Happy homecoming for Hamilton at Silverstone as he bids for hat-trick

Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | July 6, 2016

British Grand Prix

Hamilton now in driving seat despite being Rosberg leading

The 2016 Formula 1 season is certainly hotting up, particularly after Lewis Hamilton’s win in Austria after a collision with race leader and Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg on the final lap.

British star Hamilton’s victory is now his third in the last four races, which puts him just 11 points behind the German in the standings ahead of his home Grand Prix at the famous Silverstone Circuit.

The defending Formula 1 champion goes in this race having won here the last two times, while he topped the podium back in 2008 when driving for McLaren. Another victory here will put him just one behind legendary duo Jim Clark and Alain Prost, and level with Nigel Mansell.

Hamilton is the even-money favourite with Coral to make it three in a row and potentially lead the 2016 Drivers’ Championship for the first time, if Rosberg misses out on the podium again.

Rosberg aiming for ultimate revenge

The German will be bitterly disappointed for his crash with Hamilton last time out which meant he finished fourth, although he was deemed at fault, and so is 7/4 to get the best revenge by triumphing at Silverstone.

Although the Brit is still behind Rosberg in the standings, he is still the 1/2 odds-on favourite to claim a third successive championship.

Teenager Max Verstappen continued to prove doubters wrong after his mid-season switch to Red Bull from sister team Toro Rosso, as he finished second last time out, to add to his victory in Barcelona.

Dutch wonder Verstappen is a tasty 5/2 to be on the podium again, or 18/1 to get a second career race win.

Multiple Silverstone champions on show

Three other current F1 drivers have also won before, on top of Hamilton and Rosberg, as Ferrari pair Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel have done so once each, while Fernando Alonso has claimed a couple.

Neither the Finn nor the German former world champions have come first this season, but have been on the podium a few times each so are respective 11/4 and 4/6 shouts to do so again.

Another star yet to taste victory in 2016 is Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, who has been unlucky on a couple occasions due to errors from his team. But he will want to try and emulate compatriots Mark Webber and, going way further back, Jack Brabham in eventually winning here multiple times.

Silverstone still happens to elude popular Brit Jenson Button throughout his career but, after claiming his best ever finish of the season in Austria, he is very tempting at 5/1 to be in the top six once more. A highly unlikely win is priced at 300/1; stranger thing have happened recently in the world of sport…

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Read our extensive Formula 1 archive for more previews throughout the season.

Coral’s top tip: Back Verstappen at a terrific 5/2 to finish on the podium again.