Mercedes Masterclass in Mixed Conditions Ahead of British GP Qualifying
Formula 1 teams faced a daunting task in the final practice session for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, with the third and last practice session marked by intermittent rain showers. However, Mercedes seemed unfazed, with George Russell leading the pack and Lewis Hamilton close behind in a one-two finish for the Brackley-based outfit. Russell’s benchmark time of 1:37.529s on intermediate tyres edged out Hamilton’s best effort by a mere 0.035s.
The third practice session, which took place under Silverstone’s characteristic overcast skies, was delayed due to significant morning rain that pushed the FIA Formula 3 Sprint to Saturday evening. While the rain subsided before FP3, conditions remained challenging, with the risk of further rain looming large.
Under the declared “wet” conditions, drivers faced a daunting task navigating the 3.66-mile Silverstone circuit. The early running saw numerous mistakes, including Max Verstappen‘s pirouette on his first lap and Pierre Gasly‘s spin into the gravel at Turn 16, prompting a Red Flag and temporarily halting proceedings. The Frenchman was the sole driver unable to post a time in FP3.
As the session progressed, drivers struggled to find pace on the damp circuit. Daniel Ricciardo was seen weaving past team garages en route to the Red Bull pit box, an action that attracted the attention of the race stewards. Ricciardo’s antics will be investigated once FP3 concludes.
Following Gasly’s incident, the session resumed with roughly three-quarters of an hour left on the clock. Conditions remained treacherous, with Valtteri Bottas experiencing a slow spin at Village (Turn 4) and Charles Leclerc holding a moment of oversteer through Club (Turn 18).
As drivers continued to circulate, mistakes were eventually ironed out, and lap times improved. However, with just under 20 minutes left in the session, the threat of rain intensified, prompting most drivers to pit and end their running. Mercedes duo Russell and Hamilton persevered, taking advantage of the mixed conditions to claim the top two spots.
Behind the Mercedes duo, Lando Norris finished best of the rest, lapping just 0.185s off the ultimate pace in the wet Silverstone conditions. Carlos Sainz and Verstappen completed the top five, six and eight-tenths off the top spot respectively.
The session’s wet conditions seemed to pose a greater challenge for some teams, as evidenced by Ferrari‘s Leclerc, who could only manage 9th place, 0.9 seconds off the pace.
This session served as a crucial learning experience ahead of qualifying, where teams must navigate the ever-changing conditions at Silverstone.
In the midst of an eventful session, Mercedes proved that their pace in mixed conditions could be the key to securing a crucial pole position. Will this momentum translate to success in Formula 1 qualifying and the subsequent British GP? Stay tuned for Formula 1 news, Formula 1 standings, Formula 1 tyres, and more!
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