A packed summer of British sport is already in full swing, and a record crowd is expected to descend on Silverstone this weekend for the British Grand Prix, with a supercomputer now weighing in on its prediction for the full race at the iconic circuit.

Much has changed since last year’s dramatic edition, which was won by Lando Norris after title rival Oscar Piastri picked up a 10-second penalty for erratic braking behind the safety car, while Nico Hülkenberg stunned the Formula One world by claiming a surprise podium in a chaotic thriller.

This time around, Norris lines up sixth on the grid after a below-par qualifying session, with early forecasts suggesting he may struggle to repeat last year’s triumph. Meanwhile, George Russell, fresh off his Austrian GP victory and long hoping for a home win, has also been tipped by AI predictions to miss out on a podium finish, despite being the bookmakers’ second favourite.

10

Liam Lawson

Racing Bulls

Liam Lawson, who drives for Racing Bulls, put in a best lap of 1:28.927 in Q3, lining him up just one place outside the points for the sprint at Silverstone. He is expected to remain there throughout the race as the Kiwi’s good form continues to build a head of steam.

9

Arvid Lidbland

Racing Bulls

Finishing one place above his teammate is Arvid Lindbland. The Swedish-British driver could not contain his excitement heading into this weekend as he prepares for his first-ever Silverstone race as an F1 star, and a ninth-placed finish would be an achievement in itself for the 18-year-old, as he currently sits 13 in the overall standings.

8

Isack Hadjar

Red Bull

For a third race in a row, the Supercomputer has predicted Isack Hadjar to finish in eighth. After finishing sixth in Spain, the Frenchman will be looking to carry on a pretty solid job for Red Bull this season. After so many years of struggles with their second driver, this would be Hadjar’s fifth consecutive points finish since his retirement from the Miami Grand Prix at the start of May, so many would say a pretty successful run, despite it meaning he will drop three places from his position on the starting grid.

7

Oscar Piastri

McLaren

Oscar Piastri will be disappointed after finishing eighth during qualifying, but he is expected to make up a tiny bit of ground, as McLaren’s secondary driver is tipped to finish one place higher and in seventh. Heading into the weekend, a lot has been made about his and Lando Norris’ cars looking ‘slow’, and the slump continues.

6

Max Verstappen

Red Bull

Bruna Casas via Reuters

Max Verstappen could only claim seventh on the grid at Silverstone, with his Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar more than a tenth faster in fifth. He once again criticised Red Bull, saying that “there’s no point competing” if they can’t sort out their top-speed issue. As things stand, it doesn’t seem the flying Dutchman’s head is in it, and that’s expected to stay unsolved until the season reaches its conclusion.

5

Lando Norris

McLaren

Amid the chaos of a wet and wild 2025 British Grand Prix, Norris produced a coming-of-age performance that would ultimately propel him on to becoming world champion. Northamptonshire won’t provide him with a podium finish this year, however, should AI’s predictions of a fifth-placed finish come true.

4

George Russell

Mercedes

Lisa Leutner via Reuters

George Russell has developed into one of Britain’s darlings of motorsport in recent years, and with four podium finishes already this season, he is Kimi Antonelli’s closest rival to become world champion. But he too has been denied a podium in Silverstone this weekend, meaning he will not finally end his hoodoo on a track he’s so desperate to win on.

3

Lewis Hamilton

Ferrari

Manon Cruz via Reuters

Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to continue his incredible record of success in front of his home crowd at this weekend’s British Grand Prix, with the seven-time World Champion having already scored nine victories around Silverstone. He’s not the elite level he used to be, but a third-placed finish is certainly still a success for the Ferrari driver.

2

Charles Leclerc

Ferrari

In what is expected to be a huge clash between Ferrari and Mercedes this weekend, Hamilton has claimed him and Charles Leclerc will need to work together in order to stand a chance at beating current champion-elect Kimi Antonelli. AI believes that won’t be enough, but second and third is still good going as they maintain their places in the front row on the grid.

1

Kimi Antonelli

Mercedes

Jakub Porzycki via Reuters

19-year-old Kimi Antonelli, who leads the world championship and won the sprint race on Saturday morning, had almost two-tenths on Charles Leclerc in second and three-tenths on Hamilton in third. It’s no wonder he’s predicted to win his seventh race in 11 this season, with some forecasting it to be a demolition job.

