Verstappen was competing in a virtual race with his Team Redline team-mates at Silverstone in Formula 3 cars, with that being where he had a huge moment with Hamilton during their titanic 2021 title fight.

Back at the 2021 British Grand Prix, Verstappen started on pole position, with Hamilton lining up alongside him in second.

Hamilton knew he had to make a move on Verstappen on the opening lap, otherwise the Red Bull driver would clear off into the distance and win on his home turf.

READ: Carlos Sainz’s father makes massive Audi admission that will worry Ferrari

Hamilton initially tried to overtake Verstappen as they entered Brooklands, before the Dutchman closed the door.

In response, Hamilton went wide at Luffield to get a phenomenal exit, which launched him down the run into Copse Corner.

This is where an infamous incident took place between the two drivers, as Hamilton got on Verstappen’s inside.

He was determined to make the move work and braved it out; however, he went slightly wide which sent him into the side of Verstappen.

Some wondered if Verstappen failed to give the Mercedes driver enough room, only for replays to show that Hamilton had run slightly wide.

Verstappen was ultimately hit at 160mph, with him having flown through the gravel trap before hitting the barrier very hard.

His impact with the barrier was measured at 51G, resulting in him being sent to hospital as a precaution.

Hamilton was slapped with a 10-second time penalty, although he still managed to win his home Grand Prix.

Verstappen remembers the incident well, which is perhaps why he made the joke whilst pulling off an overtake on a fellow sim racer at Copse.

READ: Red Bull dealt severe blow as McLaren reveal shocking Lando Norris transfer fee

“So it does work, going side by side into that corner [Copse],” Verstappen said whilst live on Twitch.

It was that crash at Silverstone which truly raised their rivalry to a whole new level, and led to neither driver ever giving the other any room.

This was proven at Monza that year, as they collided once again.

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Despite the world we live in which seemingly relies on social media, Vettel has rarely gotten heavily involved in it.

In fact, the four-time World Champion only made an Instagram account last year to announce his retirement from Formula 1, ahead of the 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Even in his retirement post though, the German uploaded a video of him speaking, rather than a conventional image with a caption.

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His focus has been on his family and raising awareness for the environment, something he attempted to do during his last few years in F1.

Back in 2019 when Vettel was still racing for Ferrari, the German was keen on helping the British Grand Prix organisers clean up, something he’s done at other races as well.

However, Vettel had one condition, he didn’t want Silverstone to post anything on social media regarding him helping de-litter the circuit.

The German turned up on the Monday after the race with a pack of bin liners, ready to help the clean up get underway.

According to Plato, the retired F1 driver went “ballistic” with the circuit when he discovered that he had been put on social media by the circuit cleaning the circuit.

Plato added that it showed the type of person Vettel is, as he simply wanted to “quietly” help out without it becoming a huge deal on social media.

READ: Carlos Sainz reveals when he will sign new Ferrari contract

“It was Seb’s idea and he said ‘I want to help clear up’,” Plato said on the Fuelling Around podcast that he co-hosts alongside ex-Radio One broadcaster ‘Comedy’ Dave Vitty.

“On the Monday he went with bin liners and cleaned up all of the grandstands. And do you know what? His only request was ‘I don’t want this put on social media’. Silverstone actually broke that trust and did put something out and he went ballistic.

“That’s really interesting because that’s the character of the man. He just wanted to do something quietly, for himself, and that’s unusual in the crazy world of motorsport.”

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Norris fought his way to second place after starting from third, while Verstappen’s impeccable start and race pace led him to a dominant win. 

Despite acknowledging the challenge of beating Red Bull on pace alone, Norris is content with McLaren’s progress and hopeful for future opportunities. 

On the other hand, Verstappen expresses delight in his start and the car’s performance, propelling Red Bull to a remarkable 12th consecutive Grand Prix victory.

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Lando Norris continued his impressive form at the Hungarian Grand Prix, securing a second-consecutive second-place finish. 

Starting from third on the grid, the British driver found himself momentarily behind McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri as they manoeuvred past polesitter Lewis Hamilton through the opening corners. 

However, Norris executed a well-timed pit stop, utilising the powerful undercut to regain the advantage over Piastri. 

Reflecting on his race, Norris admitted it had been challenging, stating, “Just yeah, a tough race, not an easy one, especially with Checo [Perez] catching at the end, but he didn’t have enough pace to catch up. 

“So, I’m happy, I had to fight for it a little bit in the beginning. I got a bit screwed over in Turn 1, but another podium for us and for McLaren, which is amazing.”

While Norris acknowledges the formidable pace of Red Bull and Max Verstappen, he remains optimistic about McLaren’s progress. 

