Heading into the British Grand Prix weekend, McLaren looked like the team to beat, however, Ferrari now pose an unexpected threat.
Ferrari Top Two of Three Practice Sessions at Silverstone Posing Threat to McLaren
Fresh from a strong run of form and with a car that thrives at high-speed circuits, McLaren were widely expected to dominate at Silverstone.
But after a surprising turn of events in final practice, Ferrari have suddenly thrown their name into the mix.
Ferrari Start Off Silverstone Weekend Strong
When the sound of Silverstone’s engines echoed into first practice on July 4, Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari set the standard with a 1:26.892, just 0.023 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and 0.150 ahead of Oscar Piastri.
Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, slotted into fourth, heralding a more competitive weekend for Maranello than expected.
The narrative shifted slightly in FP2, still on Friday. Lando Norris took top billing in the session, with both Ferraris following as Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton locked in P2 and P3, demonstrating consistency across conditions.
But the real statement came in FP3 on Saturday morning. Charles Leclerc sealed P1 with a 1:26.745, leaving Oscar Piastri trailing by just 0.173 seconds and Max Verstappen third.
Hamilton’s flying lap, which looked strong, was unfortunately disrupted by a red flag. However, that single-lap punch from Leclerc firmly planted Ferrari in the conversation as a true contender for both qualifying and the race.
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Ferrari Rising
What stands out? Ferrari either topped or was near the top of every practice session: FP1 with Hamilton, FP2 Leclerc and Hamilton were just behind Norris, and FP3 was topped by Leclerc.
Meanwhile, McLaren shared the podium but never quite claimed control of the sessions. And yet, their long-run pace and consistency remain formidable.
Silverstone tempers pace swings – cooler ambient conditions, wind and potential rain can destabilise setup, and Ferrari’s chassis appears more resilient amid that variability.
Their repetitive Friday to Saturday frontrunning hints that their upgrades and aero balance are working in harmony with the circuit. McLaren, while consistent, haven’t had the outright edge over a full sequence.
The Threat Is Real
So, is Ferrari a real threat? Absolutely. Their session-topping consistency via Hamilton and Leclerc across FP1 to FP3 signals more than a one-off fluctuation.
While McLaren’s race pace remains strong and Piastri heads into qualifying with championship advantage, Ferrari have both single-lap and long-run potential, enough to steal pole or challenge for the race lead.
The weekend’s key moments are coming: qualifying will reveal whether Ferrari can eclipse McLaren when it counts. But heading into Q3, there’s no longer an expected McLaren monopoly – Ferrari are genuinely eyeing the weekend, and playing spoiler at their home race.
Can Lewis Hamilton stand on the podium – and even win – for the first time in his Ferrari career on home soil?
We won’t have to wait long to find out. Qualifying is just around the corner: Saturday, July 5, 15:00 BST.
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Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Action Plus
Recording Date: 04.07.2025
