FP1: Familiar Friday feeling for Max
Silverstone hosts Round 12 of the 2025 Formula One world championship this weekend, with the iconic British Grand Prix.
Lando Norris closed the gap on his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in the drivers' championship standings, with a supreme win in Austria last weekend.
And the Brit was fastest after today's free practice sessions in front of his home fans at Silverstone, clocking a 1:25.816 in FP2 from the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc. Another home driver, Lewis Hamilton, had been quickest earlier in the day as he led FP1 for Ferrari with a 1:26.892.
As for the narratives off the track, there continues to be talk over the future of Red Bull's four-time defending champion Max Verstappen, with links to a winter move to Mercedes refusing to go away.
You can catch up on all the action and reaction below. Next: FP3 and qualifying tomorrow, ahead of Sunday's race (10am ET).
Join the conversation: live@theathletic.com
GO FURTHER
Silverstone track breakdown: The British GP makes F1 drivers feel like jet pilots Getty Images
⏰ 24:47 Don't read that early order as Max Verstappen being happy with his Red Bull's handling so far around Silverstone.
It wouldn't be FP1 without the four-time defending champion complaining about the feeling of his RB21 — and he has done just that on the team radio to his engineer, GianPiero Lambiase, who is back after missing Austria due to personal reasons.
The good news for Verstappen and Red Bull is that whatever the problems on a Friday, Saturday usually comes together pretty well. At least for his side of the garage. Getty Images
⏰ 29:08 Just like that, we're halfway through this FP1 hour.
You can't read too much into the timings of course, but so far we have Isack Hadjar on top in his Racing Bull with a 1:27.502.
It is then Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, Liam Lawson and Oscar Piastri in the order. Luke Smith
⏰ 30:20 Lewis Hamilton on his way into the pits. He spoke yesterday about being excited to see the fan reaction now he's in red, not the silver of Mercedes.
A real mix of shirts in the grandstand from what I can see!
⏰ 35:11 Another car runs wide at Copse. This time it's Carlos Sainz, who drifts wide onto the run-off area but at least avoids a spin and too much damage to his Williams — other than to his floor, although he has gone straight into the pits for the mechanics to have a look.
The wind seems to be causing cars an issue at that part of the track today it seems.
⏰ 36:45 Woah! A very close moment just in front of me…
Gabriel Bortoleto was going a bit slower than Lando Norris expected, and the McLaren had to put a wheel on the grass to avoid contact at pit entry.
Oops!
I'm stood by the pit entry and already the drivers are practicing getting hard on the anchors as late as possible before the speed limit kicks in.
Because they effectively skip the final three corners when pitting, the speed limit is reduced to 80 km/h for Silverstone, to stop it becoming a short cut going through the pits. Getty Images
⏰ 40:05 A note from Red Bull, that its upgraded floor is only being run by Max Verstappen this weekend.
Yuki Tsunoda is also running an upgraded Red Bull compared to Austria — but his is simply the previously improved design that Verstappen had to himself around Spielberg.
And that, my friends, is a little insight into how things work at Red Bull Racing.
⏰ 45:12 Big spin for Pierre Gasly at Copse, which is about as quick as it gets here at Silverstone.
He loses traction on the paint and swipes his Alpine round 360 degrees.
The only sign it happened is the tire smoke and flat spotted rubber.
No damage done.
The Lando Norris grandstand is already a big swathe of the trademark fluorescent yellow.
Silverstone sold that 10,000-strong stand all out incredibly quickly, and then a further 1,000 within a day!
Huge support for the best chance of a home win here. Getty Images
⏰ 52:41 Liam Lawson on the Racing Bulls team radio:
💬 'The guy needs to check his mirrors.'
The guy being Arvind Lindblad, who is the young driver in Yuki Tsunoda's Red Bull for FP1.
The other young driver getting an FP1 session here is Paul Aron, who is in Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber for this first hour of free practice. Getty Images
⏰ 54:04 I've come down to the final chicane, and there are huge cheers for Lewis Hamilton as he goes to start his first lap.
This is the first chance the British fans have got to see him in a Ferrari since his winter move.
⏰ 56:40 Do you know what I like to see? That's right. All 20 cars in a hurry to get out on track at the start of a session.
