Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton are into the pits and while Red Bull have gone hards, Mercedes opt for the softs for the eight-time British Grand Prix winner.

Hamilton comes out in third, Verstappen in fourth, and Lando Norris is now begging to come in.

Image source, Getty Images

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

McLaren think the medium tyre is the best way to go.

Red Bull want Max Verstappen's opinion on staying out on the intermediate tyre. The Dutchman says yep, he's fine for now.

Oscar Piastri is also getting information from his pit wall. The Australian is told they think the mediums are the best option, which Piastri whole heartedly agrees with.

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

It's a really though sitauation to be in, these intermediate tryes now are shot to pieces for pretty much everybody. It's a case of getting everyone round as best as you can until you can then change to slicks.

And shall I tell you who the master of that is, Lewis Hamilton.

The McLaren of Lando Norris clipped the kerb at the final corner on the previous lap, allowing Lewis Hamilton just to take another nibble out of his lead. With the sun cracking the flags (well, not quite) when will teams make the call for the slick tyres?

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

The sun is out, there is still some small spits of rain, but this track is going to dry very quickly.

Don't be surprised if in the next three, four laps we get to see everyone come in again.

Jeremiah: What a shame that Russel has to retire! And by contrast in a rainy race, due to a water system issue

Hamilton: "The sun's coming out"

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

For the man who won the Austrian Grand Prix last weekend and out of absolutely nowhere leaves his home Grand Prix with zero points to show for it.

So, Lando Norris is leading Lewis Hamilton by 1.9 seconds followed by Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz, Oscar Piastri and Nico Hulkenberg.

The McLaren has just clocked the fastest lap but Hammertime is beginning to stir. And now the seven-time world champion says the sun is out!

Image source, Getty Images

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent at Silverstone

Mercedes are saying it was a suspected water issue with Russell so that seems like a water leak in the engine or a loss of water pressure which will lead to an imminent engine failure.

Travis: We're seeing that when several cars are competitive, Verstappen is nothing special at all.

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

That came out of the blue for us, we will try and find out why Mercedes decided to retire George Russell, clearly an issue on that car.

A suspected water system issue is what Lewis Hamilton is told is the reason for his team-mate George Russell's retirement. Such a disappointing end to the British Grand Prix for Russell's home race.

Jennie Gow
F1 pit-lane reporter

This is quite incredible, we had no sign of that and all of a sudden he dashed into the pit-lane shaking his head.

He started this in pole position, he looks very unhappy.

What on earth has happened over at Mercedes? George Russell is told to box and retire the car. The Briton has gone from pole position at Silverstone to out of this race. He's devastated.

Image source, Getty Images

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Piastri is doing a great job, however, they've [McLaren] have got Lando Norris in the lead and that information could be valuable to keep him ahead of the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton.

While Lando Norris leads the charge in P1, Oscar Piastri has fallen 20 seconds behind his team-mate after pitting a lap later. The Australian is in sixth place with the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg just in the distance in P7. Carlos Sainz is ahead of Piastri but in these. conditions the chance of an overtake is slim at the moment.

Hamilton: "Front tyres is falling apart"

Jennie Gow
F1 pit-lane reporter

That's the difficulty isn't it, part of this circuit has rain and part of it beautiful and sunny now. The pit-lane is blue skies, sunny and no rain at all.