© AP
Alfa Romeo driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland steers his car during the first free practice at the Silverstone circuit, in Silverstone, England, Friday, July 1, 2022. The British F1 Grand Prix is held on Sunday July 3, 2022 – AP
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03:46 PM
‘Dangerous’ protest threat hangs over British GP
By Tom Morgan at Silverstone
Police have warned of “credible intelligence” that protesters are considering an “extremely dangerous” invasion of the Silverstone track at the British Grand Prix on Sunday.
Officers declined to state who was behind the potential stunt, but an appeal comes after four Extinction Rebellion environmental demonstrators were arrested at the circuit in 2020.
More than 400,000 people are attending the Northamptonshire circuit over three days for the fastest-selling GP in Silverstone’s history. Police went public with their concerns as first practice took place on Friday.
Chief Inspector Tom Thompson, the Northamptonshire police event commander, said: “We have received credible intelligence that a group of protestors are planning to disrupt the event and possibly invade the track on race day,” Chief Inspector Thompson said.
“First of all, I want to appeal directly to this group of people and strongly urge you to not put yourselves, the drivers, as well as the many marshals, volunteers and members of the public, at risk. Going onto a live racetrack is extremely dangerous – if you go ahead with this reckless plan you are jeopardising lives.
“Protesting is of course everyone’s human right in this country and we are more than happy to speak with you to help you facilitate a peaceful protest at the circuit, we just please ask that you do not create a situation that puts lives in danger.”
The FIA declined to comment on what protests it was expecting but police added that they “have planned an extremely wide-ranging policing operation which covers contingencies such as these and as such, extra resources will be in place throughout the race weekend should anyone ignore these warnings and try to disrupt the event”.
In 2020, a pink banner from Extinction Rebellion was seen being unfurled over sponsorship hoardings at Club Corner – the last turn. Photographs later showed the protestors, dressed in black overalls and wearing T-shirts and masks with the group’s logo, being led away from the side of the circuit.
Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle, said: “We work closely with Northamptonshire Police and the emergency service agencies to put plans and procedures in place to ensure we are fully prepared to handle such situations.” He urged fans at Silverstone “to act as our eyes and ears and report anything suspicious to a steward”.
03:25 PM
Welcome back
Second practice gets under way in a little over 30 minutes. It should be a much more interesting session than the first one as it has stopped raining and it is definitely conditions for dry tyres.
02:12 PM
Pedal cam is being trialled…
Is it effective? Is it good? I am not sure. Might be good if not overused.
POV: You’re Lando Norris’ pedals as he drives around Silverstone 
pic.twitter.com/uHGyVTxyI9
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) July 1, 2022
I’ll be back for the build-up to second practice in just over an hour or so.
02:03 PM
FP1 – Classification
- BOT 1:42.249
- HAM +0.532
- SAI +0.718
- LEC +1.552
- MSC +1.646
- ZHO +3.922
- MAG +5.912
- STR +8.994
- TSU +9.124
- VET +16.919
- RUS
- PER
- OCO
- ALO
- ALB
- RIC
- GAS
- NOR
- LAT
- VER
Nobody else set a lap time bar those 10 drivers. Not the best session to kick things off… hopefully more this afternoon.
02:01 PM
FP1 ENDS – Bottas quickest
Hamilton had just gone into second with his second hot lap on the soft tyres, 0.5s off Bottas. Almost everyone had switched to the soft tyres but most had to abort their final laps due to the red flag.
02:00 PM
RED FLAG
It’s Lance Stroll in the wall at Copse, I think., The session will not be resumed, but there was barely a minute left, anyway. Lost it at the apex and then went backwards into the gravel and then frontwards into the wall. Not an enormous amount of damage. Surprised someone else didn’t spin before him.
01:58 PM
FP1 – Hamilton into fifth
Soft tyres giving him back about 2.5s in the final sector, then. He ends up 2.549s off Bottas’s quickest lap time. A handful of cars out there now in the final minutes. Including Verstappen.
01:57 PM
FP1 – Hamilton going well after one sector on the soft tyres
The middle sector is quite wet, though. And that leaves him nearly five seconds off Bottas’s new quickest time (1:42.249) with one sector to go…
01:54 PM
FP1 – Bottas out now… and Leclerc too
Hamilton comes into the pits and goes out on a new set of soft tyres… brave.
Five minutes remain.
