Lewis Hamilton sets fastest time in British GP FP1
4th July 2025Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton set the pace after the first hour of practice at the British Grand Prix, pipping both McLarens around the Silverstone circuit.
Feature image credit: Scuderia Ferrari
Nine-time British Grand Prix race winner and seven-time world champion, Hamilton led the timing boards at the British event as he pipped the two McLarens by at least 0.02s.
Two FP1 rookies replaced two Formula 1 drivers in the opening hour of practice as Arvid Lindblad replaced Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull Racing, and Paul Aron occupied Nico Hulkenberg’s seat at Kick Sauber.
The majority of the runners opted for a medium compound start whilst Aston Martin and Williams opted for the hard tyres. But it wasn’t long before traffic became a problem as Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson complained about an encounter with Red Bull rookie Lindblad.
How did the first hour of practice finish?
Hamilton was the fastest man on track with a time of 1 minute, 26.892 seconds, a time narrowly quicker than the fastest McLaren, driven by Lando Norris, who was 0.023 seconds slower. Oscar Piastri completed the top three, one-tenth behind.
Hamilton’s teammate, Charles Leclerc and former Mercedes teammate George Russell completed the top five, in fourth and fifth, two-tenths off the world champion’s pace.
Racing Bulls found themselves inside the top 10 after the first hour with Isack Hadjar leading the way, in sixth, ahead of Lawson in eighth. Williams’ Alexander Albon sandwiched in between, in seventh.
Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen rounded out the top 10, in ninth and 10th, respectively.
The two Aston Martins, driven by Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, were the fastest drivers in the bottom 10, in 11th and 12th, ahead of Williams’ Carlos Sainz, Lindblad and Haas’ Esteban Ocon in 13th, 14th and 15th.
Alpine found themselves in the bottom five with Franco Colapinto going faster than his teammate Pierre Gasly, in 16th and 19th, respectively. This meant Aron, Haas’ Oliver Bearman filled the gap in 17th and 19th, ahead of Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto in 20th.
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