Image: from The Namibian X @TheNamibian
By Open Chronicle
Lewis Hamilton made an impressive start to his home Formula One weekend by setting the fastest time in the only free practice session ahead of the 2026 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, giving Ferrari an encouraging boost before Sprint Qualifying.
The seven-time world champion posted a best lap of 1:29.260, finishing 0.213 seconds ahead of Mercedes championship leader Kimi Antonelli, while Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc completed the top three.
The British Grand Prix follows the sprint weekend format, meaning drivers had only one practice session to prepare their cars before competitive action began. Hamilton looked comfortable throughout the session, consistently improving his pace before delivering the fastest lap during the closing minutes.
Mercedes remained Ferrari’s closest challenger, with Antonelli once again demonstrating the form that has made him the championship leader this season. George Russell secured fourth place, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri rounded out the top five. Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Isack Hadjar, Nico Hülkenberg and Liam Lawson completed the top ten.
🚨Onboard: Lewis Hamilton Fastest Lap in FP1#BritishGP | #F1 pic.twitter.com/uok7MdaXqa
— KiCKGRiD (@kickgridhq) July 3, 2026
Bortoleto Shows Strong Pace Despite Finishing 12th
Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto enjoyed another encouraging session for Audi despite ending the practice in 12th position.
For much of the hour, Bortoleto ran inside the top ten and displayed a competitive pace relative to teammate Nico Hülkenberg. However, his final flying lap was deleted after exceeding track limits at Turn 9, preventing him from improving his position on the timesheets. Even so, the performance suggested steady progress for the young Brazilian around Silverstone.
Ferrari Looks Competitive
Hamilton’s fastest lap reinforced Ferrari’s recent improvement, with both Ferrari drivers featuring prominently near the top of the order.
The result raised expectations among the home crowd that Hamilton could challenge for another strong result at one of his most successful circuits, while Leclerc’s third place indicated that Ferrari may have the pace to fight Mercedes throughout the weekend.
Focus Turns to Sprint Qualifying
With no further practice available, teams immediately shifted their attention to Sprint Qualifying, where setup decisions made during the single practice session would carry significant importance.
Silverstone’s high-speed layout traditionally rewards aerodynamic efficiency and driver confidence through fast corners, making every lap in practice particularly valuable before the competitive sessions begin.
Hamilton’s strong opening performance provided Ferrari with an ideal platform as Formula One’s British Grand Prix weekend moved into its first qualifying challenge.