Lewis Hamilton looks unbeatable at Silverstone this weekend

F1 fans are in for a treat this weekend as the Silverstone Circuit hosts the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix – marking the 70-year commemoration of the first championship race in 1950. Punters are also in luck as we saw all 20 cars take a spin around the track just a few days ago in the traditional British GP. That’s 52 laps and 306 km of very recent form to pick through – an absolute dream for those picking out a winner!

The obvious place to start is hometown hero Lewis Hamilton, a man on a mission to break several records this season. The Brit has won the last three Grand Prix’s, including last weekend’s battle around Silverstone. Incredibly that was his seventh home Grand Prix win (his sixth in the last seven races here!) and he now has more home GP wins than any other driver in the sport’s history.

To add to the stats, that win also saw him record his 20th race where he has led from start to finish (another F1 record) and it was Hamilton’s 87th career win. Five more and he beats Michael Schumacher’s current record of 91 wins.

He is now a massive 30 points clear of his nearest rival in the Drivers’ Championship, teammate Valtteri Bottas, as Hamilton aims for a fourth world title in a row. As if to emphasize Mercedes’ dominance, they are 68 points clear in the Constructors’ Championship with Red Bull Racing desperately trying to cling on to their coattails.

In short, you have the best driver, in the fastest car, on his hometown track where he has proven form and a feast of all-time records in his sights. You’d be mad not to back him – but at his current odds, his chances are reflected by the bookmakers.

This is F1 and anything can happen. Hamilton himself ended the race with just three inflated tires after suffering a puncture on the final lap. Somehow, he nursed the car over the line, although his lead was cut from 30 seconds to a little under six!

The same went for Mercedes’ teammate Bottas who suffered a puncture with three laps to go while comfortably second behind Hamilton. He eventually finished 11th.

If we’re looking for value away from Hamilton, we need to back someone primed to pick up the pieces if Mercedes suffer any trouble or misfortune. A racing incident or mechanical issue may be the only thing that can beat the Mercedes man in this form.

Max Verstappen is the name that jumps out. The Red Bull man is driving out of his skin despite the Red Bull’s tendency to flick the tail out through the bends. He has three podiums in his last four races and posted the fastest lap around Silverstone last week, taking advantage of Bottas’ puncture to finish second.

Verstappen set the fastest lap in practice on the Friday before the British Grand Prix, and the car performed far better than it had in the previous three GPs. He makes appeal as an each-way bet to challenge Hamilton’s record-breaking run.