Formula 1 British Grand Prix Live Build-Up: 2017

Regardless of the weather this weekend, a cloud hangs over this historic event. The British Racing Drivers’ Club, which owns the Silverstone circuit, has struggled in recent years with the cost of staging a Grand Prix.

The hosting fee it has to pay Formula One goes up by five per cent a year (it’s £17 million this season) and the resulting financial losses mean the BRDC may, before this year’s event, trigger a break-clause to end its contract by the close of 2019 – unless there’s a last-minute concession by the sport’s new owners.

On the track, Lewis Hamilton will hope to win the race for the fourth year running in front of a passionate home crowd.