McLaren on Top, Ferrari Consistent, Mercedes Searching: key takeaways from FP1 & FP2 at Silverstone

As Friday running wraps up at Silverstone, the 2025 British Grand Prix weekend is shaping up to be as tight and unpredictable as expected. With mixed conditions and strong performances across multiple teams, here’s a clear rundown of who impressed, who struggled, and what to watch next.

McLaren Lead the Charge, But It’s Not Easy

Lando Norris ended Friday fastest overall, with a 1:25.816 in FP2. He was the only driver to dip below the 1:26 mark. He looked sharp across both sessions, even in gusty conditions that caught others off guard. While Norris remains cautious in his comments, McLaren seem to have built a strong package for Silverstone.

Oscar Piastri wasn’t far behind but still has ground to make up, trailing Norris by nearly half a second in FP2. Still, his long-run pace looks promising, and McLaren’s overall consistency makes them serious contenders going into Saturday.

Ferrari: Solid Pace, Small Complaints

Both Ferraris showed solid one-lap and race pace. Leclerc and Hamilton traded strong laps, with Leclerc ending FP2 in P2, despite complaining about front-left balance. Hamilton topped FP1 and followed up with P3 in FP2, enjoying his first day at Silverstone in red with visible confidence.

The team’s recent floor upgrade continues to pay off in high-speed corners, a key advantage here. And with Ferrari often performing well in mixed conditions, they look poised to challenge for pole.

Mercedes: Hot Track, Cold Confidence

It was a mixed day for the Silver Arrows. While Russell started strong in FP1, tyre wear and balance issues reappeared in FP2. He ended the day P8, with concerns over rear grip in the heat. Kimi Antonelli, however, looked more composed as the day progressed, outpacing Russell in FP2 and finding more comfort on the softs.

The team will be hoping that cooler temperatures forecast for Saturday help settle the car, as they currently look half a step behind McLaren and Ferrari.

Red Bull: Still Off the Pace

Verstappen had a rocky day, unhappy with the balance in FP1 and struggling with understeer in FP2. He improved to P5 but never looked entirely comfortable. Tsunoda, back in the car after missing FP1, lagged behind in P15, and the team will need to work overnight to extract more pace.

The car seems sensitive to gusts and track conditions, which could become a problem if Saturday brings more wind and rain. Verstappen isn’t out of the fight, but this doesn’t look like a dominant weekend so far.

Other Notables

• Isack Hadjar continues to impress with consistent speed. He was faster than Lawson in both sessions.
• Arvid Lindblad made his F1 debut in FP1 and handled it well. No errors, tidy laps, and plenty of maturity at just 17.
• Bearman, Bortoleto, and Aron each had moments of difficulty, but valuable mileage on Friday sets the stage for a better pace in FP3.

Friday Takeaways

• McLaren vs. Ferrari is the headline battle — Norris vs. Leclerc/Hamilton for pole looks likely.
• Wind and heat made the setup tricky today. Expect shifts as temperatures drop on Saturday.
• FP1 & FP2 times matter more than usual — heavy rain is still forecast for Sunday.

Looking Ahead

Saturday’s qualifying may be dry, but the race is still predicted to be wet. Teams will now turn to long-run data and simulator work overnight to finalize setups. If McLaren hold this form, they could be favorites. But Ferrari’s consistency and Hamilton’s emotional return to Silverstone in red could tell a different story.