No fewer than 13 graduates of the BRDC F4, BRDC British F3 and GB3 Championships will be in action at the British Grand Prix this weekend, with the series represented throughout the F1, F2 and F3 grids.
Here are the drivers to cheer on at Silverstone, with plenty of British drivers gunning for success at their home round.
F1
George Russell – The 2014 BRDC F4 champion has proven to be one of Lewis Hamilton’s most evenly matched teammates in his F1 career. Russell is F1’s most recent new race winner, having triumphed in Brazil last season, but his Mercedes W14 has proven to be another tricky machine compared to the team’s previous all-conquering machines. However Russell has been on the podium as recently as the Spanish Grand Prix, and car upgrades have brought the team closer to the pace set by Red Bull.
Lando Norris – A multiple BRDC British F3 race winner in 2016, McLaren’s Norris has continued to prove he’s one of F1’s brightest young talents despite his car being further from the pace than in recent years. Decent progress looks to have been made with an upgrade package at the Austrian Grand Prix though, and with more updates expected, Norris should be a firm contender in the upper half of the field.
F2
Oliver Bearman – a GB3 race winner as recently as 2021, Bearman has rocketed through the feeder series on the way to F1, having finished third overall in FIA F3 last season. In his rookie F2 season with PREMA, Bearman could well challenge for victories this weekend, having done the double at Azerbaijan and taken another win in Barcelona.
Kush Maini – Third in the 2018 BRDC British F3 Championship and one better in 2020, Maini has enjoyed a strong rise through the series having competed in FIA F3 last year and then climbed up to F2 in 2023 with Campos. A podium finisher in Melbourne, and seven other points finishes in an impressive debut campaign means he sits 10th in the standings heading to Silverstone.
Clement Novalak – Frenchman Novalak won the 2019 BRDC British F3 title, and was third in FIA F3 two years later. This is his second Formula 2 campaign, and stood on the podium last time out at Austria, only for his car to be disqualified due to a technical irregularity. He races with Trident.
F3
Zak O’Sullivan – The 2022 GB3 champion is in his second FIA F3 season and has shown much of the potential expected from him, with three victories, including one at Austria for PREMA. The Williams F1 Academy member is fourth in the standings at present.
Luke Browning – Reigning GB3 champion Browning, like O’Sullivan, is a member of the Williams F1 Academy and has really shone in his first F3 campaign. A podium finisher already, he sits inside the top-10 at present, and is a regular points and top-three challenger for Hitech Pulse-Eight.
Kaylen Frederick – The 2020 BRDC British F3 champion is in his third FIA F3 season, this time with ART GP, and the American is a points regular.
Christian Mansell – A multiple GB3 winner in 2021, Mansell has made strong progress in his first full F3 season, with the Aussie having taken four points finishes already with Campos.
Tommy Smith – Another Australian graduate from GB3, Smith has got ever closer to the pace in FIA F3 with Van Amersfoort Racing.
Roberto Faria – The Brazilian stepped up to FIA F3 this year after two GB3 campaigns, and has made steady progress with PHM Racing by Charouz.
McKenzy Cresswell – Taking advantage of the break between GB3 rounds at Snetterton and Silverstone, Cresswell made his F3 debut in Austria and returns again this weekend alongside Faria.
Max Esterson – The American makes his FIA F3 debut this weekend, and like Cresswell, is taking advantage of the gap between rounds. He’ll drive for Rodin Carlin.