Hamilton's view of Silverstone as he plots his victory parade

I remember in testing I managed to get Copse (turn 1) flat out, which impressed even me. You are pulling some heavy G-force there and it is very fast. For the whole first sector, up until Stowe (turn 7) you don't brake. This means you are flat out through this turn, with maybe a slight lift.

TURNS 2-6

After Copse you are flat out again into Maggots, and flat out through Becketts, lifting only as you come into turn 5, carrying about 150mph as you are lifting and turning. This is very tricky on the neck. Then it is all about the exit from turns 5 and 6, making sure you can carry the speed down the straight.

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TURNS 7-10

Coming out of Stowe and up to Club, it is quite a tough part of the circuit and very much about the exit you get from turn 8 and the speed you carry through turns 9 and 10. You almost have to slightly lift coming into turn 9 to get the car turned a little bit, but then you are hard on the gas and use all the run-off area. It is tough and it gets longer and longer and you just have to make sure you use the entire road there.

TURNS 11-13

Abbey is a pretty cool part of the circuit. It is just a normal chicane really but it leads into Bridge, which is one of the famous sections of Silverstone. This part is flat out and you're pulling heavy G-forces through turn 13, which is very quick. It is fairly easy flat-out but is all about getting back onto the right side of the track for the left-hand corner coming up.

TURN 14

Priory is another difficult corner. You are coming up the hill and can't really see the corner, so it can be difficult to know where to brake. When you turn in you are going so quick the car is a bit pointy sometimes and you don't really know how much run-off area you have got. As a result you can end up going in a little slower than you should, as you underestimate how much road you have. If you get that right, then you are most likely to get pole position.

TURNS 15-16

Finally you have these two tight turns. They are pretty basic corners which lead down to the first straight. Last year when I raced at Silverstone in GP2 the support of the crowd was fantastic and I am really looking forward to their support again this year.

CIRCUIT FACTS

Laps: 60

Circuit length: 3.194m

2006 winner: Fernando Alonso (Renault)

Fastest lap: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari), 1min 18.739sec, 2004

Most wins by a driver: Jim Clark, Alain Prost (5)

Most wins by a constructor: Ferrari, McLaren (13)