This weekend, F1 will make history at the British Grand Prix. To be precise, the Silverstone Circuit will host the very first sprint race to decide the grid for the main British GP.

Naturally, fans will be eager to watch this momentous occasion, so if they cannot make it to the circuit itself, they can catch the sprint race on Sky Sports.

The sprint race is expected to kick off at 4:30 PM local time and lasts for 17 laps. Meanwhile, the main race starts at 3:00 PM and lasts for a grand total of 52 laps.

Admittedly, Red Bull have been in excellent form in the past few races and will be the favorites. However, Mercedes has performed exceptionally well at the Silverstone Circuit.

Watch Story: Biggest Pitlane Mishaps Featuring Hamilton, Raikkonen & Verstappen

In terms of the weather forecast, many are expecting a dry weekend throughout. Of course, the weather can be a little unpredictable in England, so one can never be too careful.

It is also worth mentioning that teams will be quite wary about their tire usage. Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton got a brutal reminder last year, when the driver somehow managed to win with a three-wheeled car.

What is special about the British GP sprint qualifying?

For the uninitiated, the sprint race session replaces the traditional qualifying session. Over here, the weekend format is changed drastically.

To be precise, Friday sees one practice session and the traditional qualifying session to decide the sprint race grid. On Saturday, there is a final practice session before the sprint race gets underway.

Top Stories

“Filthy Games Were Played”: Helmut Marko Buries Christian Horner for Conspiring Against Him

“Oscar Wanted to Slap Lando”: Norris Disrespecting Piastri’s GF Leaves Papaya Army Cooking Rift Theories

Despite Shocking Breakup With Charles Leclerc, Ex GF Still Shares Close Ties With Ferrari

Red Bull Taskmaster Sympathizes With Mercedes’ Poetic Downfall Contrasting It With Red Bull’s Resurgence: “No Gloating”

John Elkann Officially Inducts Lewis Hamilton Into Ferrari With an ‘Ambitious’ Letter

At the end of 17 laps, the final results make up the grid for Sunday’s race. Sunday is the only day that does not have its schedule altered in any way.

Needless to say, many drivers are excited to kick off the first sprint race. They will want to prove that this experiment can be a successful one for the sport.

READ MORE: What Kind of Weather to Expect for the 2021 British Grand Prix?