Here's how you can watch the British Grand Prix at Silverstone from the safety of your sofas this weekend

Police reminder: Stay away from Silverstone over big-race weekends, you won't see a thing!
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Lewis Hamilton will rev up his Mercedes at Silverstone on Friday afternoon — just as Northamptonshire Police are throwing a safety net around the track ahead of Sunday's British Grand Prix.

The Covid-19 crisis means this weekend's big race — and the second of Sivlerstone's Formula One double-header on August 9 — must go ahead with no fans inside instead of the usual 140,000.

It also means none of the usual A43 closures that go with hosting a global sporting event, instead some lay-bys and a couple of minor roads will be blocked off to keep fans away.

Dadford Road from the A43 junction to Stowe crossroads and Winterhills will be closed from 6.30am – 7pm from the Friday to the Sunday of each weekend.

All the campsites in the vicinity which are usually chock-full of tents are closed to the public.

Superintendent Chris Hillery, the Event Commander this weekend, said: “I want to reinforce our previous messages – there will be an exclusion zone around the circuit and any F1 fans thinking of travelling to Silverstone should halt their plans now and instead join the millions watching the races on TV.

“My officers will be out and about to target anybody intent on committing crime and the whole area will be very tightly controlled. It will not be possible to watch the race from the perimeter fences and anybody attempting to do so will be removed.

World champ Lewis Hamilton was among the first out in practice at Silverstone on Friday. Photos: Getty ImagesWorld champ Lewis Hamilton was among the first out in practice at Silverstone on Friday. Photos: Getty Images
World champ Lewis Hamilton was among the first out in practice at Silverstone on Friday. Photos: Getty Images

“I would also like to remind people drones are prohibited throughout both the race weekends - the Civil Aviation Authority has imposed a flight restriction for the entirety of the Grand Prix season.”

World champion Hamilton and the Brackley-based Mercedes team will head to their home GP on a high after back-to-back wins in two races in Austria and Hungary over the last two weekends.

F1 fans can tune in to Sky Sports or Channel 4 to see every session of the GP weekend.

SATURDAY

David Coulthard is working for Channel 4 at Silverstone this weekend. Photo: Getty ImagesDavid Coulthard is working for Channel 4 at Silverstone this weekend. Photo: Getty Images
David Coulthard is working for Channel 4 at Silverstone this weekend. Photo: Getty Images

Free practice 3: 10:45am – 12:10pm BST (Sky Sports F1 + Sky One), 10:55am - 12pm BST (Channel 4)

Qualifying: 1pm – 3:35pm BST (Sky Sports F1 + Sky One), 1pm - 4pm BST (Channel 4)

SUNDAY

Race: 12:30pm – 5pm BST (Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky One), 1pm - 6pm BST (Channel 4)

Highlights: 6:30pm - 7:30pm BST (Sky Sports F1 + Sky One), 11:45pm - 12:45am BST (Channel 4)