When asked about the possibility of a McLaren win, Norris replied, “If Max [Verstappen] retires or something then maybe, but, at the minute, the guys [Red Bull] are too quick unless they make mistakes or something happens. 

“We’re very happy with the progress we’ve made to go from where we were, like four or five races ago, struggling to get out of Q1 to sometimes fighting for poles and fighting for podiums… we’ll take it for now and hopefully, our time will come later in the year.”

Max Verstappen’s race at the Hungaroring was marked by a fantastic start, breaking away from his recent steady starts and managing to get alongside Lewis Hamilton into the first corner. 

With a late-braking move, Verstappen secured the position from his former title rival and never looked back. 

The Dutch driver expressed his satisfaction with the start, saying, “Finally, we had a really good start, so I’m very happy with that. 

“We’ve been working on that quite a bit to try and really get the good bite. 

“I knew, of course, when I had the inside, that that corner was mine so… I was just late on the brakes. 

“It was a heavy car so, luckily, it all worked out well. 

“Basically, from there onwards, I could go do my race. 

“And, today, the car was really, really quick.”

After struggling with car handling in qualifying and earlier practice sessions, Verstappen found the car to be impeccable during the race. 

The car’s performance allowed him to manage tire wear effectively and create a substantial gap to his competitors. 

READ: Sergio Perez makes a bold prediction

Celebrating Red Bull’s record-breaking 12th consecutive Grand Prix victory as a constructor, Verstappen expressed pride in the team’s achievements and their continuous pursuit of perfection. 

He said, “12 wins in a row is just incredible. What we’ve been going through the last few years is unbelievable and, hopefully, we can keep this momentum going for a long time. 

Just to work with the whole team is always very enjoyable, it’s always good to look into like yesterday, for example, to keep pushing, always wanting to do better, but then a day like today is just perfect.”

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The Brackley-based team unveiled the revised front wing at the British Grand Prix held at Silverstone. 

However, their achievements were overshadowed by their customer team, McLaren, who secured impressive second and fourth-place finishes last weekend.

During Mercedes’ post-British GP debrief on YouTube, James Allison, Technical Director of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, acknowledged that it is still too early to make a conclusive assessment of the new front wing’s impact. 

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Allison emphasised that the primary goal of the upgrade is to enhance the team’s speed and overall performance.

“It’s a bit too early to tell,” Allison stated. 

“The new front wing is, of course, designed to make us go faster. That’s why we do all our things. 

“The specific characteristics of this new front wing that we are excited about is that it should improve the balance and performance of the car through the slower range of corners.”

Allison highlighted the unique challenge faced at Silverstone, where the circuit is renowned for its high-speed sections rather than a multitude of slower corners. 

Despite this, Mercedes found reassurance in their competitiveness in the slower parts of the track, suggesting positive signs regarding the new front wing’s impact.

“That’s a tick in the box for this new front wing,” Allison noted. 

“But I guess it will only be when we get to Hungary, which is a track made up almost entirely of slower stuff, that we’ll get to know for sure. 

READ: ‘Definitely not helping’: Max Verstappen not looking forward to 2024

“Early signs are promising; the new front wing seemed to do what we expected, and hopefully, it will bring us more advantages at tracks with a wider range of slow corners.”

The Hungarian Grand Prix, scheduled to take place next weekend, will provide Mercedes with a crucial opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of their upgraded front wing under conditions that better reflect its intended performance range. 

The team will be hoping that the new front wing will unlock further gains and bolster their competitiveness, cracking Red Bull’s win streak.

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Despite this hurdle, the team maintained their perfect winning record for the season at Silverstone, with Verstappen securing Red Bull’s first British GP victory since 2012.

While Verstappen’s dominance appeared effortless on the timesheets, the race proved to be a harder-fought battle than most this year. 

Early on, he lost the lead to Lando Norris, inciting excitement among the British crowd. 

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However, after a few laps, Verstappen swiftly regained his position and settled into a steady rhythm.

The situation took a dramatic turn when Kevin Magnussen’s Haas caught fire, leading to a safety car period. 

Seizing the opportunity, Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri made a bold decision to switch to hard tires for the final stint. 

Although considered a significant risk, the move paid off as they quickly found good pace on the more durable compound.

In contrast, Verstappen and several others remained on the soft tires, which offered better initial speed but deteriorated faster than anticipated. 

Both Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, who trailed in third place, struggled with tire degradation, unable to catch up to Norris in front.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko expressed his concerns, stating, “In retrospect, the tire choice was a risk. Max took good care of the tires, but you could see with him and Hamilton that the soft tires were wearing out.

“We were glad the race was over. Norris needed another lap or three or five, and he would have had a significant tire advantage.”

READ: Karun Chandhok disagrees with Toto Wolff about Lewis Hamilton

The latter part of the race posed more worries for Red Bull than Norris’s initial lead. 