Three minutes in, and that's exactly what we've got here at Silverstone in FP1.
Lovely.
⏰ 60:00 And here is that green light. We are up and running at Silverstone with FP1!
Shall we have ourselves a first hour of free practice at Silverstone ahead of the British Grand Prix?
LET'S GO!
Green light soon… Patrick Iversen
I've returned from a wander down the pit lane a bit ago. It's starting to warm as the morning clouds make way for FP1.
I've been told not to count on that forever, though. English weather! Getty Images
Secondly, this is how it looked at Max Verstappen's Red Bull media session yesterday. I wonder what they asked him?
I jest. They asked him repeatedly about the speculation linking him with a winter switch to Mercedes — and he repeatedly declined to add anything of note in his answers.
As you were for him, Red Bull and the news agenda...
While today is the start of the track action, Thursdays are busy at these race weekends too — primarily because they are media day.
Cue a couple of things I wanted to highlight from yesterday.
One: How good are some of these arrival fits? And yes — this comment is almost exclusively directed at Lewis Hamilton…
We are about 20 minutes from seeing the 2025 F1 cars hit Silverstone for the first time this weekend.
You'll hear plenty from our correspondents and editors, both trackside and following all the action from further afield — and we very much want to hear from you too.
Whether it's a question you've always wanted answering about F1, your tips for pole position tomorrow, where Max Verstappen should be driving in 2026 or who you fancy to walk away with the silverware at the end of this season…
Get in touch — the inbox is always open. Just send your thoughts to: live@theathletic.com
I cannot wait to read and share your thoughts.
The Aston Martin drivers will be driving different specifications in first practice today, as it 'will allow us to make comparisons between the different parts,' the team has said.
Lance Stroll is running the previous specification, while Fernando Alonso has the updated one.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Brazil starlet Estevao 'ready' for Chelsea move: Palmeiras coach
Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira said he believes teenage prodigy Estevao Willian is ready to take the leap to the Premier League after he marked his farewell appearance for the Brazilian club with a goal against future employers Chelsea on Friday. Estevao, 18, scored a fantastic equaliser in the Club World Cup quarter-final between the teams in Philadelphia but could not prevent Chelsea claiming a 2-1 win thanks to a late own-goal. Advertisement He will now complete a move to the London club, finally heading to England just over a year after Chelsea agreed to pay Palmeiras a reported 57 million euros ($67.1m), including bonuses, for him. "I don't have sons, I have two daughters, but he is my son," Ferreira said after the match at Lincoln Financial Field, adding that he had exchanged words with Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca about Estevao. "I spoke before with Maresca. He is a nice coach, and I told him that they bought an amazing player but more than this they bought an amazing person. "He is an amazing player and I said that they need to take care of him and embrace him because for sure in the beginning he will make mistakes, but you saw today that he is a player with a lot of skills who can win a game on his own. He has that capacity." Advertisement Estevao was named the best player in the Brazilian league last year and has shown plenty of glimpses of his potential at the Club World Cup. Now he must try to win a place in the Chelsea team in the face of stiff competition, with Maresca having a wide array of attacking options at his disposal. "For sure he will need the support of the coach and directors because he is young and it is the first time he is leaving his country," Ferreira added. "I told him it won't be the same because the sun comes out two or three times a year, the night comes early, but I believe Chelsea have all the conditions to support him. Advertisement "He is a fantastic player and I think he is ready." - 'Huge talent' - Ferreira, the Portuguese coach who has been in charge of Palmeiras since 2020, earlier hugged Estevao in front of reporters, with the player smiling despite the disappointment of his team's exit. Maresca said: "I spoke to Estevao for the first time after the game and told him it was the perfect night because we won and he scored. "You can see he is a huge talent, a fantastic player, and the only thing for me is that when you come from South America or in general another part of the world to Europe, you need to adapt. Advertisement "So we need to help him to adapt and first of all to be happy, continue to enjoy football, but we don't have any doubt because he is such a good player that he is going to be a very important player for Chelsea." Another future Chelsea player, Jamie Gittens, was in attendance in Philadelphia with the England Under-21 international winger joining from Borussia Dortmund. "Jamie was here tonight and was on the pitch and will be with us for probably another day or two," Maresca said. "He will then go on holiday and come back when we start the new season." as/dh
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Report: Liverpool tracking Arsenal talent amid ongoing contract uncertainty
