Leclerc leads final practice as red flags disrupt British Grand Prix session
Charles Leclerc Tops Final Practice at Silverstone Ahead of British Grand Prix
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc dominated the final practice of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, setting a session-best lap time of 1:25.498. The tight leaderboard saw Oscar Piastri in second just 0.068 seconds behind, followed closely by championship leader Max Verstappen, who was a mere 0.019 seconds off Piastri's pace.
Session Interrupted by Red Flags
The session, however, was clouded by interruptions. Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto found himself in trouble after spinning over the grass and apex, ending up stranded in the gravel with broken suspension. His incident brought out a red flag minutes before the end of the session, cutting short any opportunity for drivers to overtake Leclerc’s benchmark.
Another red flag was triggered earlier in the session when bodywork from Haas rookie Oliver Bearman’s car scattered debris across the track. The action resumed shortly thereafter, but Bearman's day went from bad to worse as he crashed into the barriers at the pit lane entry during the closing moments, again leaving debris behind. The British driver later radioed his team, citing "cold brakes" as the cause of the crash.
Hamilton’s Frustrating Session
The timing of the final stoppage proved frustrating for a number of drivers, particularly Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion had been on pace to challenge Leclerc's lap time, setting quicker splits in the first two sectors before being forced to abort his lap. He ultimately finished the session in 11th place.
Norris and Tsunoda Impress
McLaren’s Lando Norris, sitting 15 points behind teammate Piastri in the standings after 11 of 24 rounds, claimed fourth position in the session. Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the top five, continuing his strong form.
Top 10 Shake-Up
Williams’ Alex Albon ended seventh, nestled among Mercedes’ George Russell in eighth, Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar in ninth, and teammate Liam Lawson, who rounded out the top 10. Aston Martin faced struggles as neither of their drivers managed a competitive lap on the fastest soft compound tire, citing the chaos of the red flags.
All Eyes on Hamilton in Qualifying
Looking ahead to qualifying later in the afternoon, all eyes will be on Hamilton. This marks his first British Grand Prix at Silverstone as a Ferrari driver, following his record nine victories at his home race for Mercedes. Last year, Hamilton delivered a masterful win in front of the home crowd for the Silver Arrows, but a new challenge awaits as he adjusts to Ferrari machinery at a venue synonymous with his dominance.
High Stakes Showdown
With Leclerc in strong form and Verstappen’s consistency ever-present, qualifying promises to be an intense showdown that will set the stage for Sunday’s race at the legendary circuit.
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