Hamilton bracing for British Grand Prix ‘highlight’ without crowds

Lewis Hamilton admits it is hard to ignore the differences brought on by competing behind closed doors as he prepares to return home for the British Grand Prix without the presence of fans.

One of the best attended races on the calendar, this year’s British Grand Prix – and the following 70th Anniversary Grand Prix also at Silverstone – will have a very different feel to it without spectators able to cheer their home hero on.

Indeed, Hamilton says the lack of atmosphere during this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix was felt more keenly this time, leading him to think ahead to what he can expect at Silverstone.

“I don’t want to be a ‘Debbie Downer’ or be negative but it is, unfortunate, the circumstances around the world,” he said. “I’m just so grateful that we are back at work and we are so fortunate, all of us here, to be back at work and have our jobs and be able to compete again, but absolutely, the atmosphere for me, it’s night and day different.

“In Hungary, it’s usually great weather most of the time and then there’s such a fantastic crowd here and obviously Silverstone, particularly, is just… there’s nothing like it. The whole year… it’s the highlight of my year, the support is insane. It grows every year and I get to interact with the fans differently on that weekend and it’s such an honour and privilege to be able to perform well and win a Grand Prix in your home country.

“I think people will be watching and I definitely know that the fans that go every year are going to miss it terribly. We did a test there before the first race and it was so empty and that’s what we’re going to experience when we go back but we’ve just got to remain focused and not get distracted by that or get down by it either. I’ve also felt that fans give you extra time because they just give you so much energy and it really lifts you up and you’re bubbling, you’re walking on a cloud.

“Obviously we won’t have that but I do interact with my fans and I don’t know what the solution is moving forward to have a better way of interacting with them, particularly during this time but I guess that’s something I will try to discover as we go along. But I just always want to send positive messages up to my fans and then to really encourage people out there.”

Hamilton leads the 2020 F1 World Championship standings heading to Silverstone, five points ahead of Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.