Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton topped the practice session ahead of the British Grand Prix on Friday. The seven-time world champion secured the fastest time around the Silverstone circuit, finishing 0.213 seconds ahead of championship leader Kimi Antonelli. George Russell, who claimed victory in Austria last weekend, finished behind the two Ferraris as the teams fine-tuned their setups for the crucial sprint qualifying session scheduled for later today.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished fifth fastest, despite suffering a spin at Becketts midway through the session. His lap time was 0.887 seconds off the pace set by Hamilton. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen struggled with grip throughout the session and ended up sixth, trailing Hamilton by 0.980 seconds. His struggles indicate a difficult weekend ahead for the Red Bull team, which is fighting to maintain its dominance in a highly competitive field.
The practice session took place under clear blue skies with temperatures reaching 23C. The event is set against the backdrop of an expected record-breaking attendance of 500,000 people over the weekend at the historic Silverstone circuit. Hamilton, who holds the record for the most wins at this track with nine victories, exceeded expectations. On Thursday, the veteran driver had predicted that Ferrari would struggle against Mercedes on the straights, yet his performance on Friday suggests that the team has found a strong rhythm.
Aside from Piastri`s minor error, the hour-long session was largely uneventful, allowing teams to gather vital data on tire degradation and aerodynamic balance. With sprint qualifying starting at 16:30 BST, the focus now shifts to whether the Ferraris can maintain this pace during the high-pressure qualifying laps. The tension is palpable as the paddock braces for one of the most anticipated weekends of the Formula 1 season. Fans worldwide are closely monitoring the data to see if this pace translates into a potential pole position for Hamilton, or if the championship leaders will rebound in the decisive moments of the weekend. The atmosphere at Silverstone remains electric as drivers prepare for the next critical phase of the British Grand Prix.
