This past weekend saw many exciting events take place around the UK. The annual T in The Park Music Festival rocked the Scottish countryside.  But, in Northamptonshire, in the East Midlands of England, racing fans experienced the 2011 British Grand Prix. It was held at the world famous Silverstone.

The circuit saw Team Ferrari’s inaugural victory of the season. The Spanish racer Fernando Alonso was first to cross the line. This was the climax of an extraordinary contest. It saw the driver heading the leader board; Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel hit by pit stop issues. However, Alonso had allegedly built up enough momentum by that point to win the race. He completed the 52 laps at Silverstone in 1:28:41.196.

But Vettel’s trouble at the pits was only part of Red Bull’s problems. There were claims of possible disharmony in the camp. The Australian Mark Webber began the race at pole position. But he reportedly wasn’t happy about Christian Horner, the boss of Renault, ordering him to hold position. It was an attempt to help out Vettel. But to no avail.

Jenson Button had pit troubles of his own. He was forced to pull out the race at the last stop. This was after losing a wheel nut from one of his tyres.

Lewis Hamilton was fighting Alonso’s teammate Felipe Massa over the last lap, to see who came in fourth. But it was Hamilton that ended up triumphant, with the Brazilian coming in fifth.

The drivers made the best of difficult circumstances. The circuit was wet for 50% of the distance, while the rest was dry. However, the racers literally weathered the storm to provide racing fans with an unforgettable day at Silverstone.

The 2011 Formula One Season arrives at the UK this weekend. It’s having a stopover at Silverstone; for The British Grand Prix.

But who will triumph at this year’s race in Northamptonshire? Racing fans can’t wait to find out if the seemingly impregnable Sebastian Vettel will take first place. Then again, is it possible one of the returning British heroes, Jenson Button or Lewis Hamilton will romp home to victory? But they will have to look out for The Australian Mark Webber. He is currently third in the standings (right behind Vettel and Button; with Hamilton in fourth). That is not forgetting the Spanish ace Alonso; holder of the lap record for this circuit: 1:30.874.

The British Grand Prix is one of the biggest race meets in the calendar. It is considered, along with its Italian equivalent, to be the oldest Formula One race in the world.

Silverstone signed a contract in December 2009 to stage the event for a further 17 years. The 2011 British Grand Prix is due to take place on Sunday the 10th of July 2011. It takes in two practice runs on Friday the 8th of July. There is a third practice circuit and a qualifying round on the Saturday. Then the race starts on the Sunday; at one in the afternoon.

It lasts for 52 laps, across a circuit length of 5.891 km. Then, at the end of it, we will see who finishes first at Silverstone. Will it be Vettel, Button, Webber or Hamilton? Or will it perhaps another driver? The best of British luck to them all.

The heat was blistering this weekend, for the 2011 Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe. They say the ambient temperature was 27 degrees F, while it reached 47 degrees on the track. These were the conditions of the street circuit in Valencia in Spain, on Sunday the 26th of June. This was one of one of the biggest races of the year.

There were 24 racers on the grid. RBR-Renault’s Sebastian Vettel started from pole position. Despite some wondering if his dominance this season might be slipping. This was after the Canada Grand Prix, when the German driver lost his lead to Jenson Button. But Vettel put those fears to rest by finishing first in Valencia.

However he was not alone in triumph. The Spanish racer Fernando Alonso, with Ferrari, also had a good weekend. He finished the European Grand Prix in second place. This marked his first showing on the podium this season.

Vettel’s Renault team mate; the Australian Mark Webber, came in third place. Britain’s Lewis Hamilton; with McLaren-Mercedes, overcame worn tyres to finish in fourth. Felipe Massa was in fifth place. Jenson Button, whom has previously won a race this season, crossed the line in sixth.

Sebastian Vettel currently stands at the top of the leader board with 186 points. Jenson Button is in second place, with Mark Webber on third. They both have the same number of points, 109. But Button is ahead because he has already had a win this season. Fellow Brit Lewis Hamilton is fourth on the leader board, with 97 points. He is followed by Fernando Alonso with 87.

This is how things stand as we go into the next race of the calendar. It is now onto the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on the 10th of July.

The sun will be shining on the streets of Valencia this Sunday as the motor racing season reaches the next stop on its world tour. This weekend sees the 2011 Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe on the 26th of June 2011.

The event, often known as the European Grand Prix, has a rich history. The original European Grand Prix took place at Monza in Italy in 1923.It was discontinued after the British Grand Prix in 1977. But the race was brought back in the 1980s. It has become a regular occurrence since 1999. The honour now falls to Spain.

This is the fourth year in a row the race is staged at the illustrious Valencia Street Circuit. The track measures 5.419 km and has a race distance of 308.883 km. The meet lasts an exciting 57 laps. It was won last year by Sebastian Vettel, driving for Red Bull-Renault. Racing pundits are waiting to see if he can repeat that triumph this weekend. Will Jenson Button will make it two wins this season, after his victory in Montreal? Will Lewis Hamilton make amends for his perceived erratic behaviour last time? Or will Vettel reign supreme in Valencia for the second year in succession?

We will find out at 14:00 local time on Sunday, when they lower the chequered flag and start this year’s Grand Prix of Europe.

This is the moment Jenson fans have been waiting for. The British racing ace has finally secured a victory in the 2011 Grand Prix Season.  And it happened in the beautiful locale of Canada.

The Gilles Villeneuve circuit in Montreal was where Jenson Button’s second year with McLaren saw a win. He finished the race in 4:04:39.537.  The reigning champion Sebastian Vettel, driving for Red Bull Formula had the unusual sensation of coming in second. But he was still ahead of his team mate, the Australian Mark Webber, whom has called Vettel the man to beat this season. This is in spite the German driver not winning this particular race. He is still way in front of the pack on points, being almost 60 ahead of his nearest rival. Who just happens to be Button.

However it was not all plain sailing for Brit Lewis Hamilton. The criticism he incurred in Monte Carlo followed him in Canada. Here folk lambasted his reportedly aggressive driving. He allegedly spun Mark Webber around and collided with his own team mate Jenson Button, before retiring. It is claimed Hamilton drove too erratically in Montreal’s rain swept conditions. This is on top of rumours he is about to leave McLaren and join Vettel and Webber at Red Bull.

It appears in recent events we have witnessed something of a turn in the public’s perception of Hamilton. It is almost as if he has changed somewhat from hero to villain. This is best summed by up three time world champion Niki Lauda, whom, commentating on the race for television, called his driving “completely mad”.

“I was always a fan of his, but what Lewis did in Monte Carlo and now here, not at all. That is completely insane”.

Who knows what the future has in store for Hamilton? Can he claw back his standing and put this unpleasantness behind him? Or, on the other hand, is this the beginning of a winning streak for Button? Will he be able to catch up with Vettel? There are still a lot of twists and turn s this season. We look forward to the next race; the illustrious 2011 Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe in Valencia; Spain, on the 26th of June.