01:51 PM
FP1 – Not a bad lap from Hamilton so far
He is faster than the fastest lap so far today after one sector…
But is three seconds behind after two…
Looks like it has stopped raining with the sun out. Only nine minutes remain as Hamilton crosses the line to go seventh fastest, 6.5s off the pace.
01:48 PM
FP1 – We have a car on track!
It’s Lewis Hamilton. Out on the intermediates for his fourth lap. Will he set a time now?
01:47 PM
Latest: Lewis Hamilton removes nose stud ahead of British GP practice to avoid FIA punishment
Lewis Hamilton removed his nose stud ahead of the first practice session for the British Grand Prix, in a move specifically designed to avoid a ban or a fine by the FIA.
The seven-time world champion has been engaged in a lengthy stand-off with Formula One’s governing body, who have taken an uncompromising stance on drivers wearing jewellery in their cars, claiming that it can interfere with their flameproof overalls and consequently become a fire hazard.
Read more from Oliver Brown here.
01:43 PM
FP1 – 17 mins remain
Sorry, absolutely nothing to report on currently. Sometimes races are more interesting when we get limited/wet running… so let’s hope for that here.
01:38 PM
FP1 – Rain is still lightly falling out there
In fact it is probably getting a bit heavier now. Not too optimistic of much more significant running. Lewis Hamilton has, however, just gone over to the pit wall to wave to the fans.
There might not be much track action currently 
But Lewis is doing his best to cheer the crowd 
#BritishGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/zC5Zxk6YdT
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 1, 2022
01:35 PM
FP1 – 25 mins remain
A grand total of zero cars on the track…
01:34 PM
FP1 – 30 minutes remain
Can’t say this is the most gripping session I have ever seen. That’s what happens when it rains, though. Not sure we will get anyone out on dry tyres before the session ends.
© AP
Alfa Romeo driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland steers his car during the first free practice at the Silverstone circuit, in Silverstone, England, Friday, July 1, 2022. The British F1 Grand Prix is held on Sunday July 3, 2022 – AP
Most drivers have completed just one or two laps. Or, rather, one or three. Only Sainz and Bottas with more than four.
01:28 PM
FP1 – Current order and gaps
- SAI 1:42.967
- BOT +0.470
- LEC+0.834
- ZHO+3.204
- MAG+5.194
- STR +8.276
- TSU +8.406
- VET +16.201
01:24 PM
FP1 – Sainz now tops the timesheets
As the sun comes out. He leads his teammate Leclerc by 0.834s. Every driver has at least ventured onto track but only eight lap times so far.
01:20 PM
FP1 – Sainz on the radio
“It’s getting dry very quickly now so I will box,” he says.
01:17 PM
FP1 – A few more lap times now
Not sure that it is really relevant to post an order given the un-representativeness of the times and conditions. But it’s Leclerc from Stroll, Tsunoda, and then Vettel. 15 seconds separates the top four…
© REUTERS
Formula One F1 – British Grand Prix – Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Britain – July 1, 2022 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton during practic – REUTERS
01:13 PM
FP1 – 48 mins remain
Albon was not on the softs. It would have been asking for trouble. Leclerc still the only driver to have set a lap time. Everyone else just doing in and out laps so far. It has, however, brightened up.
01:10 PM
FP1 – It looks like Lewis Hamilton has taken out his nose stud for this session
It was this piece of jewellery that has been the subject of a clampdown earlier in the season, although he was given a few races’ grace until the new rule would be enforced.
Out comes Alonso on intermediates. Looks like Albon has gone out on the softs, but that could be an error on the riming screen.
01:06 PM
FP1 – Sainz says it’s greasy out there
It’s wettest at the start of the lap it appears. Copse then Maggots/Becketts/Chapel are fairly dry. Only Leclerc out on track at the moment and the only driver to have set a time so far: a 1:44.769.
It’s officially wet out there! #BritishGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/Pi0XVfXHvY
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 1, 2022
01:01 PM
FP1 – 58 minutes remain
It’s quite wet out there at the moment and Russell is told that it is expected to get wetter. Every driver of the four (two Mercedes and two Ferraris) are on the intermediate tyres.
FP1 is imminent, time for the waterproofs #BritishGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/eqrw7qMfBV
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 1, 2022
01:00 PM
GREEN LIGHT: FP1 begins
One hour… and there’s a bit of rain about. Not ideal for the teams. Russell is out early and gets a good reception for it.
