Another three week break completed and Formula One returns for some back-to-back racing action in Europe. After two street circuits, the F1 paddock is back on a dedicated surface, heading towards the rich racing history of Silverstone, tucked away in the heart of the British countryside. With the testing debacle sorted, attention can now focus solely on the race, as drivers try to stop Sebastian Vettel running away with it again.

Event schedule

Red Bull had almost everything go their way in Canada, with Sebastian Vettel scooping pole position and the race victory, and both driver and team extending their lead in the championship standings. Silverstone is all about good balance and sweeping through the fast corners, a complete opposite to the hard-braking in Montreal - whether that will tip the order on its head again remains to be seen!

Support racing for this event includes GP2, GP3 and Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.

The weather

The long range forecasts showed cloudy days ahead at Silverstone, but as we gradually creep closer to the event there are more specifics becoming clear. There's talk of rain on Friday, but the sun could make an appearance over the weekend itself, leaving the race clear and dry... in theory.

Circuit map

Silverstone had just the one DRS area in 2012 but this year the FIA have put in a second activation and detection on the opposite side of the circuit. The original detection came ahead of turn 3, moments after the lap begins, with the rear wing opening up down the straight that follows.

The new zone is detected at turn 11, just before the weaving section that leads into the second sector. Drivers can lower the rear wing flap for the straight that leads down to the ninety degree bend of turn 15. These two DRS zones are far enough apart not to directly influence each other, and will serve to make the high-speed circuit even faster!

The circuit

Built on an old airfield, the track used to be laid out with hay bales denoting the corners, and it has gradually improved to become the top level circuit it is today. For many years it was considered one of the old breed - a circuit with plenty of history, if some pretty awful facilities. The new plans hope to change all that, and the paddock complex is the first step in that direction.

Regarding the track, there are enough fast flowing corners and long straights to ensure that maximising your top speed is the key to getting a car set up right. Braking severity is low around the Silverstone circuit, and there are only a couple of low-gear corners to break up the momentum. Overtaking can be achieved around the track, although it is not always easy. Many of the teams celebrate their home races at the British Grand Prix, with the Force India factory just minutes away from the front gate, and the Mercedes buildings only a few miles down the road.

Tyre compounds

This weekend sees the hard (orange) and medium (white) compounds in action, tyres designed to deal with the high speeds and changeable conditions on display in the UK. As always, though, there's a threat of rain hanging in the air and so we could see the wets and intermediates in action. That makes it difficult to guess exactly what will unfold on Sunday, but Pirelli's motorsport director has a good go.

It’s quite hard to predict the number of pit stops on race day. Last year we saw a two-stop strategy in dry conditions after two wet days but this year the compounds are softer, so if it stays dry we could have between three and four stops.

- Paul Hembery

Press conference schedule

Official press conferences are organised by the FIA and happen four times during the weekend. The qualifying and post race press conferences will take place after the television unilateral interviews.

Race stewards

The FIA stewarding process was changed recently to include a former F1 driver to offer added insight. These are the stewards overseeing this weekend's action.