Ahead of today's Sprint the air temperature is 22 degrees C, while the track temperature is 35 degrees. It is bright, albeit with lots of fluffy, white clouds, and quite windy, the former RAF airfield very much exposed to the elements.
Albon, who qualified 16th, will start from the pitlane after modifications were carried out to his suspension under Parc Ferme conditions.
Hamilton claimed pole, much to the surprise of the seven-time world champion and indeed Antonelli who joins him on the front row. While Russell was even more surprised, complete and utter shock probably best describes his feelings about the 0.357s gap to the Ferrari, not to mention the three other cars.
As ever, this being the Sprint and not the Grand Prize, the drivers will be cautious, however we can also expect a certain amount of defensive driving.
McLaren are struggling and will be under pressure from the RBs, while the Audi pair are looking strong.
The pitlane opens and Gasly leads the way, followed by Lindblad, Perez, Lawson and Ocon.
Yesterday, degradation proved to be in line with Pirelli's expectations, and the initial performance delta observed between medium and soft, at equal fuel loads, was around four tenths, approximately a tenth less than indicated by simulations. Therefore, it will be interesting to see which compounds come into play, because, at this stage, even the soft appears capable of being among the competitive options, particularly for those starting from the second half of the grid.
Due to the nature of the circuit - and the new regulations - we are expecting the return of yo-yoing today and tomorrow. The FOM broadcast team did their level best yesterday to hide the fact that, as predicted by the majority of drivers, energy management would be an issue, but they are going to find it near impossible to hide the truth over the opening few laps of this race and tomorrow's.
All are starting on mediums bar Lawson Bottas, Alonso and Stroll who are on softs. Fresh rubber for all bar Verstappen, Hadjar, Lindblad, Gasly, Bortoleto, Hulkenberg and Colapinto.
They head off on the formation lap. There is a cross wind through the Maggots/Becketts complex, which should be fun.
Hamilton sets a strong pace and is therefore waiting on the grid for some time before Stroll takes his place at the back.
The grid forms.
They're away! Hamilton moves across the track to cover Antonelli, and while Norris moves up to third and Piastri fourth, Russell is right with them. A sluggish start from Verstappen.
Russell gets agreed of Piastri in The Loop, but the Australian subsequently retakes the position.
Hamilton and Antonelli continue to battle as Norris keeps a watching eye, while further back the RBs are side-by-side.
On the run to Copse Norris closes on Antonelli which gives Hamilton some breathing space, while Piastri has passed Russell who is now under attack from Verstappen.
Norris passes the Italian, but the Mercedes driver retakes the place on the Hangar Straight, with Russell, who has repassed Piastri, adding insult to injury by claiming third from the Briton.
At the end of Lap 1, it's: Hamilton, Antonelli, Russell, Norris, Verstappen, Leclerc, Piastri, Gasly, Lawson and Lindblad. Alonso spins after being clouted by Perez.
Piastri has lost a heap of positions but it isn't clear why.
Norris repasses Russell with Verstappen closing in.
Out front, Hamilton leads Antonelli by a second, as Verstappen passes Russell for fourth.
Gasly passes the RBs for 8th.
Piastri Passes Russell for fifth, with Leclerc also closing on the Mercedes.
Russell repasses Piastri in this festival of yo-yoing.
Perez reports that his brakes are on fire. Again.
Piastri and Leclerc are side-by-side, the Ferrari getting ahead at Brooklands.
Lawson retakes eighth from Gasly.
Lap 4 sees a new fastest lap from Antonelli (31.970) as he closes to within 0.786s of Hamilton.
Lindblad passes Gasly for ninth.
"Keep an eye on Verstappen," Norris is warned.
Lap 5 sees Hamilton respond, the Briton posting a 31.908. He and his pursuer are 5.5s clear of third-placed Norris.
Perez has been noted for causing a collision.
On Lap 7, Antonelli has a look at Hamilton at Brooklands, but the Briton has it covered.
The Italian continues to harry his prey, Hamilton digging deep, using all his vast experience to hold him off.
On Lap 8, Antonelli sweeps past Hamilton on the Hangar Straight to claim the lead.
Further back, Russell passes Verstappen, but the Dutchman retakes the position.
Perez gets a 10s penalty for causing a collision.
Now Russell sweeps by Verstappen on the run to Vale. As the Red Bull driver seeks to reclaim the position, Leclerc looks to take advantage.
Next time around, Leclerc passes Verstappen on the Hangar Stright to claim fifth.
As the three run together, Piastri closes in.
Out front, Antonelli leads by 1.19s.
After 13 laps it appears to have settled down, Antonelli leads Hamilton by 1.3s, with Norris 6s behind, and 1.7s ahead of Russell, who has Leclerc and Verstappen hard on his heels. Piastri is seventh and Lawson - who actually started on mediums - is eighth.
Hulkenberg is under investigation for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Norris has been told to ease off and save fuel.
"Man, that was crazy," says Hadjar of Lawson after the RB driver made a highly suspect move in order to hold him off.
Antonelli begins the final lap 2.3s ahead of Hamilton.
That Lawson moved has been noted by the stewards.
Antonelli takes the flag 2.7s clear of Hamilton, Norris is third, ahead of Russell, Leclerc, Verstappen, Piastri and Lawson.
"Kimi, does that fastest lap make you happy at the end," asks Toto Wolff. "Yes," comes the reply, "it makes me happy."
"That was a very good Sprint, I am very happy," says Norris. "Good pace, good first lap. Ready to do it all over again tomorrow.
"There were a couple of things we can certainly do better for later and for tomorrow," he adds. "George was catching me quickly at the end," he admits.
A big thank you to everyone that is here," says Hamilton, his words all but drowned out by the screaming, "the crowd is crazy.
"Tough to keep the Mercedes behind, and with it being so windy today, he came flying past. I was pushing as hard as I could, I gave it absolutely everything.
"The Mercedes are particularly quick up to Turn 6, so I had to use the boost there. Once he got the Overtake Mode, I couldn't hold him back. I knew he was coming."
"It was a very fun first 10 laps with Lewis, we were both pushing really hard," says Antonelli. "When I got Overtake, I knew my chance was coming. I got into Stowe and used everything I had to overtake.
"We can't let out guard lower," he warned. "Lewis and Ferrari are doing an incredible job, Red Bull and McLaren are coming and George is super quick.
"So we need to keep raising the bar and keep improving."
Well, the Sky team loved it, and so did much of the crowd, but those opening laps were out and out yo-yoing, completely artificial, and not what F1 should be about.
Sadly, as the sport appoints its first "official friend" - a comedian no less - it appears to be the future.
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