Report: Liverpool Circling as Ethan Nwaneri Contract Talks Stall at Arsenal Ethan Nwaneri's development at Arsenal has been one of the more impressive youth breakthroughs of the past season. Making 37 appearances despite starting the campaign at just 17, the midfielder showed he is capable of performing at senior level. His nine goals offered not only flair but end product, something many young attacking midfielders struggle to produce early in their careers. Advertisement However, as reported by TeamTalk, Nwaneri's contract situation remains unresolved, with his current deal set to expire in 2026. Negotiations have reportedly hit a snag, and that has alerted some of Europe's elite clubs. Among them are Premier League rivals Liverpool, who, according to journalist Graeme Bailey, are closely monitoring the situation. 'I think they're going to lose him,' Bailey claimed. 'Yeah, it's looking very, very bad for them in that area – and it's nothing to do with the finances or anything.' Bailey further stated, 'Nwaneri will be one of the most wanted players. If he gets to next summer and he hasn't signed his contract, he'll literally have his pick of clubs from around the world. He's loved around Europe. He's loved in England, you know. He will have Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City. He will have them all on his doorstep.' The idea of losing one of Hale End's most promising talents, especially with Arsenal's focus on youth under Mikel Arteta, will come as a significant concern to supporters. The club have been proactive in extending key academy contracts, including Myles Lewis-Skelly's recent agreement. But Nwaneri's case appears more complex. Guarantees Over Game-Time Central to Talks Fabrizio Romano offered an alternative perspective to Bailey's on YouTube, revealing that Arsenal are still confident of reaching an agreement. Advertisement 'Arsenal in active talks with the agents of Ethan Nwaneri,' Romano said. 'The player is really still keen on staying at Arsenal.' That sense of optimism, however, is tempered by some clear sticking points. The most significant appears to be related to assurances over playing time. 'There is some discussion to do on game-time,' Romano continued. 'Because obviously Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke… Arsenal are working on several profiles and on the player's camp they want to understand what Arsenal's plan is for [Nwaneri] before putting pen to paper.' Such a demand is not out of the ordinary for a player of Nwaneri's calibre. At 17, he has already proven he can contribute regularly in senior football. While Arteta has been willing to give young players opportunities, the ongoing pursuit of attacking reinforcements could leave the teenager questioning his place in the pecking order. Advertisement Romano concluded, 'Nwaneri is going to be one of the stories to follow in terms of new deal negotiations for Arsenal in the next days because there are still some points to clarify with the player's camp and family.' Liverpool's Youth-Focused Project an Attractive Prospect Liverpool's interest in Nwaneri is not surprising. With Arne Slot now at the helm, the Merseyside club are actively modernising their recruitment philosophy. Investing in players like Nwaneri, who can contribute immediately but also grow under a long-term project, fits their model. Liverpool's recent success in blending academy graduates with intelligent signings has enhanced their reputation among young talent. The Anfield hierarchy will see Nwaneri as someone who can add depth and flair to an evolving midfield, particularly with long-term planning in mind. Advertisement Slot's pressing system and preference for technically versatile players could make Liverpool a very appealing option should Nwaneri decide his future lies away from North London. Should Arsenal fail to secure Nwaneri's signature, the fallout would not just be about losing one talented player. It could represent a wider concern about how the club retains and develops its brightest academy prospects. The loss of such a player to a direct rival like Liverpool would sting further. Given the growing trend of top young English players seeking guaranteed pathways into first teams, Arsenal must tread carefully. Balancing first-team ambitions with developmental patience is a delicate act, especially when agents and families are increasingly involved in guiding careers. Nwaneri's performances last season suggest he is not just a developmental project but someone who is ready now. Whether Arsenal can meet his expectations in terms of role, responsibility and progression will ultimately dictate whether he signs on or chooses a different path. Photo IMAGO Advertisement Our View – EPL Index Analysis From an Arsenal fan's perspective, this situation feels uncomfortably familiar. The club has long been praised for its academy pipeline, yet too often, its brightest sparks either leave early or get marginalised by new signings. Ethan Nwaneri, for all his youth, showed the temperament and ability to handle top-level football last season. He should not be treated as a fringe player or a project. The fact that he is asking for game-time guarantees should not be controversial. It should be expected. If Arsenal truly believe in Nwaneri, then they must show it with a clear plan that includes meaningful minutes in important matches, not just domestic cups or cameos when games are already won. Losing him to Liverpool, a direct rival, would be more than just a footballing loss—it would be a symbolic one. It would reinforce the notion that Arsenal cannot retain their most exciting talents when Europe's top clubs come calling. Advertisement Mikel Arteta must be proactive here. With the right development pathway and trust, Nwaneri could be a cornerstone of Arsenal's future. The fanbase has already embraced him. Now it's time for the club to do the same—properly and publicly.