Turkish giants Galatasaray have reportedly cooled their interest in Manchester United target Carlos Baleba, according to Turkish outlet Sporx.

Baleba is one of many midfielders on United’s shortlist as they look to replace Casemiro. An enquiry was made for the Cameroonian last summer, but Brighton insisted the player wasn’t for sale.

The Red Devils appeared to place a move for Baleba on the back burner at the start of the ongoing transfer window. But their failure to land top targets including Elliot Anderson means they could turn back to the Seagulls star.

Man Utd won’t face Turkish competition for Baleba

via Reuters

Galatasaray had also been eyeing Baleba and enquired about the cost of a deal for the 22-year-old. After learning of Brighton’s £77m (€90m) asking price, the Turks have backed out of a potential pursuit.

That gives United the chance to press ahead and win the race for the defensive midfielder, although they, too, have had reservations about the price. GIVEMESPORT understands that he remains on the club’s wishlist and he has agreed personal terms.

Baleba’s form dropped last season amid the noise surrounding his future at the Amex. Once an undisputed starter in Fabian Hurzeler’s midfield, the Cameroonian started eight of 31 league appearances on the bench.

United may feel Brighton’s valuation is unjustifiable given the difficult past campaign he endured. That said, he had been a standout performer for the Seagulls the season before with many viewing him as the south coast outfit’s perfect Moises Caicedo heir.

Man Utd need to act soon

United made replacing Casemiro their top priority heading into the summer transfer window. They initially made Elliot Anderson their number one choice to come in for the Brazilian but missed out on the England international, who joined Manchester City for £116m.

Other names have been linked, including Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni. The Frenchman’s salary and the La Liga giants’ reluctance to sell have raised doubts over a potential deal.

Baleba dropped down the midfield shortlist following a disappointing season, but United are running out of viable options to replace Casemiro. When at his best, the Cameroonian is a superb number six, an all-action midfielder who can take games by the scruff of the neck.

United have sealed one midfield signing thus far, bringing Ederson to Old Trafford from Atalanta. They missed out on Mateus Fernandes, who joined Tottenham Hotspur for £85m earlier this week.

England’s passage through to the World Cup round of 16 has set up a fearsome task against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, a venue where the hosts have been near enough unbeatable for over half a century.

Speaking on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Ian Wright and Jill Scott turned their attention to the size of that challenge, with the altitude in Mexico City cited as one of the toughest examinations any visiting side can face.

Before that, though, the panel were still coming to terms with Harry Kane’s heroics in the round of 32 against DR Congo, where the captain’s second-half brace dragged England from the brink of an embarrassing exit.

The altitude at the Azteca has historically caused visiting sides all manner of problems, with fatigue setting in far quicker than players are used to closer to sea level. It’s a factor that’s contributed to Mexico’s remarkable home record stretching back decades, and one that could prove just as significant as anything Thomas Tuchel’s side encounter tactically on the pitch.

Roy Keane Agrees on the Three Best English Players Ever

Kane’s display and England’s win against DR Congo proved the catalyst for a debate the panel couldn’t resist getting stuck into, and it didn’t take long for a consensus to emerge. Keane, along with Neville, Wright and Scott, settled on Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore and Kane as England’s three greatest players in history. In that order.

After confirming Kane was on the list, Keane went further in his praise for the Bayern Munich man:

It’s a verdict that places Kane alongside two icons of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning side. For a current player to be mentioned in the same breath speaks to just how highly Kane is now regarded by those who have watched and played the game at the highest level.

How Harry Kane Earned Place Among England’s Greatest

Paul Childs via Action Images via Reuters

Kane’s case for inclusion goes further than one brace against Congo. He arrived at this summer’s World Cup as the most in-form striker in the world, is England’s all-time leading goalscorer, and his second goal saw him move above Pele in the all-time World Cup scoring charts.

What separates Kane from other prolific forwards is his consistency at the very top level, both for club and country, over more than a decade. He has carried the goalscoring burden for England throughout multiple tournaments, often dragging his side through difficult moments much like he did against Congo, and his continued influence at 32 shows no sign of slowing down as this World Cup reaches its business end.