British Grand Prix: Norris Tops First Practice as Ferrari Looms
Lando Norris set the pace in the opening practice session for the British Grand Prix, recording a time of 1m25.816s on his initial lap with soft tires. The McLaren driver demonstrated impressive form, claiming all three purple sectors, leaving him almost 0.4 seconds clear of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Leclerc, who faced handling issues with his front-left corner, managed to close the gap in his second attempt, finishing 0.222 seconds behind Norris and notably claiming the fastest sector in the middle split. “It was costing me significant lap time,” he reported after the session.
Lewis Hamilton improved on his second effort, securing third place but clocking in 0.301 seconds off the leader, while Oscar Piastri finished fourth, 0.47 seconds slower than Norris. Piastri’s session was marred by a mistake at Club, preventing him from achieving a personal best time.
Max Verstappen struggled with his Red Bull, clocking in fifth and 0.498 seconds off the top time. The Dutch driver expressed frustration over handling issues, particularly understeer. “Have you seen my front tires in the high speed? They just don’t respond,” he communicated to his team.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli led Mercedes in sixth but was 0.567 seconds off the pace, despite a snap moment through Club. Lance Stroll, equipped with Aston Martin’s latest upgrade package, managed seventh, closely followed by teammate George Russell in eighth, with an 0.707 seconds deficit.
Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson showcased solid midfield form, finishing ninth and tenth, respectively, with a tight 0.1 seconds separating them. Alex Albon took 11th for Williams, while Fernando Alonso and Gabriel Bortoleto were within a second of the lead, separated by only 0.064 seconds in 12th and 13th.
Esteban Ocon rounded out the top 14 for Haas, followed by Yuki Tsunoda, who returned to his Red Bull after an earlier substitute appearance, finishing 15th and 1.164 seconds off the pace.
Carlos Sainz encountered a rapid spin out of Luffield early in the session, narrowly avoiding Hamilton. This incident has led to a summons for Sainz by the stewards for driving “in a manner potentially dangerous to other drivers.”
Nico Hulkenberg returned to action in 17th after Paul Aron filled in during FP1, while Alpine’s drivers struggled, with Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto finishing 18th and 20th, sandwiched by Oliver Bearman in 19th.
The session highlighted McLaren’s competitiveness and Ferrari’s potential, setting the stage for an intriguing British Grand Prix weekend ahead.
