Lewis Hamilton put Ferrari on top of the times in the opening practice session at Silverstone.

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Charles Leclerc gave more encouragement to Ferrari by setting the fourth-fastest time in their recently updated car. But the pair were separated by the ever-present McLarens, and Lando Norris was only two hundredths of a second slower than last year’s race winner in second place.

Hamilton built up to his fastest lap time, periodically setting quickest sector times then backing off elsewhere around the lap. After setting the fastest time he settled in to a longer run, passing George Russell as he did. “His inside shoulders look far cleaner than ours on the rear,” noted Russell as the Ferrari came past.

Russell took fifth for Mercedes, within two tenths of a second of Hamilton’s time. His team mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, just another two tenths behind.

The pair were separated by both Racings Bulls drivers, sporting new liveries on their cars. Isack Hadjar led the times at one stage and ended up sixth.

Alexander Albon put his Williams in between the two cars from Red Bull’s junior team. He was over half a second quicker than his team mate Carlos Sainz Jnr.

Max Verstappen completed the top 10, sounding as unhappy with his car’s balance as he often does on a Friday. “Unbelievable” he remarked in frustration towards the end of the session.

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His team mate Yuki Tsunoda did not participate in the session as Arvid Lindlblad took over his car. The Formula 2 driver lapped half a second off the reigning world champion.

However the other junior driver taking part in the session, Paul Aron, beat Sauber’s regular driver Gabriel Bortoleto. This was at least partly because Bortoleto spun at Cope on his first attempt on soft tyres, and was fortunate not to hit anything. He same happened to Pierre Gasly, who also emerged unscathed.

2025 British Grand Prix Grand Prix first practice result

P. # Driver Team Model Time Gap Laps
1 44 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari SF-25 1’26.892 26
2 4 Lando Norris McLaren-Mercedes MCL39 1’26.915 0.023 26
3 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren-Mercedes MCL39 1’27.042 0.150 28
4 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari SF-25 1’27.095 0.203 26
5 63 George Russell Mercedes W16 1’27.163 0.271 25
6 6 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls-Honda RBPT 02 1’27.217 0.325 28
7 23 Alexander Albon Williams-Mercedes FW47 1’27.304 0.412 30
8 30 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls-Honda RBPT 02 1’27.351 0.459 27
9 12 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes W16 1’27.367 0.475 25
10 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull-Honda RBPT RB21 1’27.432 0.540 26
11 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin-Mercedes AMR25 1’27.678 0.786 24
12 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin-Mercedes AMR25 1’27.844 0.952 22
13 55 Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams-Mercedes FW47 1’27.909 1.017 26
14 36 Arvid Lindblad Red Bull-Honda RBPT RB21 1’27.958 1.066 22
15 31 Esteban Ocon Haas-Ferrari VF-25 1’28.057 1.165 23
16 43 Franco Colapinto Alpine-Renault A525 1’28.086 1.194 27
17 97 Paul Aron Sauber-Ferrari C45 1’28.142 1.250 25
18 87 Oliver Bearman Haas-Ferrari VF-25 1’28.147 1.255 24
19 10 Pierre Gasly Alpine-Renault A525 1’28.332 1.440 23
20 5 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber-Ferrari C45 1’28.397 1.505 23

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2025 British Grand Prix

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