The opening day of the British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone delivered an unexpected twist, suggesting that the recent dominance of McLaren might face a stern challenge from an unlikely contender: Ferrari. While McLaren`s Lando Norris topped the timesheets in the crucial second practice session, both Ferrari drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, demonstrated pace that has ignited optimism within the Maranello camp and raised eyebrows among their rivals.
Ferrari`s Promising Friday
After introducing a significant floor upgrade in Austria, Ferrari appears to have taken another step forward. Lewis Hamilton, the home hero and a nine-time winner at Silverstone, set the pace in the first practice session and maintained a strong showing in the second, finishing within striking distance of Norris. For Hamilton, this felt like a genuinely “positive” day.
“I definitely feel we can dream of having a strong weekend,” Hamilton stated, allowing himself a rare moment of public aspiration for a team that has struggled to match the frontrunners consistently this season. He acknowledged the difficulty of execution but expressed confidence in his preparation, particularly with the forecast hinting at potential rain for qualifying and the race – conditions that could scramble the competitive order.
Charles Leclerc, often the leading Ferrari light this year, echoed a similar sentiment. While admitting the need to find more pace for qualifying, he was notably pleased with the car`s performance on longer runs, commenting over the radio during practice that his race setup felt “pretty good.” This confidence in race trim, coupled with improved single-lap pace, makes Ferrari a credible threat should they refine their package further overnight.
McLaren Remains Quick, But Cautious
Despite Norris finishing fastest in FP2, setting the benchmark for the weekend so far, both he and teammate Oscar Piastri were quick to highlight Ferrari`s unexpected speed. McLaren, fresh off a dominant one-two finish in Austria, arrived at Silverstone with their own set of upgrades, yet they saw enough from the scarlet cars to view them as serious competitors.
“The Ferraris have been very, very quick today,” Norris observed, forecasting them as a major threat for Saturday. He adopted the standard F1 driver posture of downplaying his own apparent advantage, suggesting McLaren still had “a bit of work to do” and that Friday`s results “looks maybe a bit too good,” knowing teams often make significant jumps into final practice and qualifying. Piastri shared this view, describing Ferrari`s performance as “a bit of a surprise” and confirming they “are in the fight this weekend.”
Norris, driving in front of his dedicated “Landostand” at Stowe corner, made his target clear: pole position at his home race. The pressure and the support are undeniable, adding an extra layer of narrative to McLaren`s bid for a third consecutive pole.
Red Bull and Mercedes Face Challenges
In contrast to the McLaren-Ferrari battle at the top, Friday proved more challenging for the teams often expected to be in contention. Max Verstappen and Red Bull struggled with car balance, specifically understeer, leaving the championship leader half a second off the pace in FP2. While team principal Christian Horner was optimistic they could “tidy up” the car`s handling issues, particularly those exacerbated by the wind, Verstappen himself was less enthused, citing a general “lacking a bit of performance.” This follows a pattern seen occasionally this season where Red Bull isn`t immediately on the optimal footing on Friday.
Mercedes, meanwhile, found themselves hampered by the unusually high track temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius. Both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli finished outside the top five, seemingly unable to extract performance from their car in the heat. A visibly frustrated Russell noted their dependence on the weather, lamenting, “Every single week we are at the mercy of the weather.” His hope for rain on Saturday, therefore, isn`t just about exciting racing; it`s a pragmatic desire for conditions that might level the playing field and bring Mercedes back into contention for their home event.
Looking Ahead
Friday practice at Silverstone has set the stage for a potentially thrilling weekend. While McLaren holds the provisional advantage, Ferrari`s resurgence adds a captivating dynamic. Red Bull faces a typical Friday night challenge to unlock performance, and Mercedes is left praying for cooler temperatures or, perhaps more effectively, a downpour. The traditional British weather, often a character in itself at Silverstone, might yet have the final say in who emerges on top.
