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Big Boost for Lewis Hamilton as Home British GP Announces Huge News
COVID-19 continues to be a major factor in the Formula One calendar. Although restrictions are starting to ease across the world, fans have already witnessed three races chalked off the calendar. While the FIA called off the Canadian Grand Prix in April, its replacement, the Turkish Grand Prix, got cancelled shortly afterwards.
Recently, the Singapore Grand Prix joined the list of cancelled races, with Austria getting two races. However, there are races where fans are returning to the stands. Although the British Grand Prix is one of those races, a recent development may bring a halt to that plan. With a month left for the iconic race in Silverstone, the circuit provided an update on fans attending the event.
British GP will be open to fans despite new lockdown restrictions
Considering the increasing COVID positivity rate in the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced they will not lift lockdown restrictions on June 21st as originally planned. Instead, they will extend those restrictions till July 19.
With the British Grand Prix scheduled from July 16-18, the race falls just one day before the new date for lifting lockdown restrictions. However, fans will attend the race in the birthplace of F1 since it will fall under the Event Research Programme of the UK Government.
In addition, Silverstone announced they are working with authorities to ensure fans are welcomed back to the British GP. “Our ongoing discussions with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, as well as Public Health England, are positive. We will communicate the full details [to] you once we have them.”
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What happened in Silverstone last season?
With COVID-19 shortening the F1 calendar, 17 races took place in the 2020 F1 season. Silverstone played host to two of those 17 races, which included the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton won the first of those two races. Despite a tire blowout in the last lap of the race, the Briton held off Max Verstappen to win the fourth race of the season. Verstappen would take the win in the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, which was the second race in Silverstone.
Hamilton would be the biggest beneficiary of this piece of news since Silverstone plays host to his home race. The Briton has won his home Grand Prix seven times, which is the most of any driver. In addition, he won the race in six of his seven title-winning seasons.
With Verstappen looking a bigger threat than before to Hamilton’s charge for an eighth title, can the Briton stay within the Dutchman after the triple header coming up before his home race in Silverstone?
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