Following all the undiluted drama, thrilling excitement and raw emotion of last weekend’s unforgettable British Grand Prix, Formula 1 is back in the spotlight this weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed – another of the summer’s big blockbusters and a standout highlight in National Motorsport Week.  

No fewer than six of the F1 teams which put on such a fantastic show at Silverstone are now travelling south to the Sussex Downs. BWT Alpine F1 Team, Scuderia Ferrari HP, McLaren Racing Formula 1 Team, Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, Oracle Red Bull Racing and Williams Racing will all be back in action on the famous hillclimb course. 

Oracle Red Bull Racing is really pushing the boat out with a host of its F1 drivers flying in for the unveiling of its RB17 Hypercar – topping the roster is Max Verstappen. The three-time Formula 1 World Champion is making his very first appearance at Goodwood and will be back behind the wheel of the RB16B in which he claimed his first crown in 2021. 

He will be joined on Sunday by teammate Sergio Pérez and Team Principal and CEO Christian Horner, as well as former Red Bull drivers David Coulthard, Christian Klien, Daniel Ricciardo and Mark Webber.  

The Duke of Richmond, understandably, is thrilled to be hosting such an incredible Red Bull presence at the glorious garden party celebration he founded back in 1993.       

“In its 31-year history, this is the first time that the Festival of Speed has celebrated a Formula 1 team on this scale,” he enthused. “To have both the current drivers – not to mention the reigning World Champion – as well as so many team icons is fantastic. Goodwood’s motorsport events have always prided themselves on the access that they offer fans and I am delighted that Oracle Red Bull Racing has fulfilled our ambition by bringing together such an illustrious and outstanding group of drivers and cars.” 

McLaren will have a major presence, too. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the team’s first Formula 1 World Championship victories, sealing both the World Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles in 1974 with Emerson Fittipaldi and the McLaren M23. Celebrating the half century milestone, the Brazilian double World Champion will return to the wheel of his 1974 title winning car. Mika Häkkinen, another of McLaren’s two-time title winners, will be reliving his glory years at Goodwood, too. 

The team is also honouring the 30-year legacy of Ayrton Senna, who won three Formula 1 World Championships with McLaren before his passing in 1994. Ayrton’s nephew, Bruno Senna, will be at the wheel of his uncle’s 1991 title winning V12-powered McLaren MP4/6. 

As ever, the full spectrum and history of motorsport will be showcased alongside F1. Under this year’s theme – ‘Horseless to Hybrid: Revolutions in Power’ – the event will celebrate the advances in technology that have shaped motorsport from its origins to the present day in a frenzy of power, speed and noise.  

For those not venturing to Sussex, a post-produced highlights programme will be screened on ITV1 covering very best bits from the weekend. It will air on Monday 22 July at 22:45 and Tuesday 23 July at 23:00.