British Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton sets fastest time in home Free Practice 1
In a fairly quiet first Free Practice session, Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time ahead of McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. A result which shows that Ferrari's improvements seem to be working.
Lando Norris approaches this weekend as the most recent winner, having triumphed in Austria ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri. However, it’s the Australian who maintains the lead in the drivers’ championship, with a 15-point advantage over Lando Norris.
McLaren aims for a ninth victory this season, but before the start of competitive sessions, teams and drivers have the opportunity to fine-tune their car setups for the British event.
Lewis Hamilton, leader of the first Free Practice session
In front of his supporters, Lewis Hamilton quickly appeared at ease on a circuit he knows like the back of his hand. The Ferrari driver completed a clean lap in 1’26”892, placing the Scuderia at the top of the timing sheets. He narrowly leads Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who complete the top 3. Ferrari starts the weekend with a solid foundation.
Promising first steps for Arvid Lindblad
On the Red Bull team side, young Arvid Lindblad, only 17 years old, made his Formula 1 debut. By replacing Yuki Tsunoda for this session, the Red Bull protégé gained valuable learning miles in a top-tier single-seater. Despite a slightly aggressive run over the Copse curbs, he completed several laps without making any notable mistakes.
Paul Aron, the Alpine protégé driver, replaced Nico Hülkenberg at the wheel of the Sauber. He was able to demonstrate solidity, reflecting the team that is currently delivering strong performances. He nevertheless climbed to 17th place.
Technical tests and softer tires
The teams used these initial minutes to assess tire behavior, with a softer range than last year: C2 (hard), C3 (medium), and C4 (soft). The goal being to prepare an optimized strategy for Sunday’s race, especially on a circuit as demanding on tires as Silverstone. The long fast corners, like those in the Maggots-Becketts complex, particularly test the grip of the front axle.
A fluid session, without neutralization
Unlike some previous editions, this start to the weekend went smoothly. No yellow or red flags interrupted the teams’ work. The drivers were able to string together laps, gather data, and start adjusting the aerodynamic settings.
Only scare, Gabriel Bortoleto’s off into the gravel at the exit of Copse around the twentieth minute, without major damage or yellow flag.
The session ranking:
More information to come…
