A lap of Silverstone with Button

Renault's Jenson Button drives a flying lap of the Silverstone circuit.

"I approach the first corner, Copse Corner, at around 295kmh. The entry to this is very difficult because I can't see the apex as I turn in and it is a very quick corner, which I take in fifth gear at around 235kmh."

"The exit will lead down to the difficult Becketts complex, reaching a similar top speed of 295kmh. The first left-hand corner, Maggotts Curve, is taken flat before braking lightly and dropping my speed down to around 270kmh for the next right-hand section."

"After this I need to brake much harder because I need to drop my speed down to around 210kmh in fourth gear for the penultimate left-hand corner, and then lose more speed, changing down to third gear at around 175kmh for the right-hand corner of Becketts."

"The slight left-hand kink, Chapel Curve, which leads onto the Hangar Straight is taken flat, hitting the apex at around 235kmh in fifth gear. Through this complex I will have experienced very high lateral forces both to the left and the right so the relaxation on the Hangar Straight is very welcome."

"At the end of the straight I will reach the maximum speed on the circuit of around 310kmh before once again braking very hard and dropping down to 190kmh in third for Stowe. In the next short straight I will reach around 280kmh in fifth gear before dropping right down to 90kmh in second gear for the slowest corner on the circuit, the left-hander leading into Club Corner."

"Club Corner itself is very difficult and although I will apex at around 130kmh in third gear, I need to be able to get the power on well as I fight the car out of this very long corner. In the run up to the chicane, Abbey, I will once again reach around 295kmh, a similar speed to the pit-straight. For the first part of Abbey I will have to brake hard to 125kmh in second gear, although on a good lap I will hope to take the right-hand part under steady acceleration, apexing at around 190kmh in third gear."

"Ahead of me is one of the most challenging corners on any Grand Prix circuit, Bridge. On a qualifying lap I will definitely take Bridge flat at around 265kmh in fifth gear. Part of the challenge of this corner is that I need to position my car well over to the right to be able to take Priory, the first left-hand corner of the complex, correctly and while doing so I need to get my speed down to 175kmh in third gear."

"I will briefly reach around 215kmh in fourth gear before braking again for the long left-hand corner in the complex, Brooklands, which I will take at 105kmh in second. Almost immediately I am into the last corners, Luffield and Woodcote. The apex speed is similar, but they form one very long right-hand corner, where once again the exit is both difficult and important as I need to get power on smoothly and fight the inevitable understeer to get good speed onto the pit-straight. This should enable me to complete my lap by crossing the finishing line at around 280kmh in top gear."

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