The legendary Silverstone circuit welcomed F1 back to Britain with a day that showcased home favorites and rising stars alike. From Hamilton topping FP1 at his beloved home track to Norris striking back in the afternoon, day one delivered classic British Grand Prix excitement. What unfolded during the opening practice sessions? Stay tuned with Supercars.com.GH to find out!
FP1
Lewis Hamilton kicked off his home weekend in perfect style, topping FP1 with a 1:26.892 that edged fellow Briton Lando Norris by just 0.023s. The seven-time champion showed he’s lost none of his Silverstone magic at a circuit where he’s won a record nine times. Oscar Piastri completed an impressive top three for McLaren, while Charles Leclerc claimed fourth for Ferrari.
The session featured two notable debutants as 17-year-old Arvid Lindblad stepped into Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull for his F1 weekend debut, finishing 13th at his home event. Paul Aron took over Nico Hulkenberg’s Kick Sauber, part of a driver-sharing agreement between Alpine and the Swiss team.
Drama struck early as Pierre Gasly completed a 360-degree spin at the notorious Copse corner, continuing with significant flat spots. Gabriel Bortoleto later followed suit with his own Copse spin, briefly triggering yellow flags. Carlos Sainz caused concern when his Williams was spotted on stands in the garage for floor checks, though he later rejoined the action.
Max Verstappen could only manage tenth, fueling ongoing speculation about his future amid a challenging weekend for Red Bull.
FP2
Norris struck back emphatically in FP2, posting a commanding 1:25.816 to lead the session by 0.222s from Leclerc, with Hamilton third. The McLaren driver became the only man to break the 1:26 barrier, showcasing the pace that won him last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix.
Challenging conditions dominated the afternoon as gusty winds wreaked havoc with aerodynamic performance through Silverstone’s high-speed corners. Hamilton initially continued his strong form, topping the early running before times began tumbling during qualifying simulations.
Verstappen’s struggles continued as he complained over the radio about front tire response in high-speed corners, eventually finishing fifth, 0.498s behind Norris. The Dutchman’s frustration was palpable as he declared the front tires “just don’t respond” through the faster sections.
Kimi Antonelli briefly topped the times during the soft tire runs, while teammate George Russell also showed strong pace for Mercedes. Carlos Sainz suffered a harmless spin at Luffield, with team principal James Vowles attributing it to gusty conditions catching the car.
Can the British drivers maintain this momentum heading into Saturday’s crucial sessions? Join Supercars.com.GH tomorrow to find out!