Max Verstappen silenced the British fans by seeing off McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to put his Red Bull on pole position at Silverstone.
Verstappen did not look to be in the hunt for first place, but he pulled a brilliant lap out of the bag to beat Piastri by 0.103 seconds with Norris third, 0.118 seconds adrift.
George Russell took fourth for Mercedes, one place ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who had dared to dream of a first pole position for Ferrari, but ended up two tenths off the pace. Charles Leclerc qualified sixth in the other Ferrari.
Verstappen was only fourth after the opening runs in Q3 at a gusty and overcast Silverstone, and complained his Red Bull was difficult to drive. However, when it mattered most the four-time world champion came from nowhere to take top spot - his first pole since Miami at the beginning of May.
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F1 BRITISH GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES
- The race starts at 3pm (BST) on Sunday
- Max Verstappen on pole position for British GP; Piastri 2nd; Norris 3rd
- Click HERE for the starting grid
- Piastri leads Norris by 15 points in the world champioinship
- PREVIEW: Lewis Hamilton returns to Silverstone in last chance saloon for first Ferrari year
British Grand Prix Start Time: 3 p.m. BST
16:44
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Olivia Hicks
The British Grand Prix will start on Sunday, 6 July at 3 p.m. BST.
Russell post-quali: "Anything other than sunshine"
17:05
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Olivia Hicks
George Russell, who finished fourth ahead of Lewis Hamilton, shared his thoughts post-qualifying session on Saturday.
“Very happy, we’ve been off the pace all weekend. I was not expecting to be in the fight for a good position,” the British driver said. “My last lap really came alive, mega strong, to be 20 milliseconds behind the front row is a good result.”
When asked where his main battle is this weekend, Russell said: “A bit everywhere to be honest. Recent form shows we probably won’t be the strongest tomorrow but looking a bit cooler, it can go anyway. We have to be alert to it.”
The Mercedes driver is hoping for “anything other than sunshine, which is a shame to say! I was really happy with that. It’s been a tough weekend for the pace.”
Zak Brown on Verstappen-Mercedes rumors: "There's something going on there"
16:55
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Olivia Hicks
McLaren CEO Zak Brown didn’t think that Max Verstappen’s pole performance answers the questions surrounding his future at Red Bull.
“Doesn’t necessarily answer that,” Brown said. He then said that if you ask both of his McLaren drivers where they will be next year, you would get definite answers.
“There’s something going on there,” Brown said in response to Verstappen dodging questions of where he will race in the future. Verstappen was linked to Mercedes by Sky Sports Italy.
F1 weather forecast: Rain in the air for British Grand Prix on Sunday
16:35
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Olivia Hicks
F1 next heads back to the scene of the sport’s first ever race 75 years ago as Silverstone hosts the British Grand Prix and round 12 of the 2025 season.
Lando Norris secured a vital and much-needed win last time out in Austria, thwarting a challenge from McLaren teammate and championship rival Oscar Piastri. The Australian driver’s lead is now 15 points after the first 11 races.
Charles Leclerc picked up the final podium place for Ferrari, while Max Verstappen retired after being hit by Kimi Antonelli. Verstappen’s future at Red Bull has been the topic of much discussion this week - the Dutchman has been linked with a move to Mercedes, potentially replacing arch rival George Russell in 2026.
Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, finished fourth in Austria and will be eyeing his first podium for Ferrari as he takes to his home track for the first time in red. Hamilton memorably won last year’s race, his ninth victory at Silverstone.
Prepare for whatever tomorrow might bring by reading up on the weather report:
McLaren CEO clarifies "rules of engagement" for Silverstone Sunday
16:33
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Olivia Hicks
“Get the guy in front of you,” Zak Brown, McLaren’s CEO, said post-quali when asked about the papaya rules of engagement for tomorrow’s race. “Race each other hard and clean.”
Verstappen: "It was good enough"
16:30
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Olivia Hicks
In response to his pole lap that left commentators slack-jawed, Max Verstappen said it was “good enough.”
