Rain Chaos in Silverstone: Mercedes Stuns with Russell Leading in British GP Practice
The Silverstone circuit never fails to deliver drama, and this weekend's third and final practice session for the Formula 1 British Grand Prix was no exception. As the skies opened, Mercedes seized the moment, with George Russell topping the charts and Lewis Hamilton close behind, making it a one-two finish for the Brackley-based team.
As the final practice session commenced under Silverstone's characteristic overcast canopy, George Russell set the pace with a lap time of 1:37.529 on intermediate tyres, narrowly beating Lewis Hamilton by just 0.035 seconds.
A Wet and Wild Start
Saturday morning saw significant rain, leading to the postponement of the FIA Formula 3 Sprint to the evening. But by the time FP3 rolled around, conditions had shifted from the unraceable chaos of the morning to a manageable wet track, thanks in part to the intermittent nature of British weather. However, the risks remained high, and the track was declared wet right from the start.
Earlier in the weekend, McLaren's Lando Norris had showcased blistering speed in dry conditions, but the rain-affected track conditions promised to shuffle the competitive order. Teams had no choice but to adapt quickly, with no guarantees that the upcoming qualifying session would be dry.
Early Drama: Spins and Red Flags
As soon as the session began, cars gingerly made their way onto the 3.66-mile circuit, leaving a trail of spray in their wake. Max Verstappen spun on his initial lap, highlighting the difficulties of navigating a drenched Silverstone. The session was soon interrupted by a red flag as Pierre Gasly's Alpine got stuck in the gravel at Turn 16, a mishap that underscored the treacherous conditions.
Notably, Daniel Ricciardo's decision to weave through team garages on his way back to the pit box caught the attention of race stewards, who indicated they would investigate the incident post-session.
Challenging Conditions Persist
After the brief hiatus, the session resumed with about three-quarters of an hour left. Despite the rain easing up, the track remained perilous. Valtteri Bottas had a slow spin at Village (Turn 4), and Charles Leclerc experienced a sudden oversteer at Club (Turn 18). As drivers cautiously navigated the wet twists and turns, the clock ticked down, and lap times gradually improved.
Just as teams started to find a rhythm, rain reemerged, halting any progress with under 20 minutes remaining and forcing most drivers back into the pits. Yet, Mercedes drivers Russell and Hamilton pressed on, their calculated risk securing them the top two spots.
Resilient Performances and Surprises
Friday's frontrunner, Lando Norris, proved his mettle once again, narrowly trailing the Mercedes pair by just 0.185 seconds in the challenging conditions. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen rounded out the top five, though they were notably six and eight-tenths off the leading pace, respectively.
Charles Leclerc managed a sixth-place finish, which mirrored his struggle during dry conditions on Friday. Further down the lineup, Oscar Piastri, Fernando Alonso, Sergio Perez, and Nico Hulkenberg filled out the remaining top ten positions.
With the threat of rain potentially disrupting the rest of the weekend, the final practice session has set the stage for an unpredictable qualifying and race. Mercedes' stunning performance in wet conditions has thrown down the gauntlet, promising an exciting and chaotic British GP weekend at Silverstone.