2023 British Grand Prix FP1: Verstappen leads Red Bull 1-2

Despite rain being forecast on both Saturday and Sunday, Friday afternoon produced sunny skies for the 2023 British Grand Prix’s FP1 session. First Practice got underway in perfect conditions and Max Verstappen made full use of them to top the session ahead of Serio Perez in a Red Bull 1-2.

The World Champion was a cut above the rest again as he got his weekend off to the ideal start. Behind the Red Bull’s, Alex Albon was the star of FP1, producing an incredible P3 in his Williams thanks in part to a low-drag setup. Here are all the highlights from FP1 at Silverstone!

2023 British Grand Prix FP1

One of the home favourites George Russell was the first driver to set a lap time of note but it wasn’t long before Max Verstappen flexed his muscles. Despite being on the hardest tyres, he laid down his marker with a lap time almost a second faster than anybody else in the opening exchanges.

The Ferraris continued to look fast, being Verstappen’s closest challengers along with Sergio Perez. McLaren have a chrome one-off livery this weekend for their home race and we also saw the welcome return of the pedal camera in Lando Norris’ car that was so popular here last year.

Carlos Sainz was the first car to bolt on the Soft tyres and he unsurprisingly shot to the top of the timings. Charles Leclerc set a similar lap time as Ferrari made it a 1-2 just over halfway through the session. With 16 minutes to go, Esteban Ocon surprisingly split the Ferraris with a fine lap in his Alpine.

It was only a matter of time before Verstappen reclaimed his spot at the top of the timing tree. Despite kicking up some dust in Maggots-Becketts-Chapel, the Flying Dutchman powered to a lap four-tenths faster than Leclerc. A surprise name appeared P2 in the timings though, Alex Albon producing an incredible lap in his Williams.

Russell locked up and ruined his hot lap shortly before the chequered flag fell to signal the end of the session.

Full Classification

Fernando Alonso was an impressive P4 just ahead of Leclerc. Ocon ended up P6 ahead of Sainz in the second Ferrari. Eighth was Lando Norris, with Stroll P9 and Oscar Piastri making it both McLarens in the top ten.