The four-time champion said it “tricky out there” with the wind but that he was “happy of course. It’s a big boost for our team.”
When asked if he was in a position to take on McLaren and keep them behind, he responded realistically: “Difficult to say.”
Piastri says he was "happy with the first lap"
16:26
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Olivia Hicks
Finishing qualifying Saturday in second, Oscar Piastri had a qualified response to his performance: “I was happy with the first lap. The first lap was mega.”
Piastri pointed to where he could improve, like not overdoing it and going over the limit. “It’s fine margins as we know.”
"Not the top but still a good day," Norris says post-quali
16:23
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Olivia Hicks
“Good qualifying. I’m not going to be unhappy with third,” Lando Norris said post-qualifying session. “Not the top but still a good day.”
Norris finished third and said the team would be focusing on “the little things” and pointed to how close Q1 was.
“I think it’s going to be fun... an interesting Sunday.”
British Grand Prix starting grid
16:15
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Olivia Hicks
1. Max Verstappen
2. Oscar Piastri
3. Lando Norris
4. George Russell
5. Lewis Hamilton
6. Charles Leclerc
7. Fernando Alonso
8. Pierre Gasly
9. Carlos Sainz
10. Kimi Antonelli*
11. Yuki Tsunoda
12. Isack Hadjar
13. Alex Albon
14. Esteban Ocon
15. Liam Lawson
16. Gabriel Bortoleto
17. Lance Stroll
18. Ollie Bearman**
19. Nico Hulkenberg
20. Franco Colapinto
*Antonelli received a three-place grid penalty for colliding with Verstappen at the Austrian GP
**Bearman received a 10-place grid penalty for a red flag infringement in third practice
Verstappen takes pole at Silverstone
16:14
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Olivia Hicks
MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES POLE AT SILVERSTONE!!! #F1 #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/EhPn2Uoo2z
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 5, 2025
Verstappen claims Silverstone pole in magical qualifying lap
16:13
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Olivia Hicks
With his fourth pole of the season, Verstappen went against all odds to claim pole in a magical lap with a 1:24.892 time.
Pole position projection is 1:24.8 as Norris and Piastri battle it
16:10
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Olivia Hicks
Norris and Piastri battle, swapping purple sectors while Hamilton sets fastest first sector.
Verstappen remains in pit lane while everyone else takes the track
16:08
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Olivia Hicks
With just two minutes left in Q3, Verstappen lags behind in the pits.
The top contenders head into the pits before pole-deciding performance
16:06
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Olivia Hicks
The cars are back in the garages before a final shoot-out for pole position. Leclerc, who topped FP3 earlier today, sits in fifth and will look to take on his teammate, both McLarens and Verstappen for pole.
Piastri's purple performance as Hamilton splits McLarens
16:03
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Olivia Hicks
The championship leader goes all purple and leads Q3 with a 1:24.995 time ahead of both Hamilton and Norris.
Verstappen trails behind and complains about the car being “difficult.”
Q3 begins as Antonelli hit with three-place grid penalty
16:01
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Olivia Hicks
As he enters Q3, Antonelli is hit with a three-place grid penalty for tomorrow’s race.
Just as Alonso predicted, Antonelli received a penalty after driving “crazy,” as Aston Martin claimed.
"No!" - Albon frustrated over Q2 performance
15:58
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Olivia Hicks
“No! Totally different car,” Albon yelled over the radio following his Q2 performance that put him in 14th place ahead of grand prix Sunday tomorrow in Silverstone,
Ferrari leads McLaren and Verstappen ahead of final quali shoot-out
15:56
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Olivia Hicks
Hamilton and Leclerc go into Q3 leading Norris, Verstappen and Piastri as the three teams battle it out for the prized pole position in Silverstone.
Both Williams exit qualifying in Q2
15:54
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Olivia Hicks
Sainz leads the group of five dropping out of the race for pole, followed by:
12. Tsunoda
13. Hadjar
14. Albon
15. Ocon
Hamilton sets blistering pace when he needs it most
15:50
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Olivia Hicks
Hamilton leads Leclerc by four-hundredths of a second as Q2 comes to an end and both Ferraris show a blistering and unexpected pace.
