This is the F1 2017 setup for Silverstone on this site: front wing 2, rear wing 6, the differential at 100% on throttle and a front anti-roll bar at 10 against 3 at the rear. It is a time trial setup, saved with 10 kg of fuel. The full menu is in the table below, then I explain why it works at Silverstone and what I would change for a race or for a pad.
It was collected in 2022 from a fast time trial lap, like the rest of my F1 2017 setups. Use it as a starting point.
F1 2017 Silverstone setup
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Fuel load | 10 kg |
| Front wing | 2 |
| Rear wing | 6 |
| Differential on throttle | 100% |
| Differential off throttle | 80% |
| Front camber | -2.50 |
| Rear camber | -1.00 |
| Front toe | 0.05 |
| Rear toe | 0.20 |
| Front suspension | 8 |
| Rear suspension | 7 |
| Front anti-roll bar | 10 |
| Rear anti-roll bar | 3 |
| Front ride height | 5 |
| Rear ride height | 5 |
| Brake pressure | 82% |
| Front brake bias | 54% |
| Front tyre pressure | 23.0 psi |
| Rear tyre pressure | 21.1 psi |
| Ballast | 10 |
Here is the lap the setup comes from:
Why this setup works at Silverstone
Silverstone is 5.891 km long with 18 corners, and most of them are fast. Abbey, Copse, Maggotts, Becketts and Stowe are all taken in the top gears. Between them you have the Wellington straight and the Hangar straight.
You would expect a lot of wing for a track like that. This setup goes the other way, with 2 and 6. The reason is the car. The 2017 cars are wide, with big tyres and a lot of downforce from the floor, so in the game Copse and Abbey are close to flat even with small wings. If the corner is flat anyway, extra wing gives you nothing there and costs you on every straight.
The low front wing has a second job. With 2 at the front and 6 at the rear, the balance sits at the back of the car. In a corner at 280 km/h you want a rear you can trust, and a small push from the front is the safe side to be on.
The differential is at 100% on throttle, fully locked. At a track full of slow exits I would call that risky. Here you are on the throttle from low speed in only a few places: Village, The Loop, Luffield and Club. In the fast corners a locked rear axle keeps the car steady when you go back to full throttle.
A front that answers at once
The front anti-roll bar is at 10 and the rear is at 3.
Maggotts and Becketts are the reason. You go left, right, left, right, and each change of direction happens while the car is still loaded from the last one. A stiff front bar cuts the delay between your hands and the nose. The soft rear bar keeps the rear tyres in contact with the road while all that happens, so the back of the car follows and does not slide.
Suspension is 8 and 7, firm but not at the limit, and ride height is 5 and 5. Silverstone is smooth and you do not need to attack big kerbs, so there is room to go lower. I would try 4 and 4 if the car feels lazy in the fast corners, and go back up if the floor starts to hit at the end of the Hangar straight.
Camber and toe are at the low end of the range, -2.50 and -1.00 with 0.05 and 0.20. Less camber and less toe mean less drag and less tyre heat on the straights.
What to change
One change at a time, three laps, then decide.
| Problem | Change |
|---|---|
| The car pushes wide at Copse or Stowe | Front wing from 2 to 3 |
| Still understeer in the slow corners | Front anti-roll bar from 10 to 8 |
| The rear is loose through Maggotts and Becketts | Rear wing from 6 to 7 |
| Wheelspin out of Village, Luffield or Club | On throttle differential from 100% to 85% |
| Front tyres lock into Village or Vale | Brake pressure from 82% to 78% |
| The rear moves under braking for Stowe or Vale | Front brake bias from 54% to 56% |
| The floor hits the ground on the Hangar straight | Ride height from 5 to 6 at both ends |
For a race. With race fuel the car is heavier and the fast corners are no longer easy flat. Go to 3 and 7 on the wings and lower the on throttle differential to 85%. Silverstone is hard on the front left tyre, so if it overheats in a long stint, take one more click of front anti-roll bar off.
On a pad. Start with the wings at 3 and 7 and the differential at 80%. The fast corners need very small steering inputs, and a little more rear wing gives you a margin when the stick moves more than you wanted.
Where the lap time is at Silverstone
Abbey and Farm. Turn 1 is a fast right. In time trial trim it is flat, or a short lift. Turn in early and let the car run out to the kerb, then stay left through Farm to set up the braking for Village.
Village and The Loop. The slowest part of the lap. Brake in a straight line for Village, then give up some speed in The Loop so you can be early on the throttle. The exit through Aintree leads onto the Wellington straight, so a clean exit counts for a long time.
Brooklands and Luffield. Brake hard and late for Brooklands and hold a tight line. Luffield is a long right that never seems to end. Be patient, keep the car close to the inside and go to full throttle once, when you can keep it there.
Copse. Flat or a small lift, depending on your confidence. Turn in a little before it feels right. The car will take it.
Maggotts, Becketts and Chapel. The best part of the lap. Maggotts is flat. Lift for the first part of Becketts, brake lightly and go down a gear for the second, then focus on Chapel. Your speed out of Chapel stays with you all the way down the Hangar straight, so give up the entry to get the exit.
Stowe. A fast right at the end of the straight. Brake later than you think, turn in with the brake still on a little, and use all the road on the way out.
Vale and Club. Heavy braking for the left at Vale, then a long right that opens onto the pit straight. Feed the throttle in early through Club and let the car drift out to the kerb.
Silverstone in 2017
Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the 2017 British Grand Prix with a 1:26.600 and won the race, over 51 laps. Valtteri Bottas finished second for Mercedes and Kimi Raikkonen was third for Ferrari. Hamilton also set the fastest lap, a 1:30.621.
More F1 2017 setups
Silverstone comes between two very different tracks on the 2017 calendar. The Austria setup runs 3 and 6 on a short lap with three long straights, and the Hungary setup puts both wings at 11. All 20 tracks are in one table on the F1 2017 setups page.
If you play the current game, the track is the same and the car is not: see my F1 25 Silverstone setup.
FAQ
What is the best F1 2017 setup for Silverstone?
Front wing 2, rear wing 6, differential 100% on throttle and 80% off, suspension 8 and 7, anti-roll bars 10 and 3, ride height 5 and 5, brake pressure 82% with 54% front bias, and tyres at 23.0 and 21.1 psi.
What wing levels should I run at Silverstone in F1 2017?
2 at the front and 6 at the rear for time trial. For a race, or if the fast corners feel on the edge, go to 3 and 7.
Can I use this Silverstone setup in a race?
Yes, with a few changes. It is saved with 10 kg of fuel. Add one click of wing at each end and lower the on throttle differential to 85% to look after the rear tyres.
Does this setup work with a controller?
It does. Run the wings at 3 and 7 and the on throttle differential at 80%, so the car is calmer in the fast corners and easier on the throttle.
Is Copse flat in F1 2017?
In time trial with low fuel it is flat or very close to it, even with these wings. With race fuel, plan a small lift.
Where do I lose the most time at Silverstone?
Usually through Maggotts, Becketts and Chapel, by going in too fast and losing the exit onto the Hangar straight, and in Luffield by going to the throttle too early.