Lewis Hamilton thrilled fans at Silverstone by topping the timesheets during Friday’s first practice session, delivering a strong start to his home Grand Prix weekend. Driving for Ferrari, Hamilton laid down an impressive lap time of 1:26.892, setting the tone for what could be a landmark performance at the British GP.
He narrowly beat McLaren’s Lando Norris, who finished just 0.023 seconds behind, while Oscar Piastri secured third, signaling a tight contest among the top three. Hamilton’s speed and confidence on track suggested he’s well-positioned to fight for a long-awaited win on home soil.
Meanwhile, reigning world champion Max Verstappen had a session to forget. The Red Bull driver could only manage 10th place, trailing Hamilton by more than half a second. Verstappen was audibly frustrated over the radio, calling his car “unmanageable,” as he struggled to find pace around the iconic British circuit.
The poor showing from Verstappen shocked fans and analysts alike, especially given that he finished behind both Racing Bulls drivers. The performance was seen as an embarrassment for the championship leader, raising questions about Red Bull’s setup heading into the rest of the weekend.
With qualifying set for Saturday, attention now turns to whether Hamilton can maintain his momentum and secure pole position. Equally, fans are eager to see if Verstappen and Red Bull can bounce back from their shaky start in time for Sunday’s race showdown.
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