Formula 1's drivers are looking forward to sampling the Silverstone circuit for the first time in 2017 machinery, given the high speed nature of the track and the increased downforce these new cars generate, which is expected to deliver record lap times.
The Silverstone circuit features several high-speed sweeping corner combinations such as Copse, Maggots, Becketts, and Stowe, as well as the opening section of Turns 1 and 2, which for the first time are expected to be flat out.
Speaking ahead of the race, Force India's Sergio Pérez and Esteban Ocon expressed their excitement about returning to Silverstone – a circuit which is located next door to the Force India factory.
"I really can’t wait to experience the high-speed corners at Silverstone with all the downforce we have on these 2017 cars,"said Pérez.
"I always say that Silverstone is one of the best tracks of the year. There are great corners and it’s a real pleasure to drive in a Formula 1 car."
Ocon added: “I can’t wait for the race. The track is great: I like the combination of fast corners, especially Maggots and Becketts. Those corners are awesome. In this year’s cars they’re going to be especially crazy."
McLaren's Fernando Alonso is similarly excited about returning to a 'drivers circuit' this weekend.
"The characteristics of the Silverstone circuit are high-speed, but also high-grip, and I’m excited to see how this year’s cars perform on this track – especially on the faster sections of the circuit."
Haas' Romain Grosjean concurred, with the Frenchman keen to understand the limit of the new cars: "I think it’s going to be one of the most exciting tracks of the year to drive.
"With the new cars, we’re really going to have a lot of downforce, a lot of g-forces through the high-speed corners – which were already really good with the previous cars. Now we’re going to get to another level and I’m looking forward to discovering that."
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