Marko acknowledged Verstappen’s attentiveness to tire management in the fast corners during the early stages. 

However, once the race progressed, Red Bull showcased superior performance compared to McLaren in all aspects. Marko added, “At the end of the race, we couldn’t have asked for anything more from the tires.”

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The 2022 race had been impacted by track invaders who would’ve caused chaos had it not been for a red flag moments earlier slowing down the grid.

After the disruption at Silverstone last year, other sporting events have been hit by protests, including the Ashes, Wimbledon and Snooker, putting officials on high alert at major competitions around the globe.

With the use of facial recognition technology and over 100 extra security guards deployed around the track, local police were able to ensure last weekend’s race went ahead without incident.

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Despite the threat to his sport, Lewis Hamilton backed the protestors, claiming their actions are justified when not harming others.

“Yes. I support peaceful protests,” Hamilton said.

At the DTM race at the Norisring, however, the situation was different, as climate protestors sought to cause disruption at the event, injuring a member of staff in the process. 

“A marshal was injured,” Kleine Zeitung newspaper reported.

Speaking to DPA news agency, a police spokesperson confirmed that a marshal who tried to prevent protestors from getting on the track was assaulted.

READ: Red Bull boss reacts to Max Verstappen boredom claim

“The investigations so far have shown that three of the people involved had a physical altercation with a marshal shortly before the start of the action,” the police stated.

According to the news agency, the marshal is still in hospital and his attackers are facing charges of grievous bodily harm.

13 protesters were involved in the disruption at the Norisring, including one who tried to fasten themselves to a fence and another who poured oil over the circuit.

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Brundle shared an awkward exchange with the model on Sunday, prompting a social media response from the team.

Delevingne appears to have been present at the British GP as a guest of Alfa Romeo. 

The team shared a video of the 30-year-old being shown behind-the-scenes by their staff. 

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Taking a fiery dig at Brundle, Alfa Romeo reminded him that nobody should be put in an ‘uncomfortable situation’.

During the grid walk, Brundle attempted to approach Delevingne for an interview but was informed by a member of staff and then by the celebrity herself that she did not want to be interviewed. 

However, the 64-year-old journalist continued to persist with his questions and made a sarcastic comment as he walked away.

After Alfa Romeo shared the video of Delevingne’s Formula One race day experience, a fan expressed disappointment in her refusal to engage with Brundle, questioning her identity. 

In response, Alfa Romeo defended Delevingne and took a dig at Brundle, stating, “Respect goes both ways: nobody should be placed in an uncomfortable situation or forced to do things against their will.”

The incident has sparked a debate within the F1 community regarding access to the grid. 

Some fans and pundits argue that grid walk pass holders should be obliged to make themselves available for media interviews.

However, Delevingne has clarified that she was instructed to refuse an interview with Brundle. 

In response to a tweet suggesting that Brundle was manufacturing controversy, Delevingne quote-tweeted and expressed gratitude for those who understand both sides of the debate. 

She wrote, “I was told to say no, so I did. Thank you for seeing both sides.”

READ: Max Verstappen thought Red Bull made the wrong decision

Later, Delevingne added, “Anyway, I had so much fun today and was so happy to be there no matter what anyone else may think.” 

Her statements indicate that she enjoyed her time at the British Grand Prix despite the controversy surrounding her interaction with Brundle.

The incident involving Brundle and Delevingne has sparked a broader discussion about media access and the autonomy of guests on the grid, with the debate raging on social media days after the race.

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The Red Bull driver initially lost the lead to Lando Norris at the start of the race, and although he managed to regain the position, he didn’t pull away from his pursuers as quickly as he had in the previous race at the Red Bull Ring.

Despite the challenges, Verstappen secured his sixth consecutive victory, but he admitted that it was far from straightforward. 

Reflecting on the race, he explained, “I had a bad start, a lot of wheel spin. 

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“So I had to work my way up again to Lando, that took a few laps, then it also took a few laps to cool down the tires again in the lead because Lando came back at me again in the DRS.”

Verstappen did manage to build a comfortable gap over Norris, but the introduction of the Safety Car erased his advantage. 

However, he remained positive about the race, stating, “Once everything settled in, we, lap after lap, could open up the gap to, at one point, it was nine seconds before the Safety Car came out. 

“So I guess that was very positive.”

Nevertheless, Verstappen expressed his admiration for McLaren’s performance. 

While the team had shown strength in qualifying earlier in the season, their race pace at Silverstone proved to be equally impressive. 

Verstappen remarked, “Everything was working quite well, but it was still quite surprising to see that the McLaren was actually that quick, or Lando was that quick, over the whole stint.”

During the Safety Car period, Verstappen made the decision to switch to soft tires. 