Norris, Verstappen and Piastri all on out lap
15:48
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Olivia Hicks
All three top drivers are on their out laps as they fight for a Q3 entry, while Hamilton is in drop zone.
With five minutes to go, cars head back on track for final push
15:47
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Olivia Hicks
The cars line up and the green light shines as the 15 carbon fibre machines crawl out of the pit lane to set a final lap time.
"What's Antonelli doing," Alonso asks in Q2
15:45
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Olivia Hicks
Alonso claimed that Antonelli was driving “crazy” on track.
“What’s Antonelli doing,” Alonso asked. The Aston Martin driver then said, lightheartedly, that the rookie would get a penalty and it was good for his own race chances.
Norris snags Q2 lead from rival Verstappen
15:43
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Olivia Hicks
Norris sets a new benchmark time of 1:25.231 and leaps ahead of Verstappen and Piastri.
1:25.316 is the time to beat, Piastri and Verstappen set identical times
15:41
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Olivia Hicks
Verstappen sets the benchmark while Piastri sets an identical time. It’s not often you see that!
Verstappen takes the track first in Q2
15:38
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Olivia Hicks
Red Bull is eager to put a time on the leaderboard in the second qualifying session as Max Verstappen whips out of his garage to start the session.
"I struggled a bit with the grip," Colapinto says after Q1 exit
15:36
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Olivia Hicks
After Franco Colapinto’s car spun off track in Silverstone, he said that he had a difficult time finding grip amid slippery conditions.
“Tough quali. I struggled a bit with the grip at the beginning... I lost the car unfortunately,” the Alpine driver said. “As a team, we are just trying to make everything better.”
"I have no idea what happened," Lawson Q1 exit
15:32
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Olivia Hicks
Despite VCARB’s positive start to the weekend, Liam Lawson didn’t make it through to Q2.
16. Lawson
17. Bortoleto
18. Stroll
19. Hulkenberg
20. Colapinto
Sainz moves out of Q1 exit danger
15:29
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Olivia Hicks
Sainz sat in the danger zone in 16th but jumped up to 8th and is safe for now, along with Gasly in 15th.
Verstappen tops Q1 with 1:25.886
15:27
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Olivia Hicks
Verstappen leads the first qualifying session, causing the McLarens and Ferraris to sweat. Meanwhile, Bearman’s penalty obviously is only fueling him to be faster as he takes third.
"More slippery," Hamilton reports
15:26
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Olivia Hicks
“The track is definitely not the same, more slippery,” Hamilton said. He currently is in 7th.
However, other drivers are improving and there is clearly grip on the track despite slick conditions.
Piastri first on track as rain intensifies
15:23
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Olivia Hicks
Piastri is the first on track exiting the pit lane and clearly eager to keep his Q1 lead.
He is also providing a weather update.
“Some drops in the pit lane, seems like it might be worse than before,” Piastri says.
Watch Colapinto's huge moment in Q1
15:21
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Olivia Hicks
Here's the moment Colapinto went off #F1 #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/SZRKRBPhJ2
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 5, 2025
Green flag: Q1 session resumes
15:20
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Olivia Hicks
The track is clear after a “red flag due to minor barrier repair and track cleaning at T18 and car retrieval,” according to the FIA.
With just under seven minutes to go, drivers will only have time for one push lap to make it into the next qualifying session. It will be a traffic jam with no one wanting to end up in the rear!
"Just stay calm," Russell tells Mercedes pit wall
15:18
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Olivia Hicks
Ahead of the red flag-inducing incident, George Russell took the time to tell his pit wall to “stay calm” as he prepared to take his push lap.
Red flag break: Who is at risk?
