Stand-in Nico Hulkenberg produced a stunning qualifying display to take third on the grid in the Racing Point ahead of the Red Bull of Max Verstappen, with Daniel Ricciardo also impressing as he secured fifth position on the grid in the Renault. The race gets under way at 2:10pm, and you can follow the live updates below.
2020-08-09T12:02:38.770ZWelcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, where Valtteri Bottas will be looking to hit back in his championship battle with Lewis Hamilton after beating his Mercedes teammate to pole position.
2020-08-09T12:16:03.313Z
We begin with the developing story surrounding Racing Point and the copying scandal that has rocked the paddock this weekend.
In case you hadn't seen, Racing Point have been docked 15 points and fined €400,000 for copying the brake ducts of last year's Mercedes, which was proven after multiple protests from Renault after three of the four races this season.
The situation has quickly moved on with five teams signalling their intention to appeal - Racing Point against the verdict and Renault, Ferrari, McLaren and Williams who feel the sanction is not harsh enough and who believe that Racing Point should not be allowed to use the brake ducts for the rest of the season.
Well, Racing Point have hit back, with an "angry" Lawrence Stroll, their team owner, releasing a video statement to condemn their rivals for appealing the sanction.
“I do not often speak publicly, however I am extremely angry at any suggestion we have been underhand or have cheated. My integrity - and that of my team - are beyond question.”
Read the full statement here:
2020-08-09T12:47:27.786Z
The 2020 season has been all about Lewis Hamilton so far this season, with the reigning champion winning three of the last four races and building a 30-point lead in the drivers' championship.
But on Saturday, it was Valtteri Bottas's time to shine as the Finn put his Mercedes on pole position, producing a lap time that was just 0.063s faster than Hamilton's provisional time to secure top spot.
That could be crucial today, as it gives Bottas the choice of strategy and the track position in a car that is the equal of Hamilton's unstoppable Mercedes. Could he clock up his second win of the season this afternoon? He's given himself the best chance to do that so far this weekend.
2020-08-09T12:55:01.973Z
The same seven drivers remain standing while the 13 others take a knee at the front of the grid, with the paddock still split on F1's anti-racism message. Nico Hulkenberg elects to take a knee, having made it to the grid this time around after last weekend's false start, with the Racing Point driver following the lead of regular drivers Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez in showing his support in the fight against racism.
2020-08-09T12:57:50.850Z
Final preparations are underway as the drivers begin to climb into the cockpit, with the already thread-bare grid starting to thin out as we tick down towards lights out. With about 10 minutes to go until we're under way, here's how the grid shapes up this afternoon.
1 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1min 25.154secs
2 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:25.217
3 Nico Hulkenburg (Ger) Racing Point 1:26.082
4 Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:26.176
5 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Renault 1:26.297
6 Lance Stroll (Can) Racing Point 1:26.428
7 Pierre Gasly (Fra) Scuderia AlphaTauri 1:26.534
8 Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1:26.614
9 Alexander Albon (Tha) Red Bull 1:26.669
10 Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 1:26.778
11 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:27.078
12 Carlos Sainz (Spa) McLaren 1:27.083
13 Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 1:27.254
14 Esteban Ocon (Fra) Renault 1:27.011 + three-place penalty
15 George Russell (Gbr) Williams 1:27.455
16 Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Scuderia AlphaTauri 1:27.882
17 Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:28.236
18 Nicholas Latifi (Can) Williams 1:28.430
19 Antonio Giovinazzi (Ita) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:28.433
20 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:28.493
2020-08-09T13:06:29.323Z
It is of course a race designed to remember everything that has gone before us in Formula One, with 2020 exactly 70 years on from the first ever Grand Prix that took place at Silverstone, the home of motor racing.
However, the question today will be who will take a step towards becoming the 70th world championship? Right now, Lewis Hamilton is odds-on favourite to make it seven world titles, but the one man who can stop him starts from pole position this afternoon in the form of Valtteri Bottas. It's a case of now or never for the Mercedes man.
2020-08-09T13:10:16.036Z**FORMATION LAP UNDER WAY**
2020-08-09T13:12:15.210Z
Bottas embarks on a much faster formation lap than Hamilton's last week, which he also did in Austria in the first race of the season. However, his starts have not been as good as Hamilton's this season, and the race to the first corner is a fairly long one here.
2020-08-09T13:12:30.163Z
Bottas brings the field round. Here we go...
