#BritishGP FP1: @Max33Verstappen leads @RedBullRacing one-two. #F1

Verstappen British GP FP1 – Reigning world champion Max Verstappen lead from team-mate Sergio Perez in a Red Bull one-two in FP1 at the British GP as Williams Racing’s Alexander Albon completed the top three.

The Red Bull driver is looking for his sixth successive victory this weekend at Silverstone, a record only completed by four other drivers, as he makes his 150th appearance for the Milton Keynes-outfit.

Despite struggling for grip in the early proceedings, Verstappen still managed to take an early lead with a 1:30.443 on the C1 white-marked hard tyres.

The Dutchman continued to improve throughout the session before swapping onto the softs with 15 minutes remaining, and Verstappen set the session topping effort of a 1:28.600 on the C3 red side-walled softer compounds and was 0.448 seconds faster than team-mate Perez with Albon a further 0.489 adrift of the Dutchman.

With several teams testing new parts for the weekend – AlphaTauri’s the most updated – the circuit was busy early during the opening free practice session.

Mercedes’ George Russell was the first to register a lap-time, posting a 1:33.471, before he was ousted by team-mate Sir Lewis Hamilton, who went nearly a second quicker.

Verstappen then took P1 for the first time as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc moved into second place, though Hamilton was rapid to grab second again on a 1:31.422.

Verstappen improved to a 1:29.863 to go 1.1 seconds clear of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll before the Ferrari duo of Leclerc and Carlos Sainz jumped in-front.

Despite being 14th in the opening 20 minutes of the session, Perez moved up into third on the harder rubber before improving to second and relegating Leclerc.

Williams Racing’s Logan Sargeant was the first driver to put on a set of softs, slotting into third place with a 1:30.327.

Sainz then followed suit on the red-marked softer tyres, taking top spot on a 1:29.357 and went 0.5 seconds faster than Verstappen.

Hamilton was struggling with over-steer with his F1 W14 entry, lacking rear grip at Club Corner as he suffered twitchiness through the apex, as Haas F1 Team’s Nico Hulkenberg suffered the same problem.

Russell also had issues, struggling with steering and vibrations at Maggotts and Becketts.

Shortly after the 30-minute mark, Leclerc went to second on the softs, posting a 1:29.418, as the Ferrari pairing lead the session on the softer rubber in-front of the Red Bull duo running on the harder tyres in third and fourth respectively.

Although Leclerc improved to a 1:29.280, he was unable to hold off the Red Bull drivers, with Verstappen reclaiming P1 with a 1:29.600 on his initial attempt on the softs.

Perez moved into second and wound up 0.448 seconds off his team-mate with Albon rounding out the top three.

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso placed fourth and ahead of Leclerc who was fifth and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon who took sixth.

Sainz, who claimed his maiden Formula 1 victory at last year’s event finished seventh in the order and ahead of home-favourite Lando Norris who ended FP1 in eighth for McLaren.

Stroll was ninth as McLaren’s Oscar Piastri completed the top ten.

AlphaTauri’s Nyck de Vries came outside the top ten in 11th place and ahead of Mercedes’ pairing Sir Lewis Hamilton and George Russell who were 12th and 14th respectively as Alpine’s Pierre Gasly split the Silver Arrows drivers in 13th.

Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas finished opening practice 15th in the classification and ahead of AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda who was 16th and Williams Racing’s Logan Sargeant who took 17th.

Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu ended FP1 in a low-18th and in-front of Haas F1 Team’s Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg who brought up the rear.

You can see the full Formula 1 Aramco British Grand Prix 2023 Free Practice 1 Results Classification at the link: https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2023/races/1214/great-britain/practice-1.html

#F1 @Aramco #BritishGP 2023 Preview. #Formula1 #BritishGrandPrix