15:16
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Olivia Hicks
The last five drivers currently are:
16. Bortoleto
17. Ocon
18. Hulkenberg
19. Colapinto
20. Gasly
Red flag flies while Colapinto loses the car
15:13
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Olivia Hicks
Through Club Corner, Franco Colapinto has a massive slide off track as his car goes into the wall. He was able to continue to drive his car but is now parked with just under seven minutes left in Q1.
Hamilton fails to set solid lap
15:10
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Olivia Hicks
Nine-time Silverstone winner Lewis Hamilton could only make it to sixth in his first push lap around.
Piastri leads Q1 ahead of Verstappen and Alonso as Hulkenberg has big mistake
15:09
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Olivia Hicks
Verstappen’s momentary lead didn’t last long as Piastri jumped ahead with a 1:26.002 lap. Norris lags behind in fourth behind a shock performance from Alonso.
Albon hits purple sectors as back of the pack teams take the track first
15:05
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Olivia Hicks
Albon takes the top of the charts in Q1 as six drivers set times so far.
Rain reported with a 30 percent chance in Q1
15:04
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Olivia Hicks
Race control has reported the chance of rain is 30 percent across the first qualifying session. Pierre Gasly echoed the chances with saying there is “some drizzle” over the radio.
And we're off: British GP qualifying begins
15:01
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Olivia Hicks
The British GP qualifying session has begun.
As Ferrari and McLaren fight for pole, weather conditions remain cool (19 C) and an only slightly warmer track temp means it’s anyone’s qualifying to claim.
Stake is the first car to take the track as rookie Gabriel Bortoleto begins the session.
Could VCARB be the "best of the rest" during qualifying Saturday?
14:54
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Olivia Hicks
VCARB brought unexpected pace this weekend, out-performing Red Bull in FP1 and finishing ahead of Yuki Tsunoda in FP2.
Red Bull pushed back in FP3, but Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson still finished in the top 10. VCARB bring a challenge to Williams and Haas.
The two are certainly ones to watch with just five minutes to go until qualifying.
Umbrellas go up in the crowds as ever-changing weather remains uncertain
14:50
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Olivia Hicks
Light rain seems to be sprinkling the grandstands as the track temperature drops with just 10 minutes to go until qualifying.
While the track tarmac is currently dry, the crowds (and pit crews) are preparing for uncertain weather conditions that could shake up tyre strategy and the race starting order come Sunday.
Haas' Silverstone upgrades bring hope amid Bearman penalty
14:46
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Olivia Hicks
Amid Ollie Bearman’s 10-place grid penalty, Haas has significant upgrades this weekend that see the team picking up the pace.
Ahead of the weekend, Bearman told F1 the upgrades will “push us in the correct direction.”
The weekend is already bittersweet for the young British driver as his penalty looms while he races in the place he first watched the sport trackside 10 years ago.
The grandstands are filling up in Silverstone ahead of quali
14:42
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Olivia Hicks
As FP3 bleeds into qualifying, the grandstands are full of passionate fans — some more than others.
Safe to say, he's a Lando superfan! #F1 #BritishGP @McLarenF1 pic.twitter.com/oD3fQJQ8P2
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 5, 2025
As McLaren prepares to fight for pole, Zak Brown clears up teammate rumors
14:39
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Olivia Hicks
As Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are about to fight for pole in Silverstone, they also are battling it out in the championship. But McLaren CEO Zak Brown said that doesn’t mean the two can’t be good teammates and friends.
“Obviously, both of them want to win, but I see no reason why, knowing the personalities and the way they race, they can’t remain very good teammates,” Brown said.
The two had a clean on-track fight last weekend after Norris crashed into Piastri in Canada.
How to watch the British Grand Prix qualifying
14:33
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Olivia Hicks
Settle in, because the action is about to begin.
There’s less than 30 minutes until cars take the track for quali.
Learn where you can watch here:
Ferrari is the one to beat in British GP qualifying
14:26
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Olivia Hicks
Against all odds, Ferrari brought pace to Silverstone this weekend. The team’s upgrades last weekend gifted Leclerc a second-place qualifying position while Hamilton trailed behind in fourth.