12:57 PM
To be fair, I got the shuttle bus in too. It was not quick
How did you get to @SilverstoneUK today? We’re waiting for free practice at one of the fastest tracks of the #F1 season, but head of motorsport communications @MatteoBonciani likes to take the slowest way to get there… #buslife #onthebuses #Formula1life 
pic.twitter.com/cluU3Jfwx5
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) July 1, 2022
Confirmed: It is now raining at (some of) the track.
12:52 PM
And, risk of rain for the session is 100 per cent
Okay. I think it looks like there’s a bit about tomorrow, too. Just under 10 minutes to go until the session starts.
12:47 PM
From the media centre the view is a bit…
Well, it’s cloudy everywhere. Dark clouds in the distance. Are they heading to the circuit? A little different to last year when it was a scorcher.
12:44 PM
Verstappen speaks out
Notable that Nelson Piquet is the father of Verstappen’s girlfriend, Kelly.
Max Verstappen condemned the discriminatory language used towards Lewis Hamilton this week and says all the drivers are behind eliminating discrimination. pic.twitter.com/Vx1R2FjB4T
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 30, 2022
12:38 PM
Bit of rain in the session?
LATEST RADAR — Showers are beginning to develop across the country, some of which are approaching @SilverstoneUK from the west-southwest and could impact the opening practice session of the weekend.https://t.co/0eNsvpXk9J#F1 #F2 #F3 #WSeries | #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/X2NTcyLBX5
— MeteoMotorsport (@MeteoMotorsport) July 1, 2022
Hopefully not as it tends to lead to little running.
12:36 PM
A treat for later on Sunday
Sebastian Vettel is going to do a demonstration run in Nigel Mansell’s (iconic) Williams FW14B. It’s the car he owns himself, which is pretty cool.
© Rudy Carezzevoli – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images
Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Aston Martin F1 Team looks on as he sits in the Williams FW14B of Nigel Mansell in a garage during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone on June 30, 2022 in Northampton, England – Rudy Carezzevoli – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images
12:22 PM
Current constructor standings
Ferrari having such a nightmare recently that Mercedes look quite tidy by comparison.
Haas have failed to deliver on their promise and some excellent qualifying positions. Will that change here?
12:16 PM
Albon’s helmet is…
I am not sure I have the word for it.
The cat’s out the bag 
Hear from @alex_albon on his “Albon Pets” lid! 
#WeAreWilliams #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/76ryrFpR3o
— Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) July 1, 2022
Bring back classic-looking helmets, I say.
12:14 PM
Current driver standings: Top 10
12:11 PM
Breaking: Nelson Piquet racism row escalates as new Lewis Hamilton slur emerges
The racism row engulfing Nelson Piquet and Formula One escalated on Friday as it emerged he had gone on to make even more offensive comments about Lewis Hamilton on a podcast.
As Hamilton called for action against “older voices” with offensive views, reports in Brazil claimed Piquet called the Briton a “neguinho” a third time and said he was being “f—– in the a–“.
Read the full piece here from Tom Morgan.
11:59 AM
Good afternoon F1 fans
And welcome to our live coverage for first and second practice at the 2022 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. This is normally one of the races of the year on and excellent and challenging track for both the drivers and hopefully also it will be a test of the new regulation cars. It is, however, a shame that little of the pre-race talk at such an historic track like this has been about actual on-track action.
The narrative, unfortunately, has been dominated by comments that Nelson Piquet made about Lewis Hamilton at the end of last year, which have resurfaced. Without going into too much detail, you can read the latest on that sorry saga here. The entirety of F1 – or pretty much – has rallied around and supported Hamilton, which is only right. And Piquet has been banned from the paddock for his comments.
Back to the on-track stuff and this race does feel like a pivotal one for the championship. It seems a long time ago that two DNFs put Max Verstappen in a difficult position in the championship, trailing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by more than 40 points. Since Melbourne, though (Leclerc’s last win), Ferrari have faltered at nearly every opportunity. They have been quick in qualifying but reliability issues and driver mistakes have meant that Leclerc now has a 40-odd point gap to Verstappen, and with Red Bull the faster car.
Yes, it is a long season and there are many races still to go. Red Bull have also had some reliability issues of their own, but with four races in the next five weeks before the summer break, July is either going to be the month where Ferrari fell completely out of contention, or where they got themselves back into it. Let’s hope for the latter.
There’s a bit of hope around a Mercedes revival, too, which would be nice with two British drivers. I can’t see them challenging for victory but podiums could be a possibility. Hopefully the smoother circuit will lessen their bouncing issues.
First practice starts at 1pm BST with second practice at 4pm, which feels like an extremely late time to be finishing on a Friday to me. But that is where we are.
