Nico Rosberg’s second fifth place in two races enabled the AT&T Williams team to move up another place in the Constructors’ Championship for the third successive Grand Prix and into the top half of the table.

In Friday’s practice sessions, the team analysed the various new aero parts, including a new floor, diffuser and front wing upgrade, all of which worked as anticipated. Friday’s schedule also involved mechanical set-up work and the usual tyre evaluations, which showed little difference between the hard and softer compound, with the prime perhaps having a slight advantage at Silverstone. Kazuki Nakajima ended the second session in P4, and Nico in P9.

For the second time this season, Kazuki progressed through to Q3 in qualifying, while Nico made his eighth appearance. Both drivers demonstrated encouraging pace in the top ten shoot out, which saw Kazuki set the fifth and Nico the seventh fastest time, traffic and a three lap heavier fuel load perhaps costing Nico one grid position.

For the race, both drivers continued the strong first lap form seen all season, Kazuki gaining a position off the line to run in fourth place, while Nico moved up to sixth by the end of lap one following his overtaking manoeuvre going into Stowe. The team chose to run a prime, prime, option strategy with the tyres and put Kazuki on a short first stint and Nico on a slightly longer one.

Unfortunately, Kazuki was unable to pull out enough of a gap ahead of his first stop on lap 15 which had the effect of leaving him embroiled in traffic during his second stint, which subsequently ruled out a potential points-paying finish. Nico drove a strong first stint but a slower car after the first round of stops ultimately cost him track position to the Ferrari. At the flag, Kazuki crossed the line in P11, while Nico brought his FW31 home in fifth while also setting the third fastest lap time of the race just behind the Red Bull pairing.