F1 British Grand Prix qualifying predictions and free Formula 1 tips

Free F1 tips, best bets and analysis for British Grand Prix qualifying at Silverstone on Saturday.

Where to watch

Practice three
Sky Sports F1, midday Saturday

Qualifying
Sky Sports F1 & Main Event, 3pm Saturday

Best bet

Max Verstappen fastest qualifier
1pt 9-4 general

Preview

Form in the wet could prove critical in deciding who will start on pole for the British Grand Prix with a rain-affected qualifying session on the horizon for the second race in a row.

Drivers had to deal with a wet track in Canada and the showers which made first practice at Silverstone on Friday a non-event are forecast to return to the area for qualifying.

At a damp Montreal, Max Verstappen was in a class of his own, qualifying 0.645 seconds quicker than the field, and the world champion could prove the man to beat again on Saturday afternoon.

The Red Bull driver, who spent plenty of his youth karting in the rain, posted two wins in the wet last year on his way to the title, one of which came courtesy of mastering a soaking Spa track to nab pole for the Belgian Grand Prix.

Verstappen has really been on top of his game of late, winning five of the last six races to extend his lead at the top of the drivers’ championship, while his record at Silverstone is decent.

Lewis Hamilton indicated he could put his old rival under some pressure, one year on from their infamous coming-together at the track, after an encouraging day for Mercedes.

Hamilton was second-fastest in a dry practice two and the upgraded Silver Arrow was quick on the medium tyre, matching the Ferrari for pace.

However, George Russell has conceded qualifying is likely to remain their Achilles heel and the reliable Mercedes’ best will be saved for race day.

As has been the case throughout the year, Ferrari will be everyone's biggest obstacle to pole with Charles Leclerc odds-on with most bookmakers at a track where the Scuderia is expected to perform well.

Carlos Sainz backed up those assumptions by going fastest in second practice with Leclerc fifth fastest.

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