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Qualifying is one of those aspects of grand prix racing that has been tinkered with countless times ever since the first major tweaks were introduced in the 1990s to make it more interesting for television viewers. What we have now is almost unquestionably the best format in history, which can provide shocks right up until the finish. However, Formula 1 bosses want to toy with the idea of scrapping qualifying as we know it altogether and replacing it with qualifying races.

I’ve written about what things to expect and bring to racetracks, this is the first of many posts about specific details of a racetrack. Castle Combe is the track I know best, it’s the closest track to me, and I’ve been there over five times this year already.

Over the last two years, I’ve been to a lot of races, I know exactly what I need to pack on a race weekend, the best places to sit/stand or take photos from and all sorts of other somewhat useful information.

The 2019 Formula 1 season has marked the arrival of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc as potential megastars for the future. Five-time champion and the greatest of his era Lewis Hamilton has relished this – and we witnessed a glimpse of something in Hungary that reflects when Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso were the youngsters taking it to Michael Schumacher a decade and a half ago. However, there is a young talent in amongst his own stable – a Verstappen-beater in fact – who should also be within this changing of the guard.

12 races into a Formula 1 season that has morphed into a true slow-burner, and against pre-season expectations it is Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes who both seem nailed on for their sixth drivers’ and constructors’ championships respectively. Ferrari’s challenge never materialised despite early promise, while Max Verstappen and Red Bull-Honda are emerging as legitimate threats to snatch the championship from Hamilton. Elsewhere, new stars have come into the fore, rookies have massively impressed, and some team-mate battles have become totally one-sided. Which drivers can go into the summer break on a high, and who has some serious work to do in the second half of 2019?