British Grand Prix – Free Practice 1: Lando Norris sets the fastest time, Verstappen P4

This first free practice session of the weekend at Silverstone was held with 4 rookies running, taking the place of some regular drivers. The weather conditions are cool but dry. The track is only at 22 degrees and it is 16 degrees in the air. With many new features introduced on the Mercedes, McLaren, and Haas, the drivers had a lot of measuring devices during the first laps to compare the impact of the new parts.

This first session was also an opportunity to give some track time to the rookies. So, Jack Doohan, Isack Hadjar, Franco Colapinto, and Ollie Bearman took the place of a regular driver, respectively at Alpine, Red Bull, Williams, and Haas.

Doohan had already fitted his seat to drive in Free Practice in Canada, but the Australian driver couldn’t drive due to the weather conditions in Montreal. This is therefore his first real driving session with Alpine in a Grand Prix. Jack Doohan has already taken the wheel of an F1 several times in recent months.

On the Red Bull side, it was Isack Hadjar who was driving in place of Sergio Perez. This is the third time he has taken the wheel of an F1 car, after testing the AlphaTauri last year and then the Red Bull. Unfortunately, he was not able to set a very fast time, finishing at the bottom of the session (excluding retirements). Isack Hadjar also caused a major inconvenience to Lando Norris, as the McLaren driver was on a fast lap. The Frenchman is under investigation, causing McLaren to lose a set of tires due to a huge lock-up.

2 abandonments during the session

Only Yuki Tsunoda was caught out during this session, causing a red flag. The Japanese driver lost the rear end of his Visa CashApp, freezing in the gravel trap after only 10 minutes. The session interruption cost more than 7 minutes out of the 60 available for this session.

Some reliability issues are to report, notably the retirement of Oscar Piastri in his McLaren 7 minutes before the end of the session due to a hydraulic issue. Parked right in the pit lane, the FIA preferred to close it for a few minutes to remove the McLaren.

McLaren and Aston Martin seem to be in good shape.

At the end of the first 60 minutes of practice, it is the McLarens that seem to have started the best. Norris is in P1, Piastri in P3. The team has brought a lot of new features. Aston Martin surprises with Lance Stroll in P2. Alonso is in P6, just 3 tenths behind Norris. Both Aston Martins were seen hindering Charles Leclerc, especially during a quick lap.

Only P4, Max Verstappen’s first Red Bull is three tenths off the best time set by the McLaren. Isack Hadjar could only clock the 19th fastest time, 1.8 seconds behind.

P5 and P7, the Mercedes also came here with a specific package that needs to be understood, compared, and analyzed for free practice 2, later in the day. The Ferraris are 8 and 9, without any new features here.

Alpine takes the 10th position with Ocon. His temporary teammate during this first session, Jack Doohan, sets the 17th time, 7 tenths behind his teammate. Ocon surpasses Haas, Sauber, and Racing Bulls, which seems to be a good sign despite the absence of new developments brought here.

Oliver Bearman also drove as a rookie, although he had already completed a full Grand Prix during the weekend in Jeddah, replacing Sainz Jr at Ferrari. He set the 14th fastest time, nearly 5 tenths behind his teammate, Nico Hülkenberg.

The last rookie, Franco Colapinto on the Williams, sets the 18th time, ahead of Hadjar and 4 tenths in front of his teammate, Alex Albon. The presence of this Argentine driver in Formula 1 is unprecedented in the last 23 seasons (2001).

See you at 5pm for the second practice session.

Results of Free Practice 1 for the British Grand Prix 2024