F1 British Grand Prix race predictions and free Formula 1 betting tips

Free Formula 1 tips, best bets and analysis for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports F1 & Main Event, 3pm Sunday

Best bets

Max Verstappen race winner
2pts 8-11 Betfred, Coral, Ladbrokes

Alpine double points finish
1pt 9-4 bet365

Race preview

Carlos Sainz shook up the established order by mastering a soggy Silverstone to take a maiden career pole for the British Grand Prix but his joy could be short-lived with Max Verstappen in close proximity.

Sainz, not known for his wet-weather skills, pulled out a stellar flying lap in treacherous conditions to claim a seventh pole of the season for Ferrari.

But in typical British summertime fashion, conditions for Sunday’s race will be completely different from qualifying with a dry day forecast and bookmakers believe the sun may have already set on Sainz's chance of a first win in Formula 1.

The Spaniard is rated a general 4-1 chance to end Red Bull’s run of six straight wins and while he has driven well of late, finishing second in two of the last three races, he could end up playing the bridesmaid once more.

Verstappen, the pantomime villain of Silverstone, was in ominous form on Saturday and could have snatched pole had he not aborted his final flying lap in qualifying after Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc spun in front of him.

The Dutch driver had gone fastest through the first two parts of qualifying but it was his performance in a dry practice earlier in the day that was the biggest indicator of the Red Bull’s potential.

The world champion was four-tenths of a second quicker than anyone else in final practice and is at the top of his game having won six of the last seven races to move 46 points clear in the drivers’ standings.

Verstappen’s record at Silverstone is decent too, winning the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix in 2020 and posting two second place finishes, while he may well have won last year’s British Grand Prix but for his infamous coming together with Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap.

Verstappen is unlikely to be bothered by a Mercedes this time around, even if the Silver Arrows experience their usual race day bump.

The upgrades Mercedes have introduced this week have certainly had a positive effect, pulling them closer to Red Bull and Ferrari, but qualifying remains a problem and both Hamilton and George Russell have a mountain to climb if they are to send the fans home happy after qualifying fifth and eighth respectively.

Alpine could prove the wild card of the race. Fernando Alonso registered his first front-row start for a decade in Canada last time, was quick in Friday practice in his upgraded challenger and will start from seventh on Sunday.

Alonso is a two-time British Grand Prix winner while teammate Esteban Ocon goes well at this circuit, posting a top-ten finish in all four starts at the Northamptonshire venue.

Ocon was caught out by the weather as he qualified 15th but the data from practice suggests he could move through the field.

Alpine were best of the rest in practice and can expect to be in the mix for points again, both cars having finished in the top ten four times already this year.

Not got a bet365 account? Bet £10 & get £50 in free bets

Open account offer. Minimum deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as bet credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Minimum odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude bet credits stake. Time limits/T&Cs apply. 18+ begambleaware.org

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport