At the wheel of his Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton succeeded in the best time of the first free test session of the Grand Prix of Great Britain, in front of the two McLaren of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
A year ago, it was in Silverstone that Lewis Hamilton had ended his two and a half year -old scarcity without victory. Since then, the British pilot has won successful (in Belgium) and has left Mercedes for Ferrari, but the waves obviously seem good for him on this Silverstone track. Currently sixth in the championship, the 40-year-old pilot has signed the best time for the first free test session this Friday at midday.
He signed one of his 26 laps in 1’26 ″ 892, and ahead of the two McLaren pilots: his compatriot Lando Norris of 23 thousandths and the leader of the 150 thousandths Oscar Piastri championship. It was 18 minutes from the end that Lewis Hamilton came to dislodge Lando Norris from first place, lounged from soft tires, and no one managed to do better afterwards. His teammate Charles Leclerc finished fourth, ahead of George Russell. Max Verstappen, in the heart of all rumors since the start of the week because he could join Mercedes next season, had to settle for 10th place.
A beautiful sixth place for Hadjar
Isack Hadjar came to take a good sixth place on his Racing Bulls, while the other two French pilots experienced more difficulties: Esteban Ocon 15th in Haas and Pierre Gasly 19th on Alpine. As regulations, which requires that young reserve pilots take part in two free test sessions in the season, the Briton Arvid Lindblad took the Red Bull by Yuki Tsunoda and the Estonian Paul Aron La Sauber by Nico Hulkenberg. They finished 14th and 17th respectively, just over a second in Hamilton.
No major incidents have been reported during this session, even if Pierre Gasly and Gabriel Bortoleto went to the top. The second free test session will take place at 5:00 p.m. French time.
