What to Watch for at Silverstone

The FIA Formula 3 campaign returns for Round 4 at the historic Silverstone Circuit, but what should you be watching out for this weekend?

Home heroes

The Championship’s British duo appear to be hitting form at the right time, putting in their best performances of the campaign so far in Spielberg, ahead of their home race. Max Fewtrell’s second and fourth place finishes hiked him up to fifth in the Championship, above teammates David Beckmann (10th) and Christian Lundgaard (8th).

Last season’s Formula Renault Eurocup champion will expect to hit the same notes at home, just 40 minutes from the flat he shares with F2’s Jack Aitken. His ART Grand Prix machine was competitive once again in Round 3, following a lull in Le Castellet, and providing his car has the speed once more, he may be eying a first win in the series.

Hughes had come close to tasting victory in France, but ultimately crashed out of Race 1. The HWA RACELAB man made amends in Austria, earning his first win of the season in Race 2. The experienced Brit has raced at Silverstone before and stood on the podium as recently as 2017, with Hitetch GP in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. If he can carry his Austrian form into England, then that third place finish could well be improved upon.

Can Hughes and Vips push on?

After two rounds of PREMA dominance, Hughes and Jüri Vips broke up the procession in Austria and handed the Championship two new race winners. The Estonian driver has impressed in all three rounds this season and appears to be the most likely driver to challenge the current two-strong PREMA threshold at the top of the standings.

If Robert Shwartzman and Jehan Daruvala can be kept off the top step again in Great Britain, then Vips could gain further ground on his rivals and eat into the 19-point gap that separates himself and Daruvala.

How will PREMA react?

No doubt there will have been some tough conversations within the PREMA paddock following the collision between Shwartzman and Marcus Armstrong in Austria, but the Russian’s post-race comments show the team’s willingness to let them race.

The duo will be determined to right any wrongs from that showing and return their team to the tip of the podium in Great Britain.

Overtaking opportunities

Silverstone is the oldest and most attended race weekend on the calendar, but will play host to the FIA Formula 3 Championship for the first time this weekend. F1, F2 and F3 races are all heavily attended by the British fans, who will be keen to cast their eye over motorsport’s brightest young talent.

Those lucky enough to be there can expect plenty of action in F3: the track’s wide berth allows for overtaking opportunities throughout the field, with number of high-speed, high-octane corners. The combination of turns leading towards Hanger Straight will favour those able to get the maximum speed out of their machines and allow for plenty of manoeuvring.

The first turn at Abbey will provide for an entertaining start to the races as drivers battle with the combination of hitting top speed and breaking in time to round it successfully.