Motor Sport / David Croft / 10 July 2010 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

David Croft tells us how there's more at stake for the Maclarens than just wanting to do well at their home circuit, but also why the Red Bulls should be the ones celebrating on Sunday afternoon.

Incredibly, as the cars hurtle into Copse on Sunday afternoon at the beginning of lap 27, we'll have just passed the half way stage of the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship. Nine and a half races gone, nine and a half to go with the battle for the Drivers' title shaping up so nicely that it seems destined to go right down to a climax in Abu Dhabi.

So this British Grand Prix weekend will be of huge importance for both Mclaren and Red Bull in the fight for the silverware. Red Bull have failed to make the most of their technical supremacy, to the extent they trail Mclaren in both Championships. That they have earned eight Pole positions but still sit 30 points behind the constructors leaders is a complete waste. They should have repeated the Brawn strategy from 2009 given the car at their disposal, but too many points have slipped through their fingers on too many occasions.

McLaren meanwhile have in the main made the most of the chances that have come their way. In the last three Grand Prix the Woking-based outfit have picked up 119 points out of a maximum 129, sometimes profiting from Red Bull misfortune, but mostly due to some excellent driving from both Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. Silverstone though, is a massive weekend for McLaren and not just because it's their home race.

No, this is where Mclaren bring an upgrade package that they hope will give them a car that technically at least, is on a level playing field with the Red Bulls. The F duct has served them well, now it's time to bring in the blown rear diffuser. Without getting too technical on you, this is part of Red Bull's arsenal for 2010, Mercedes and Ferrari have introduced their version already, Williams will run theirs in practice at Silverstone and will make a decision late on Friday as to whether they run it in the race. McLaren took to the track on Friday morning using it for the first time and knowing all too well that it has to work if they're to take the fight to Red Bull on level terms.

If it doesn't then expect this weekend to be another Red Bull one-two as it was in 2009. Silverstone, even with it's new layout is a track that rewards excellent down-force and Red Bull has that in abundance. McLaren need more down-force and if you're left in any doubt as to how crucial this upgrade is for their championship challenge, then let Lewis Hamilton put you straight. Speaking at Santander's Press Conference on Tuesday he quite simply stated that Mclaren 'HAVE to make sure that these components work this weekend'

And did they work in the first two practice sessions? Well the feedback the team put out was in the main good, even if the times weren't right up at the top for both sessions. Hamilton ran second to Sebastian Vettel in the morning but then suffered in the afternoon, running wide and onto the grass not once but twice, through the Maggots and Becketts complex. Jenson Button meanwhile finished down in 13th in the afternoon and 8th in the morning, running his own program and not chasing the times.

Personally I got the impression that the Mclaren boys were holding back. Concentrating more on reliability and that we'll see them a lot closer come Saturday morning practice and then into qualifying. So the price of [4.6] with Betfair for Hamilton and certainly the [10.0] on offer for Button does look very attractive.

Ferrari should be up there given that their upgrade was introduced in Valencia and in Fernando Alonso they have a driver very well equipped on this fast circuit. But if you're looking at an outsider I think that given the Spaniard is the same price as Button, it might be best to stick with the Englishman.

Realistically from what I saw though, especially through the first sector, the Red Bulls are going to take some beating and whilst Sebastian Vettel at [2.86] is an obvious favourite, his team mate has got the bit between his teeth. Mark Webber put in some storming laps in the early part of afternoon practice, before he was forced to stay put in the garage because of an electrical problem. I'm going with the Aussie to regain some of his momentum in the championship at a cracking price of [4.7], in tandem with Red Bull as the winning car at [1.87].

Meanwhile at [2.6] to break his F1 podium duck Jenson Button could be the man for the occasion at a very nice price. A small piece of British celebration on what should be the red Bull's day in the sun.

Mark Webber to win the British Grand Prix at [4.7]

Jenson Button to finish on the podium at [2.6]