In hindsight, he questioned whether it was the correct choice. 

He explained, “Because of the Safety Car, we had to make the decision about what tire to put on: the soft or the hard. 

“We opted to go for the soft, which at the time I thought was right. 

“But when I restarted, it took only two, three laps, and then I realised that it was quite tricky to keep them under control with the temperatures.”

Verstappen admitted that using the hard tires might have been a better option, allowing him to push harder throughout the stint. 

Although the first few laps would have been challenging, he believed the hard tires would have provided greater speed towards the end of the race.

Verstappen also acknowledged that McLaren’s performance in the race exceeded Red Bull’s expectations. 

READ: Jenson Button surprisingly compares Charles Leclerc to British F1 legend

He expressed, “I was definitely positively surprised with the pace of the McLaren in the race. 

“They were actually very quick compared to even the cars behind.” 

However, Verstappen emphasised the importance of focusing on his own performance and remaining aware of the developments happening behind him.

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Hamilton applied immense pressure on Norris during the safety car restart and even managed to draw alongside him, but he couldn’t execute the move successfully down the national pit straight.

Norris revealed that he opted for a lower-downforce setup, anticipating the need for additional straight-line speed, and it proved to be a wise decision, helping him secure a podium finish. 

Hamilton spoke to the press about the moment, saying, “I threw it up the inside into turn seven and I hoped that this is the moment I could make it happen and pressed the overtake button. 

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“So we were both going down the road with the overtake, but he had less drag. 

“So I guess they said they had a small wing, and we just started pulling, so I had to back out.”

Hamilton acknowledged his speed advantage in the first half of the lap and mentioned that during their qualifying laps, they were very close to Max Verstappen until turn 13, where they consistently fell behind. 

He acknowledged the need for improvement in their high-speed performance, indicating that there is work to be done.

Adding to the intrigue of the race, McLaren showcased a part-chrome livery as a nostalgic nod to their appearance when Hamilton raced with the team. 

Hamilton made his debut with McLaren in 2007 and clinched their last British GP victory in 2008, the same year he secured their most recent world championship.

Expressing his delight at McLaren’s resurgence, Hamilton stated, “It’s really amazing to see McLaren back in competitive form. 

“I think it’s been such a long time. 

“I really didn’t expect to be on the podium today, but when we go through the different strategy options, the safety car is the one you hope for.” 

He further explained that he instructed the team to put him on medium tires, intending to maintain proximity to the frontrunners until the possibility of a safety car arose.

READ: Max Verstappen lifts lid on Lewis Hamilton amid boo threat

Hamilton expressed his gratitude to the team for their continuous efforts and acknowledged the need for improvements to make the car more competitive against the Red Bulls and the new McLarens. 

He added, “Our long-run pace is really good, and I’m really grateful for the team for continuing to push. 

“We do have a lot of work to do on our car to put ourselves in proper, competitive form.”

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The wheel-to-wheel duel between the young McLaren driver and the seasoned veteran, Lewis Hamilton, captured the imagination of fans and showcased Norris’ exceptional talent. 

As Max Verstappen claimed victory, Norris found himself in the spotlight, becoming something of a national treasure overnight.

When Norris appeared on stage at Silverstone’s fanzone hours later, he was taken aback by the overwhelming crowd and the chants of “Lando” that greeted him. 

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He described himself as “speechless” in response to the outpouring of support.

While the podium finish was the seventh of Norris’ career, it was his first at the British Grand Prix. 

The achievement came as a surprise, considering McLaren’s challenging start to the season and their initially uncompetitive car. 

However, a recent major upgrade in Austria signalled a change in direction for the team, and further improvements are expected. 

Norris acknowledged that the car performs better at high speeds than at slow ones, indicating that the project is still a work in progress.

Amid difficult times, rumours began circulating a few weeks ago about Norris potentially considering a move to another team or receiving interest from other suitors, with Red Bull being mentioned. 

However, Norris dismissed the speculations, highlighting that he is contracted to McLaren until the end of 2025. He also expressed his loyalty to the team that has nurtured him since before his debut four seasons ago.

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown addressed the rumors, emphasising the importance of providing Norris with a competitive car.

Brown stated, “Whoever he signs for next, he needs to believe he has a car he can win a world championship with. 

READ: Toto Wolff sheds light on friendship with Man City boss

“So our goal is to get a fast car.”

Brown praised both Norris and McLaren’s rookie driver, Oscar Piastri, highlighting the increasing significance of drivers as other teams catch up with Red Bull’s dominance.

Looking to the future, Brown envisions McLaren as one of the five teams regularly contending for victories by 2025. 

The team has made significant investments, including the appointment of new team principal Andrea Stella, the establishment of a new wind tunnel, and the construction of a new composites factory, all contributing to their ambitious goals.

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