George Russell couldn’t believe his eyes as he watched Lewis Hamilton push his car beyond its limits at Silverstone – but it wasn’t the speed or skill that unsettled him. It was the look in Lewis’s eyes. Something had changed – and Russell knew it could change everything.
Lewis Hamilton set the pace for Ferrari in FP1 ahead of the British Grand Prix. It’s the first time he’s topped a practice session since he joined the Scuderia.
Hamilton lapped just two-hundredths quicker than compatriot Lando Norris on what was his second attempt at a low-fuel soft-tyre run. He’d set a purple sector one on the first attempt before backing off.
It was an encouraging start to the weekend for the nine-time British Grand Prix winner. He’s chasing his first podium as a Ferrari driver at the 12th attempt.
Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Championship leader Oscar Piastri was third fastest, with the other Ferrari of Charles Leclerc fourth. George Russell took P5, with Max Verstappen down in P10.
George Russell worried about Lewis Hamilton’s superior tyre wear at British Grand Prix
After the first qualifying simulations of the weekend, many drivers ended the session with long runs. Hamilton was able to catch up to the Mercedes of Russell.
That in itself bodes well for Ferrari’s race pace, though it is of course very early in the weekend. Still, when he made the overtake, Russell was worried by his superior tyre wear.
“His inside shoulders look far cleaner than ours at the rear,” he reported over the radio.
Light rain is forecast during Saturday’s qualifying session, with the race set to be dry. Hamilton would have come into the weekend hoping for some adverse weather, which helped him win last year.
But if Ferrari can maintain this pace, he may change his mind. Hamilton has ‘everything under control’ over one lap, team principal Jerome D’Ambrosio says, but would benefit from some cleaner races.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc disagree over crucial part of Ferrari car
Ferrari have asked their drivers to lift and coast during recent Grands Prix in order to protect the underfloor plank. Hamilton was disqualified from the Chinese GP for excessive wear.
They introduced a new floor in Austria to try and mitigate the issue, but both drivers still received the ‘li-co’ instruction. That could be a factor again here.
Their best chances to win a race may arrive after the summer break. They will test a crucial rear suspension upgrade at Mugello this week.
Ferrari will also carry out some experiments with their brakes. Hamilton and Leclerc disagree over whether they’re a problem area on the SF-25.