2020-08-09T13:13:33.540ZLIGHTS OUT! THE F1 70TH ANNIVERSARY GRAND PRIX IS UNDER WAY!
2020-08-09T13:15:13.860Z
Lap 1: Disaster for Ferrari as Vettel spins at the first turn and drops to the back of the pack! Hamilton meanwhile goes on the attack down the Wellington straight, and Bottas defends well to maintain the lead. Behind, Verstappen gets past Hulkenberg before Turn One, while Stroll gets Ricciardo to move up to P5.
2020-08-09T13:16:50.616Z
Lap 2: Hamilton has settled into second place, and it'll be interesting to see whether he chooses to look after his tyres rather than attack his Mercedes teammate. Behind, Verstappen is trying desperately to move out of DRS range with the lightning quick Racing Points behind him.
2020-08-09T13:19:06.513Z
Lap 3: We get a replay of Vettel's spin, and it's not going to make pretty viewing when he takes a look back at it. The four-time world champion cut the first corner too much and got his right-rear onto the dirt, which lit up the rear wheels and sent him round all on his own. That was very much an amateur error.
2020-08-09T13:24:48.260Z
Lap 6: Albon is the first to pit, with Red Bull looking to mix up their strategy and get him into clean air. He's back out onto the hard tyres.
2020-08-09T13:25:34.826Z
Lap 7: They're flooding in! Gasly and Giovinazzi also pit, and the tyres really aren't holding on here at all.
2020-08-09T13:27:35.056Z
Lap 8: Russell brings his Williams in from 14th, and drops to the back of the field as he joins the clan of early stoppers. Verstappen meanwhile is keeping the two Mercedes very honest, as he's actually catching Bottas and Hamilton.
2020-08-09T13:30:31.033Z
Lap 11: Gasly and Albon are locked in an interesting battle, with the ramifications that they are fighting over the second Red Bull seat. Currently, Gasly is getting the better of the man who replaced him, though having both pitted they're battling for 14th.
2020-08-09T13:31:38.913Z
Lap 12: Verstappen gets the call to back off and protect his tyres, and he responds that he may not get another chance to fight the Mercs and is going to go for it. Both the Mercedes have nasty blisters opening up on their tyres already, and with Verstappen on the hard tyres, he's all over the back of Hamilton.
When is it?
The F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix takes place on Sunday 9 August.
What time does it start?
The race will begin at 2:10pm BST, with the chequered flag set to drop shortly before 4pm.
How can I watch it?
All European races will be held behind closed doors, meaning that the only way fans will be able to see the action is on television.
In the UK, Sky Sports continue to hold the exclusive rights for F1, with Channel 4 only able to show the British Grand Prix live each season.
If you’re not a Sky customer you can purchase a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
Here’s how Sky and Channel 4 plan to show the British Grand Prix:
FRIDAY
Free practice 1: 10:30am – 12:50am BST – (Sky Sports F1 + Sky Sports Main Event)
Free practice 2: 2:45pm – 4:45pm BST (Sky Sports F1 + Sky Sports Main Event)
SATURDAY
Free practice 3: 10:45am – 12:10pm BST (Sky Sports F1 + Sky One)
Qualifying: 1pm – 3:35pm BST (Sky Sports F1 + Sky One)
SUNDAY
Race: 12:30pm – 5pm BST (Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky One)
Highlights: 6:30pm - 7:30pm BST (Sky Sports F1 + Sky One), 6:30pm - 9pm BST (Channel 4)
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Grid
1 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1min 25.154secs
2 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:25.217
3 Nico Hulkenburg (Ger) Racing Point 1:26.082
4 Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:26.176
5 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Renault 1:26.297
6 Lance Stroll (Can) Racing Point 1:26.428
7 Pierre Gasly (Fra) Scuderia AlphaTauri 1:26.534
8 Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1:26.614
9 Alexander Albon (Tha) Red Bull 1:26.669
10 Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 1:26.778
11 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:27.078
12 Carlos Sainz (Spa) McLaren 1:27.083
13 Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 1:27.254
14 Esteban Ocon (Fra) Renault 1:27.011 + three-place penalty
15 George Russell (Gbr) Williams 1:27.455
16 Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Scuderia AlphaTauri 1:27.882
17 Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:28.236
18 Nicholas Latifi (Can) Williams 1:28.430
19 Antonio Giovinazzi (Ita) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:28.433
20 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:28.493
