Verstappen in trouble? Red Bull struggles as British GP heats up | VIDEO
Silverstone: The 2025 British Grand Prix weekend roared to life at Silverstone on Friday, delivering a thrilling start that saw British stars Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris dominate the Friday Free Practice sessions. While the home crowd cheered on their champions, reigning world champion Max Verstappen and Red Bull appeared to be on the back foot, setting the stage for a potentially dramatic qualifying and race.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton put his Ferrari at the top of the timesheets in Free Practice 1 (FP1), delighting the packed Silverstone stands. Hamilton's impressive lap of 1m 26.892s narrowly edged out McLaren's Lando Norris by a mere 0.023 seconds, indicating strong pace from the Scuderia and a promising start for the British legend at his home race. Oscar Piastri, Norris's McLaren teammate, completed the top three, showcasing McLaren's early strength.
As the afternoon unfolded, Free Practice 2 (FP2) saw Lando Norris take centre stage, posting the fastest time of the day with an exceptional 1m 25.816s. Norris was the only driver to break into the 1m25s bracket, leading a formidable charge from Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc in second (+0.222s) and Hamilton in third (+0.301s). Piastri maintained his strong form, securing fourth, further solidifying McLaren's potential this weekend.
Conversely, Max Verstappen and Red Bull had a more challenging day. Verstappen finished FP1 in 10th and, while improving to fifth in FP2, was still nearly half a second adrift of Norris's benchmark. The Dutchman expressed frustration with his car's front-end handling, particularly in high-speed corners, suggesting Red Bull might have work to do to find their characteristic dominant form.
The warm and windy conditions on Friday added another layer of complexity for teams dialling in their setups. However, forecasts hint at cooler temperatures and potential rain for Saturday's crucial qualifying session and Sunday's main race. Any change in weather could dramatically shuffle the pecking order and intensify the strategic battles on track.
The action will continue on Saturday, July 5, with the final Free Practice 3 session at 4:00 PM IST (8:30 AM BST), followed by the highly anticipated Qualifying session at 7:30 PM IST (3:00 PM BST), where drivers will fight for grid positions for Sunday's British Grand Prix. With McLaren and Ferrari showing formidable pace, and Red Bull looking to recover, the stage is set for a thrilling weekend at Silverstone.