Piastri threatens to spoil British celebration

Three British winners have their sights on a home grand prix victory this weekend, but Oscar Piastri could rain on that particular parade as Formula One returns to where the championship started 75 years ago.

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LONDON -

Australia's championship leader Piastri can still count on plenty of support as a McLaren driver but much of the crowd, and certainly the 10,000 in Silverstone's sold-out "Landostand", will be cheering more for his British teammate Lando Norris.

Norris won Piastri's home Grand Prix in Melbourne in March - an added incentive for the Australian if he is seeking revenge at Silverstone - and the pair are turning the season into a two-horse race as the campaign reaches its halfway point.

Piastri is chasing a sixth win in 12 races while Norris arrives from Austria on a high after dominating every practice session he took part in, taking pole by a huge margin and holding off his teammate to win.

The two drivers are 15 points apart, with Red Bull's reigning four-time world champion Max Verstappen third overall but now a hefty 61 points off the lead after a first retirement of the season at his team's home track at Spielberg.