Melbourne, Australia
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Shanghai, China
Sakhir, Bahrain
Montmelo, Spain
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Montreal, Canada
Valencia, Spain
Silverstone, Great Britain
Hockenheim, Germany
Budapest, Hungary
Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
Monza, Italy
Singapore
Suzuka, Japan
Yeongam, South Korea
New Delhi, India
Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Sao Paolo, Brazil
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8 July 2012 Silverstone, Great Britain
Copse: seventh gear, a blind approach, 5g. One of the best corners in F1.
Becketts: a stark reminder of the cornering ability of an F1 car. Seventh gear on the entry, fifth gear on the exit and lots of fast changes of direction. Your neck feels it through here.
Abbey: this will be Turn 1 in 2011, so there will be lots of jostling for position initially. On a normal lap, it’s a fast corner and a bump on the entry tries to unsettle the car.
Luffield: a long, slow right-hander. The exit is crucial because you don’t really hit the brakes until you get to Stowe 35 seconds later.
| 2011 winner | Fernando Alonso |
| Mark’s place | 3rd |
| Race date | 8 July 2012 |
| Circuit name | Silverstone |
| No. of laps | 52 |
| Circuit length | 5.891 km |
| Race distance | 306.747 km |
| Lap record | 1:30.874 – F Alonso (2010) |
I commute to Silverstone from home every day. A few hours after hanging it out in Q3 I can be running around in the garden with the dogs, which is sensational. It can feel a bit surreal!
The British fans are great. They’re very knowledgeable and they are very open in their support of all the drivers. Jenson [Button] and Lewis [Hamilton] get the most noise, and Paul di Resta will no doubt have a few fans this year as well, but I have a good level of support as well. The drivers’ parade is always fun.
Silverstone is a very fast track in places. You need to be accurate and you need to be at one with your car; you can’t carry a poorly balanced car through the fast changes of direction. The opening sector (from the old start-line) is one of the best pieces of racetrack anywhere in the world. It’s fast and flowing and you have to be totally committed. An F1 car can really stretch its legs through Copse and Becketts and we have to cope with some very high lateral g-forces.
The layout of the track has changed a bit over the years. The Arena Complex was added last year and the BRDC has spent a fortune on a new pit and paddock area this year. But the circuit still feels very much
like Silverstone. The Hangar Straight is the Hangar Straight; it feels exactly the same to when I went down it in Formula Ford, Formula 3, Sportscars and in Formula 3000.
I’ve got a lot of friends and family coming to the race this year. It'll be great to have your support, but there isn’t going to be room for all of you in the car!
AS A MATTER OF FACT…
- Mark has won at Silverstone in every category except for Formula 3. In 1997 he started a wet F3 race at the track in pole position, but he fell back with tyre problems.
- Mark is a regular fixture at Silverstone’s post-race concert. He’s given a warm welcome by the fans of his adopted country; luckily, he isn’t asked to sing.
- After starting his F1 career with the Italian Minardi team, Mark has driven for British-based teams ever since. Jaguar (2003 – ’04), Williams (2005 – ’06), Red Bull Racing (2007 – present).
- If you’re attending this year’s race and fancy a refreshing pitstop within an hour’s drive of Silverstone, why not head to the Stag at Mentmore, the gastro-pub run by Mark’s partner Ann?
Comments
Petra
POSTED July 01st, 2011
Congrets Mark , so glad you finished on the podium this year. Quite strange to watch the anti clockwise driving. A great start and what a release to see the 2 Ferraris getting so quick in front of Hamilton, keep him away from you. Only the smoke from ur car let me worry for a moment. Again perfect pit stops. What a pity that Alonso was a bit quicker. Great to see u so happy on the podium. Have a nice weekend….
cheers from China
James
POSTED July 03rd, 2011
G’day Mark, It’s good to see you on the podium and finishing races. It makes staying up in the early Australian hours more enjoyable. Glad to see you are in a reliable competitive team now. Keep at it, reign in Seb and enjoy your race at Silverstone.
ps. It’s seems that you and Seb get on better now, I hope that is the case 
JWS
POSTED July 04th, 2011
All the best for the coming race mate! We will be cheering you on from Holland!
GoGoGo!
Greetings from the Dutch Aussies
Andrew
POSTED July 05th, 2011
Hi Mark, I wish you to get the highest podiums step in Silverstone like year ago!
Sorry for my bad english!
iain
POSTED July 06th, 2011
Really pumped for this race Mark as I am sure you are!
All the best
Stu
POSTED July 06th, 2011
Keep it up matey you nearly have those tyres sorted. But why not try a different race strategy to Seb, mix the tyres up a bit, you never know
Silvia
POSTED July 06th, 2011
Hi Mark, Silverstone is your race, like last year. Full throttle!!! Good luck and take care
Ana
POSTED July 07th, 2011
Another weekend drinking champagne!!
Good luck!!
Julie
POSTED July 07th, 2011
Repeat of last year please!:-D
Miriam
POSTED July 07th, 2011
Good luck, Mark!
The highest podium is reserved for you 
Dina A.
POSTED July 08th, 2011
Mark, you’re a “monster” when you’re up against it…. (Silverstone 2010…!!!!)
Always cheering for you !! Be fast and safe, see you on the TOP step on Sunday…
Silvia
POSTED July 08th, 2011
Great P1, go ahead in this way and you will win Silverstone again.
Petra
POSTED July 09th, 2011
Hi Mark, wish you a great race at home. All the best!
Silvia
POSTED July 09th, 2011
Well done, fantastic qualifying. Now you can enjoy playing with your dogs. Good luck for tomorrow, you are the best!!!
Glenn
POSTED July 10th, 2011
You can do it Mark! This is your track. Cheers from Perth, we’re with you every lap!
Brett S
POSTED July 11th, 2011
Hey Mark,
Been a huge fan of yours sinceI was young from your early days in Jaguar Cosworth! Really good to see my support is paying off
Great pass on Hamilton today & to think the team thought McLaren were bluffing! Was really gunning for you to pass Seb! Want you to get one over that guy! Congrats again!
Bidi
POSTED July 11th, 2011
Drivers should be allowed to race shame on Red Bull. You were brilliant today even though you were a bit rebellious. Chin up!
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Hi Mark, congratulation to your podium in Valencia. Take this feeling, to got everything out of the car with in the silverstone race, and I think you wil be the luckiest guy who goes for a walk with his dogs these days.
Next step is the highest podiums step. I wish you all the best. Take care