Shock at Silverstone: Hamilton Shine at British GP as Verstappen Crash in… read more
Friday’s action at Silverstone set the tone for an exciting weekend as Formula 1 returned to one of its most iconic circuits. Under gusty conditions and a buzzing atmosphere, Lewis Hamilton reminded everyone why he’s the king of the British Grand Prix, putting in a blistering lap that saw him top the timing sheets during the first practice session.
Now racing in red for Ferrari, Hamilton clocked a time of 1:26.892, narrowly edging out McLaren’s Lando Norris by just 0.023 seconds. Oscar Piastri followed closely behind in third, giving McLaren a strong early showing on home soil. Charles Leclerc backed up Ferrari’s pace with the fourth-best time, while George Russell completed the top five in his Mercedes.
Hamilton’s performance was a commanding reminder of his legacy at Silverstone, where he’s claimed more wins than any other driver in the history of the sport at a single circuit. His speed and control were evident as he navigated the challenging high-speed corners of the track with precision.
In stark contrast, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen had a forgettable day. The reigning world champion was unusually off pace, complaining over team radio about handling issues and the general instability of his car. Despite his frustrations, Verstappen could only manage the 10th-fastest time—falling behind both Racing Bulls drivers, Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson, in a rather embarrassing result for the Red Bull camp.
The challenging conditions, including unpredictable gusts of wind, made the high-speed Copse corner particularly tricky. Several drivers struggled to keep their cars under control, and both Pierre Gasly and Gabriel Bortoleto suffered dramatic spins after running wide and hitting the kerbs. Fortunately, both managed to avoid the barriers, although they damaged their tyres in the process.
Adding extra intrigue to the session were two rookie drivers given rare FP1 opportunities. 17-year-old Arvid Lindblad stepped into Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull for the session, marking his debut outing at a Formula 1 weekend. Meanwhile, Estonian driver Paul Aron took over Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber. Both rookies handled themselves well given the circumstances, with Lindblad finishing 14th and Aron 17th—solid performances on such a demanding track.
The final classification reflected a mix of familiar faces and rising stars. Behind the top five were Hadjar in sixth, impressing once again for Racing Bulls, followed by Alex Albon (Williams), Lawson (Racing Bulls), and Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes). Verstappen’s 10th place rounded out the top ten, signaling potential trouble for Red Bull as they look to regain their dominant form.
Elsewhere, Aston Martin drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll came in 11th and 12th, while Carlos Sainz, driving for Williams this weekend, was 13th. Rookies Lindblad and Aron were separated by Franco Colapinto in 16th, with Oliver Bearman, Gasly, and Bortoleto completing the order.
With Hamilton leading the way and Verstappen on the back foot, the stage is set for a thrilling British Grand Prix weekend.
