Silverstone hero Lewis Hamilton set the early pace for the British Grand Prix in the opening practice session. The seven-time FIA Formula 1 World Champion, who has won his home race a record nine times, lapped on soft tyres at a pace just over two tenths of second ahead of title leader Kimi Antonelli.
With just one practice session this weekend, the track became very busy as soon as the green light was shown in the pitlane. In the initial hard tyre runs, the Mercedes and Red Bull cars traded times, suggesting that the latter’s resurgence at last week’s Austrian Grand Prix is translating into pace at Silverstone.
Meanwhile the McLaren drivers were pushing hard. Running a special anniversary livery to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the team’s F1 debut – Bruce McLaren scored the squad’s first point in that year’s British Grand Prix – reigning champion Lando Norris ran wide on a high kerb and Oscar Piastri spun midway through the session.
When teams bolted on soft tyres ahead of the Sprint qualifying session, Piastri and title contender George Russell topped the times, but Mercedes’ British hope was beaten by almost half a second by his young team mate Antonelli.
Of the Ferraris, Charles Leclerc went fastest in the third sector but with a lap only quick enough for third overall before Hamilton topped the times with six minutes to go. His lap headed Antonelli by a couple of tenths and the pair shared the fastest sector times.
Max Verstappen’s fastest effort was the last posted within a second of Hamilton’s. Norris, Isack Hadjar, Nico Hulkenberg and Liam Lawson completed the top ten in the session, both of the latter on Medium tyres. Of the other British competitors, Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad was 13th, one place ahead of Haas driver Oliver Bearman.
Attention now turns to Sprint Qualifying, which will determine the grid order for Saturday’ Sprint race.
FIA Formula 1 Practice top ten
1, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, 1:29.260s
2, Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, +0.213s
3, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, +0.599s
4, George Russell, Mercedes, +0.678s
5, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, +0.887s
6, Max Verstappen, Red Bull, +0.980s
7, Lando Norris, McLaren, +1.028s
8, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull, +1.078s
9, Nico Hulkenberg, Audi, +1.483s
10, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls, +1.590s