Silverstone has added extra layers of TecPro barriers at several points around the circuit as driver predict significantly higher cornering speeds this year.
Formula One’s faster 2017 cars are predicted to be able to tackle the Copse right-hander (turn nine) flat-out. Last year drivers approached that corner at 321kph in qualifying trim.
“I think Copse is going to be flat this year,” Lewis Hamilton predicted. “I would imagine quite easy. Probably you’ll get to eighth by then, it’s going to be rapid.”
Hamilton, who said he missed a the F1 Live London event yesterday to prepare for the race, pointed out the strain on the drivers from the quicker corners will be much greater this year.
“It’s going to be a physical race for us, given it’s mostly medium and high-speed corners, the G [force] that we’re going to be pulling, it’s definitely going to be at least one up, maybe two, who knows. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Extra tyre barriers and TecPro barriers have been added at Abbey (turn one), Farm (turn two), Brooklands (turn six), Copse (turn nine), Stowe (turn 15) and Vale (turn 16). The track also features new double kerbs at Copse and Club (turn 18) where drivers have frequently been penalised for disobeying track limits.
“I love high-speed corners,” said Daniel Ricciardo. “From turn nine to fifteen, Copse to Stowe, it’s some of the coolest sequence of race track we go on all year.”
“We got a taste of it in Austria. The second and third sector we were carrying some serious speed. It was a sign of what this weekend’s going to be like, I think.”
Strontium (@strontium)
13th July 2017, 18:40
For the past few years Silverstone has had high amounts of runoff. A lot of it is high speed but I think some parts are not necessary, such as down the old home straight.
The big problem is the amount of tarmac runoff. If they want to sort out track limits, why not start by adding the grass back, then perhaps the gravel too.
KaIIe (@kaiie)
13th July 2017, 20:13
Most of them are due to MotoGP, especially the old s/f straight; where as in F1 Woodcote is not really a corner and could do without any run off area, for motorcycles a much larger area is required.
Kribana (@krichelle)
13th July 2017, 20:55
8th gear through copse? 7th through Stowe? 7 through second part of becketts? Any bets on these? That would be absurd…
ForzaRogo (@forzarogo)
13th July 2017, 22:34
Copse wasn’t flat out last year, at least in quali trim?
ajaya pai
13th July 2017, 23:54
what a great track!
And to think this is a circuit that BRDC is paying F1 owners to run british GP!
ridiculous!
Ricky Johnson (@bamboo)
14th July 2017, 0:30
Do your research mate. You wouldn’t give BRDC a 10/10 for appropriation of funds.
Part is the issue is their arrogance that they would never be cut, since it was clear there was no permanent circuit as an alternative in the UK.
BRDC only have themselves to blame, and I support Liberty in not bending over to what is nothing more than a little boys club.
JayR
14th July 2017, 13:48
Ye somehow Monaco gets to host a race without any fees? The one track not in a dictator’s country that could comfortably meet the hosting fees without any problem. Also the one track where it isn’t necessary to watch after T1 until maybe the pitstops because racing is virtually impossible? And they get to host it for free? Why? All this when legendary tracks like Monza, Spa, Silverstone and Nurburgring have either dropped out or have mentioned that they might drop out due to not being able to make a profit and have been threatened ta they will be dropped from the calendar. If Liberty really cares about the fans they should make F1 a bit cheaper to attend/follow and take care of classic tracks. Fan involvement, like London, is all fine and dandy but methinks they are doing that just to get closer to our wallets than the are doing it to make us closer to the sport.
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
14th July 2017, 1:15
So ‘double kerbs’ at Copse where they are gonna go faster than ever, possibly without lifting.
£10 bet that someone complains after P1 / P2 and the kerbs get revised.