Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Red Bull Ring, 2025

McLaren were quickest in practice on Friday at Silverstone but Ferrari continued their impressive showing from Austria – at a track where they struggled last year.

But the expected arrival of cooler conditions from Saturday, and potentially rain as well, is likely to be a great relief to Mercedes.

Teams’ 2024 performance in context

Cool temperatures at last year’s British Grand Prix brought Mercedes into play, creating a three-way scrap between them, McLaren and Red Bull. At this stage in the season Ferrari were struggling with a floor upgrade which hadn’t worked as expected.

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First and second practice times

The usual seven suspects appeared in the top 10 at the end of practice – the drivers from the top four teams except Yuki Tsunoda.

They were joined by Lance Stroll, who posted quick times in practice for the last race as well, only to fade in qualifying. Both Racing Bulls drivers were in the top half of the field as well.

P.#DriverTeamFP1 timeFP2 timeGapLaps
14Lando NorrisMcLaren-Mercedes1’26.9151’25.81652
216Charles LeclercFerrari1’27.0951’26.0380.22255
344Lewis HamiltonFerrari1’26.8921’26.1170.30155
481Oscar PiastriMcLaren-Mercedes1’27.0421’26.2860.47055
51Max VerstappenRed Bull-Honda RBPT1’27.4321’26.3140.49849
612Andrea Kimi AntonelliMercedes1’27.3671’26.3830.56753
718Lance StrollAston Martin-Mercedes1’27.8441’26.4300.61446
863George RussellMercedes1’27.1631’26.5230.70752
96Isack HadjarRacing Bulls-Honda RBPT1’27.2171’26.5240.70855
1030Liam LawsonRacing Bulls-Honda RBPT1’27.3511’26.6240.80855
1123Alexander AlbonWilliams-Mercedes1’27.3041’26.8401.02460
1214Fernando AlonsoAston Martin-Mercedes1’27.6781’26.8761.06048
135Gabriel BortoletoSauber-Ferrari1’28.3971’26.9041.08850
1431Esteban OconHaas-Ferrari1’28.0571’26.9411.12549
1522Yuki TsunodaRed Bull-Honda RBPT1’26.9801.16425
1655Carlos Sainz JnrWilliams-Mercedes1’27.9091’27.1591.34353
1727Nico HulkenbergSauber-Ferrari1’27.1651.34929
1810Pierre GaslyAlpine-Renault1’28.3321’27.1741.35847
1987Oliver BearmanHaas-Ferrari1’28.1471’27.2261.41051
2043Franco ColapintoAlpine-Renault1’28.0861’27.2891.47356
2136Arvid LindbladRed Bull-Honda RBPT1’27.9582.14222
2297Paul AronSauber-Ferrari1’28.1422.32625

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Teams’ progress vs 2024

F1’s official tyre supplier Pirelli has selected compounds which are one step softer than those used at Silverstone last year. Therefore most teams have already lapped quicker than they did at this track in 2024. Notable exceptions include Haas, who tend to prioritise their high-fuel running, and Mercedes.

Teams’ 2024 and 2025 times

Could tomorrow’s sessions bring a repeat of last year? Mercedes were six tenths off the pace on Friday in 2024 but locked out the front row of the grid.

Cooler conditions are forecast for Saturday at Silverstone, which should play right into their hands. George Russell has already had one pole and win this year in similarly cool conditions at Montreal.

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