Slater: Something old, something new...

ESPNSTAR.com columnist Steve Slater gets sentimental about the old Silverstone ahead of the British Grand Prix.

It seems appropriate that the giant new Silverstone "Wing" pit lane and hospitality complex may in the future be offered for weddings. After all, the British Racing Drivers Club has invested 27 million pounds in the new facility and the track needs year-around income to pay back the banks.
It is also appropriate, because Silverstone more than any other track, follows the word of the old wedding rhyme of "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue".

"Something old" is easily achieved at Silverstone. In May 1950, the track hosted the first-ever world championship Grand Prix race.

It was won by champion-elect Giuseppe Farina on (not ‘in' in those pre seatbelt days) an Alfa Romeo. A year later, sixty years ago, Ferrari took its first World Championship win at Silverstone when Froilan Gonzalez defeated the hitherto unbeaten Alfa Romeo team.

When it comes to "something new", Silverstone's stunning new pitlane building has literally turned the track on its head. For over 60 years the start line has been on the northernmost side of the circuit just before Copse Corner. This year, the new start line and pit complex is on the opposite side of the track, just ahead of the high-speed corner at Abbey and the sweeping Farm Curve before a hairpin bend at The Arena.

"Its going to be awesome" said Jenson Button, literally fizzing with enthusiasm. "You will be flat-out of the start line, flat-out through turn one, flat-out through turn two, then you'll be watching in your mirrors to see which nutcase is coming down your inside."

Despite over a decade of trying, Button has yet to win his home Grand Prix. The McLaren driver's best result at the track came when he was driving for the now defunct Honda team in 2008. After starting a lowly 16th, he battled to his way to 3rd place.

Button seems to have made gritty fight-backs at Silverstone his speciality. Last year he struggled with an ill-handling car in qualifying, then fought his way from 14th to 4th.

Lewis Hamilton is of course the one that the formbook tips for most likely success. In 2006, driving in the GP2 race series at Silverstone, Hamilton became the first driver in the series to win both back-to-back "double header" races in the same weekend.

After moving up to Formula One in 2007, Hamilton claimed pole position before finishing third behind Raikkonen and Alonso. He dominated the rain-soaked 2008 race and in 2010, was the closest rival to winner Mark Webber.

The third Briton racing on home ground is Paul di Resta, driving for Force India, whose workshops are literally straight opposite the main gate. Surprisingly he has raced very little on the Silverstone circuit as, supported by Mercedes, he spent most of his early career racing in Germany. When he drove the Force India in Friday practice last year it was in fact, his first experience of the full Grand Prix circuit!

Friday's free practice session neatly brings us to "something borrowed", as up-and-coming drivers ‘borrow' seats from established drivers to prove their worth. Karun Chandhok will test for Team Lotus, ensuring that at least one Indian driver will be on track this weekend.

The graduation of former Toro Rosso ‘Friday driver' Daniel Ricciardo to replace Narain Karthikeyan at Hispania Racing may have more to it than meets the eye. It is clear that Red Bull have funded the talented Australian rookie's place to give him additional racing experience. Many believe that Ricciardo may eventually replace compatriot Mark Webber.

Which brings us back to "something blue". After a pole position in every race so far this year for Red Bull, and six wins from eight races for Sebastian Vettel, who can bet against the blue cars winning again this weekend? Not me. Although will it be 2009 Silverstone winner Vettel or 2010 winner Webber in 2011? Now that is the question!