Yahoo Autos July 31-August 2 Weekend Racing Blowout: What, Why, Where to Watch on TV
The modern-era birthplace of of Formula 1 is the backdrop for the first of two F1 races at Silverstone Circuit, as F1 begins a two-week run in England to highlight the racing weekend.
And with a cloud of COVID-19 hanging over the F1 paddock after the Thursday positive test of Racing Point's Sergio Perez, many will just be rooting for a clean weekend on the track and off it.
The weekend also includes NASCAR Cup at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Road America.
Here's what to watch and where to find it:
Formula 1
What: F1 British Grand Prix
Where: Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, England
When: Sunday, 9 a.m.
Why It Is a Must-See: Lewis Hamilton, surprise, is on a roll. After watching Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas win the F1 Austrian Grand Prix to open the season, Hamilton roared back with easy wins in the Styrian and Hungarian Grands Prix. He leads Bottas by five points in the standings in his quest of record-tying seventh championship. Mercedes has led all but one lap this season, and that was just due to pit cycles. No one has made a pass for the lead on track in F1 this season.
What to Watch:
• Keep en eye on the medicals. After the word Thursday that Racing Point driver Sergio Perez had tested positive for COVID-19, the paddock is understandably nervous in England. It's hard not to have flashbacks to what was supposed be the season opener in Australia back in March. That time, as we all remember, all it took was a positive test by a McLaren crew member to shut the entire series down for nearly four months.
• Speaking of Racing Point, that team has been knocking on the door to the podium. There will be a lot of eyes on that team this week. Without its top driver, can the team compete with Mercedes and Red Bull?
• And, if you don't mind getting up early and you want to get a look at some future Formula 1 stars, there's plenty of Formula 3 action over on the premium ESPN+ streaming service ($4.99 a month).
Where to Find the Action:
Saturday, July 31
Welcome to the Weekend F1 Preview, Silverstone, Britain; 5:30 a.m., ESPN2 (L)
Formula 1 Practice 1, Silverstone, Britain; 5:55 a.m., ESPN2 (L)
Formula 3 Qualifying, Silverstone, Britain; 8 a.m., ESPN+ (L)
Formula 1 Practice 2, Silverstone, Britain; 9:55 a.m., ESPN2 (L)
Porsche Supercup Practice, Silverstone, Britain; 12:55 p.m., ESPN+ (L)
Saturday, August 1
Formula 3 Britain Race 1, Silverstone, Britain; 4:25 a.m., ESPN+ (L)
Formula 1 Practice 3, Silverstone, Britain; 6:55 a.m., ESPN2 (L)
Porsche Supercup Qualifying, Silverstone, Britain; 7:30 a.m., ESPN+ (L)
Formula 1 Qualifying, Silverstone, Britain; 8:55 a.m., ESPN (L)
Sunday, August 2
Formula 3 Britain Race 2, Silverstone, Britain; 3:45 a.m., ESPN+ (L)
Porsche Supercup Britain Race, Silverstone, Britain; 6:25 a.m., ESPN+ (L)
Formula 1 British Grand Prix Sunday Prerace Show, Silverstone, Britain; 8 a.m., ESPN (L)
Formula 1 British Grand Prix, Silverstone, Britain; 9 a.m., ESPN (L)
Formula 1 British Grand Prix, Silverstone, Britain; 7 p.m., ESPNEWS (S)
Formula 1 British Grand Prix, Silverstone, Britain; 10 p.m.,, ESPN2 (S)
