British Grand Prix: How to watch F1 online and on TV today

Silverstone hosts the British Grand Prix in the second double-header of the Formula One season, with Lewis Hamilton starting on pole position after a blistering display in qualifying.

Hamilton did not have it all his own way as the home favourite spun in Q2, resulting in him having to use an extra set of tires to get through to Q3.

But after securing his passage through to the final session of qualifying, Hamilton delivered a new track lap record to seal pole position ahead of Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas, with the Mercedes pair a second a lap quicker than the next fastest car in Max Verstappen.

Hamilton takes a slender five-point lead into the four race of the 2020 season, but victory today would help to put breathing space between himself and Bottas in what appears to be a two-horse race in this year’s championship.

Here’s everything you need to know about the British Grand Prix.

When is it?

The British Grand Prix takes place across 31 July - 2 August 2020.

What time does each session start?

FRIDAY

Free practice 1: 11am – 12:30pm BST

Free practice 2: 3pm – 4:30pm BST

SATURDAY

Free practice 3: 11am – 12pm BST

Qualifying: 2pm – 3pm BST

SUNDAY

Race: 2:10pm – 4:10pm BST

How can I watch it?

All European races will be held behind closed doors, meaning that the only way fans will be able to see the action is on television.

In the UK, Sky Sports continue to hold the exclusive rights for F1, but Channel 4 is able to show every session from the British Grand Prix live this weekend.

If you’re not a Sky customer you can purchase a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.

Here’s how Sky and Channel 4 plan to show the British Grand Prix:

FRIDAY

Free practice 1: 10:30am – 12:50am BST – (Sky Sports F1 + Sky Sports Main Event), 10:55am - 12:35pm BST (Channel 4)

Free practice 2: 2:45pm – 4:45pm BST (Sky Sports F1 + Sky Sports Main Event), 2:35pm - 4:35pm BST (Channel 4)

SATURDAY

Free practice 3: 10:45am – 12:10pm BST (Sky Sports F1 + Sky One), 10:55am - 12pm BST (Channel 4)

Qualifying: 1pm – 3:35pm BST (Sky Sports F1 + Sky One), 1pm - 4pm BST (Channel 4)

SUNDAY

Race: 12:30pm – 5pm BST (Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky One), 1pm - 6pm BST (Channel 4)

Highlights: 6:30pm - 7:30pm BST (Sky Sports F1 + Sky One), 11:45pm - 12:45am BST (Channel 4)

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Drier changes

With Sergio Perez ruled out of action, Racing Point will have to make a decision on who to replace the Mexican with as they intend on racing two cars this weekend. Esteban Gutierrez is one option, with the Mercedes reserve driver the allocated back-up for Racing Point this weekend as Stoffel Vandoorne is unavailable. But Gutierrez has not raced an F1 car since leaving Alfa Romeo (formerly Sauber) at the end of 2014.

A more recent and likely option is Nico Hulkenberg, with the German missing out on a seat in 2020 after being replaced at Renault by Esteban Ocon. Hulkenberg drove for the Racing Point team in their former guise as Force India in 2012 and from 2014 to 2016.