Formula 2, but had to survive late pressure from Christian Lundgaard on new rubber after the Dane switched boots during a safety car period. Ticktum held on to take the flag, with Louis Delétraz coming home in third.

THE CHALLENGERS

Championship leader Robert Shwartzman (81 pts) endured a disappointing weekend, failing to score, and sees his lead in the Drivers’ Championship shrink to eight points. Ilott (73) remains in second place, now just four points ahead of Lundgaard (69). Mazepin’s (58) win moves him up to fourth, with Ticktum (57) a single point behind in fifth.

UNI-Virtuosi (124 pts) have climbed to the top of the Teams’ Championship, two points ahead of PREMA Racing (122) in second place. ART Grand Prix (103) occupy third, with Hitech Grand Prix (85) in fourth and DAMS (60) in fifth.

With tyre degradation a key factor last weekend, a switch in compounds will see the hard and soft Pirelli tyres used in Round 5, providing yet another test when it comes to management and strategy. Warm weather could create even more of a challenge. With both championships tightly contested, the stage is set for more intense F2 action.

FROM THE GRID – CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD (ART GRAND PRIX)

“I've never been a fan of Silverstone to be honest, but I know a lot of drivers really like it. After last weekend, I wouldn't say I've got anything against it and the pace showed that even if you don't really like the track you can still be fast. I felt very comfortable in the car, so it did change my opinion slightly, but it's still not my favourite circuit.

“I never thought I'd get a podium here, but I've now achieved that and ticked that box. That's a good memory that I'll have for a long time.

“It's a high-speed circuit, and that's cool. It's very difficult for a driver, not just to take care of the tyres but also physically. I like that because it's a challenge. It's the home of motorsport with a lot of F1 teams based nearby, and Renault at Enstone is not far away.

“Tyre management is 100% key. It's basically what it's all about in F2. It's very tough on the front left here, and the whole left side of the car is put under a lot of stress. It's a big factor to take care of, and it's difficult because the track goes clockwise. Managing the tyres is probably the most important thing in the race. You can make as good a car as you want, but the driver makes a bigger difference when it comes to that.

“I’ve made a prediction for this weekend, but I don't want to spoil it! I'll see if I'm right. We had strong pace last weekend, but we'll have to improve that. We have good knowledge of what we can improve, and how we can improve it, so we'll be trying different things. I'm excited to see if I can do even better.”

TYRE TALK – MARIO ISOLA (PIRELLI’S HEAD OF F1 AND CAR RACING)

“It’s been a very interesting start to the season in Formula 2, especially thanks to the performance of the new 18-inch tyres and the impact they have had on strategy.

“Silverstone is well-known as a demanding and high-energy circuit for tyres, which made getting the best out of them particularly crucial. Tyre management was vital for a strong result last weekend, and in Formula 2 we saw a number of different strategic approaches that contributed to exciting and unpredictable races. This weekend the F2 cars will have the hard and soft tyres here, which will be an even bigger challenge – especially if it is hot.”

STAT PACK

The F2 race lap record at Silverstone is 1:39.993, set by Jack Aitken with Campos Racing in 2019.
In eight races we’ve already see seven different winners in F2 this season. In 2018 it took 10 races to reach that number, while in 2017 and 2019 it took 12.
Should we see another first-time winner in F2 this weekend, they will become the 25th driver to take victory in the modern era of Formula 2.
16 drivers of the 22 drivers on the current grid have now stood on the podium during their F2 career.
Felipe Drugovich’s pole position last weekend means there’s been four different polesitters in the opening four rounds.
Nikita Mazepin’s win last Saturday made it back-to-back wins for Hitech Grand Prix, following Luca Ghiotto’s victory in the Budapest Sprint Race.
Mazepin has now scored points in his last five races. After Guanyu Zhou and Callum Ilott failed to score last Sunday, their own run of five consecutive points finishes has come to an end.
Dan Ticktum's Sprint Race victory means that DAMS are now tied with ART Grand Prix on 15 wins in the modern era of FIA F2 - the highest number of wins of any team.
Lap 3 of this weekend’s Feature Race will be the 250th lap of the season.
If Ilott wins this weekend, all three British drivers on the current grid will have taken F2 victory on home soil (Ticktum = 2020 Sprint, Jack Aitken = 2019 Sprint).
If Luca Ghiotto wins this weekend, he would join Charles Leclerc and George Russell with seven F2 wins - second on the all-time winners list in the modern era of FIA Formula 2.