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Is Argentina vs England on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch
England take on Argentina in the first match of their two-Test series (PA Wire) Argentina host England in the first encounter of an intriguing little two-Test series. With most of his senior figures away with the British and Irish Lions, Steve Borthwick will see this as a chance to accelerate the development of some of his tourists, with opportunities given here to a number of new faces. Advertisement There are, however, some more experienced heads, including George Ford - the fly half brings up a century of caps as co-captain of the side alongside Jamie George. The Pumas have never beaten England in a series but will surely see this as an opportunity for that to change having proved again their quality by beating the Lions in Dublin a fortnight ago. Here's everything you need to know. When is Argentina vs England? Argentina vs England is due to kick off at 8.40pm BST on Saturday 5 July at the Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi in La Plata. How can I watch it? Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action, with coverage on the channels from 8.30pm GMT. A live stream will be available via Sky Go and NOW. Advertisement Team news Argentina make six changes from the side that beat the British and Irish Lions in Dublin, most notably in the halves. The uber-impressive Tomas Albornoz is out with Santiago Carreras sliding forward to No 10 from full-back, while the experienced Gonzalo Bertranou steps in for Gonzalo Garcia. The relocation of Carreras brings about a debut for Bristol's Benjamin Elizalde, who is a 21-year-old of considerable promise. In the back row, the hard-carrying Facundo Isa combines with Pablo Matera and Juan Martin Gonzalez in a trio of real prowess, and Pedro Delgado takes the place of Joel Sclavi on the tighthead. Fly hlaf Nicolas Roger could make his debut from the bench. George Ford wins his 100th cap at fly half, the playmaker again unfortunate not to be a Lions tourist but becoming just the eighth man to reach the mark for England. He's joined in co-captaining the side by another of that octet, with Jamie George stationed at hooker, while Henry Slade adds further experience in midfield. The newer faces include two starting debutants: centre Seb Atkinson has impressed for Gloucester over the last couple of seasons while rangy runner Will Muir completes an array of fine aerial operators in a back three that also includes Tom Roebuck and Freddie Steward. Advertisement On the bench, Guy Pepper is another first-capper in waiting - the Bath flanker is one of six forwards as Steve Borthwick continues to explore his forward depth. Chandler Cunningham-South's development as a lock option appears set to continue with no specialist cover for Charlie Ewels and Alex Coles among the replacements. Line-ups Argentina XV: 1 Mayco Vivas, 2 Julian Montoya (capt.), 3 Pedro Delgado; 4 Lucas Paulos, 5 Pedro Rubiolo; 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 8 Facundo Isa; 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Santiago Carreras; 11 Santiago Cordero, 12 Justo Piccardo, 13 Lucio Cinti, 14 Rodrigo Isgro; 15 Benjamin Elizalde. Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Thomas Gallo, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Santiago Grondona, 20 Joaquin Moro; 21 Simon Benitez Cruze, 22 Nicolas Roger, 23 Matias Moroni. Advertisement England XV: 1 Fin Baxter, 2 Jamie George (co-capt.), 3 Joe Heyes; 4 Charlie Ewels, 5 Alex Coles; 6 Ben Curry, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Tom Willis; 9 Ben Spencer, 10 George Ford (co-capt.); 11 Will Muir, 12 Seb Atkinson, 13 Henry Slade, 14 Tom Roebuck; 15 Freddie Steward. Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 19 Chandler Cunningham-South, 20 Guy Pepper, 21 Alex Dombrandt; 22 Jack van Poortvliet, 23 Cadan Murley.