Leclerc rounded out the podium in Austria behind the McLarens while Hamilton finished fourth. Going into the upcoming qualifying session with Leclerc topping FP3 and Hamilton leading FP1, the prancing horse team offers a real threat.
Despite Antonelli's "massive moment" in FP3, he is one to watch
14:21
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Olivia Hicks
Ahead of qualifying on Saturday, keep an eye on Kimi Antonelli. Despite the rookie Formula 1 driver saying he had a “massive moment” through turn 12 in the third practice session and finishing in P14, he managed to cruise to P3 at one point and goes into qualifying with a blistering pace.
British GP qualifying odds!
14:19
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Kieran Jackson
British Grand Prix pole position:
- Lando Norris - 6/4
- Oscar Piastri - 2/1
- Lewis Hamilton - 7/1
- Charles Leclerc - 8/1
- Max Verstappen, George Russell - 10/1
- Kimi Antonelli - 50/1
- Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar - 80/1
- Fernando Alonso - 100/1
Watch Bearman's penalty-inducing FP3 moment
14:15
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Olivia Hicks
Ollie Bearman clatters into the barriers on the pit entry
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 5, 2025
Catch up with all the key action from FP3 ⤵️#F1 #BritishGP
Bearman hit with 10-place grid penalty ahead of Sunday's British GP
14:11
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Olivia Hicks
Ollie Bearman has been handed a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday’s British Grand Prix after crashing in red flag conditions in practice.
The 20-year-old, competing in his first F1 home race, lost control of his Haas car upon entering the pit-lane in the final practice session on Saturday.
Bearman’s car spun into the wall, though he did manage to drive it back to his garage.
However, given the incident took place in red flag conditions where car control is paramount, the stewards have dished out a severe penalty for Bearman’s race on Sunday.
The Haas driver also received four penalty points, taking his total up to eight. Twelve in one year triggers a race ban.
Read more:
The British GP through the years: Get to know your Silverstone history
14:09
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Olivia Hicks
With just under an hour to go until qualifying, here are some quick facts ahead of the highly-anticipated session:
- Silverstone participated in the first F1 championship round in 1950, where King George VI was in attendance.
- Ten different Formula 1 drivers from Great Britain have won on home soil.
- Lewis Hamilton holds the record for the most pole positions and most wins, seven and nine respectively.
- There’s a pretty high chance of a safety car being deployed here (88 percent), especially with the rainy weather characteristic of the track. However, the chance of a Virtual Safety Car is low — only 13 percent.
Stay tuned for more updates ahead of qualifying. Start time is 15:00 local time.
Can Hamilton do it again?
13:55
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Olivia Hicks
Lewis Hamilton won this time last year in Silverstone in an emotional fight to the checkered flag, 1.4 seconds ahead of rival driver Max Verstappen.
But a question looms ahead of this weekend: Can he do it again?
Last year’s top four looks a lot like this year’s (minus Charles Leclerc). In 2024, both McLarens finished third and fourth with Oscar Piastri trailing behind Lando Norris.
With just 15 points separating Piastri from Norris, the latter will attempt to use his hometown advantage and leap ahead in the standings.
If Hamilton can pull through to the front of the grid, he will gain vital points in Ferrari’s battle to compete with the best.
Watch Bortoleto's FP3-ending moment ahead of qualifying
13:40
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Olivia Hicks
Gabriel Bortoleto goes flying off track after a moment at Maggotts #F1 #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/rmBGhjBOwI
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 5, 2025
Amid Mercedes' surge of pace, Verstappen reports overshadow the British GP weekend
13:34
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Olivia Hicks
On a weekend where Mercedes should be celebrating its newfound pace in FP3, the reports of a Max Verstappen move overshadow the grand prix festivities.
This past week, Sky Sports Italy reported that the Red Bull driver was in advanced talks with Mercedes.
But Verstappen deflected any talk: “I’m going to say no, because if I say yes, people will make up headlines again, and that’s not what I want,” the Dutch driver said on Thursday when asked if he could imagine driving for a different team.
