Expect to see plenty of Union Jacks being waved at this weekend’s British Grand Prix for Lewis Hamilton, fans of whom will be hoping for a bounce-back result after his non-finish in Austria.
But while many flags will be out for Mercedes' star driver, they’ll perhaps also spur on three young British racers not yet in motorsport’s top rung. You may know of two of them, George Russell and Lando Norris, who are becoming more regularly mentioned up and down the Formula 1 paddock as the top two contenders in this year’s Formula 2 championship. But Callum Ilott, GP3’s current championship leader, is a recent promotee into motorsport’s spotlight, having secured his maiden win only last month.
To see how this newfound promotion affects 19-year-old Ilott ahead of his home race, we catch up with the Ferrari Driver Academy-supported young gun to discuss his chances.
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How does it feel to be among the British racing drivers at a Silverstone GP weekend in contention for a title?
“It’s a great feeling. If you look at the British drivers [in GP3 and F2], there are five or six guys who are backed by F1 teams; I raced with a lot of the guys back in karting. But that doesn’t change how you race now; you focus on yourself. It’s always special to be at Silverstone, but you have to focus on your race like any other.”
Does it feel more special to be racing in front of a home crowd?
“Yeah, it is very special, of course. I’d seen all the crowds on TV before but when you are physically on track and catch a sight of Union flags, it’s a brilliant feeling and it’s got to be worth a couple of tenths hasn’t it?
“For me, the other cool aspect is that my friends and family can also come along and be part of the weekend. It’s just not that simple or cheap to travel and watch when you’re racing in Germany or Spain, so when I’m competing here, it’s a chance to have them along.”
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British GP
These 3 really deserve to step up to the next level and into Formula 1. They are the next generation of young British drivers. It is supposed to be the pinnacle of motor racing and those racing in it should be there on merit and talent alone, not the size of your cheque book.