Verstappen added that the plan and goal has always been to stay with one team throughout his career. Red Bull echoed this goal.
Lewis Hamilton returns to Silverstone in last chance saloon for first Ferrari year
13:26
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Olivia Hicks
If you’d told Lewis Hamilton four months ago, amid the hoopla of Formula One’s biggest-ever driver move, that he would be “hoping and praying” for a strong result at his beloved Silverstone, he’d likely have laughed you out of the room. Either that or he’d have rolled his eyes. Take your pick.
After all, this was the seven-time F1 world champion moving to the fabled Ferrari. A driver in need of rejuvenation after three years of frustration at Mercedes was joining a team seemingly on the up, having come within a whisker of last year’s constructors’ title. Everything seemed perfectly aligned. With the whole world watching, what could possibly go wrong?
Well, come race 12 and the halfway stage of the 2025 season, the answer is unavoidable: pretty much everything.
Just under two hours until qualifying begins
13:12
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Olivia Hicks
Get your popcorn ready because in just under two hours, a fast-paced show will begin on the big screen.
Four teams threaten to take first place away as Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes shave the margins separating them from one another.
The big question remains: Who will take pole?
Will it be George Russell bringing hope for his future and shutting down Verstappen-to-Mercedes rumors? Will it be Lando Norris as he attempts to shrink the championship points between his teammate ahead? Will it be Lewis Hamilton turning nine wins at Silverstone into 10?
Or will it be a sneaky, unexpected outlier?
Find out as the qualifying action starts at 15:00 local time.
Tsunoda stuns with FP3 performance
13:03
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Olivia Hicks
Red Bull’s second seat is no easy feat for any driver. With constant comparisons to Max Verstappen and a revolving door of drivers thrown in and out of the spot, the No. 2 role is just as career-ending as it is career-making.
However, Yuki Tsunoda found some rhythm this weekend with floor updates and a fresh pace. The Japanese driver rounded out FP3 with a fifth-place finish, 0.519 seconds behind his teammate. It was a clear improvement from 15th in Friday’s FP2 session.
Tsunoda is set up to have a better performance than last weekend. At the Austrian GP, the Red Bull driver didn’t make it out of Q1 in quali, lined up P18 for the start and was slapped with a 10-second time penalty. He ended the race in last place.
The good news for Tsunoda is that it seems he can only go up from here.
The moment Oliver Bearman hit the barriers
12:44
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Olivia Hicks
And to round off a hectic end to the session, Ollie Bearman hits the barriers entering the pits #F1 #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/mncqKOmIiR
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 5, 2025
FP3 top 10: Leclerc on top and Hamilton in 11th
12:43
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Olivia Hicks
1. Charles Leclerc
2. Oscar Piastri
3. Max Verstappen
4. Lando Norris
5. Yuki Tsunoda
6. Oliver Bearman
7. Alex Albon
8. George Russell
9. Isack Hadjar
10. Liam Lawson
Another rookies goes off: Bearman hits the wall as FP3 ends
12:40
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Olivia Hicks
Oliver Bearman loses his front wing as he crashes into the wall. A relatively quiet FP3 ended in chaos with two F1 rookies damaging their cars ahead of qualifying.
Bortoleto in the gravel, ends session with red flag
12:37
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Olivia Hicks
Gabriel Bortoleto’s green and black race car is facing the grandstands in the high-speed Becketts corner. With a snap, the Stake driver ran over the grass, breaking the suspension and flying into the gravel.
“I’m okay but the suspension is broken,” Bortoleto said over the radio.
RED FLAG
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 5, 2025
No sooner do we start and Gabriel Bortoleto has brought the session to the end
He's out of the car and okay #F1 #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/Tb94710ryH
Green flag flies: FP3 restarts at 12:31
12:31
,
Olivia Hicks
With just under five minutes left of British Grand Prix practice, the green flag flies and the cars — in a traffic jam — all rush to get back on