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McLaren looked sharp out of the gate, but it was Lewis Hamilton who stole the show in FP1<\/a> – topping the session ahead of Norris and Piastri, and lighting up the home crowd with a reminder of just how dangerous he can still be when the car underneath him works.<\/p>\n Lando Norris comes into Silverstone with momentum firmly back on his side after bouncing back from that tense clash with Oscar Piastri in Spain to win the Austrian Grand Prix.<\/p>\n The McLaren driver capitalised on Max Verstappen\u2019s lap one DNF at the Red Bull Ring, and with that result, he slashed the deficit to his teammate in the championship to just 15 points.<\/p>\n Now back on home soil, Norris will be looking to put on a show in front of a passionate British crowd and keep his title push alive with another win.<\/p>\n Piastri, however, remains in control. He\u2019s taken five victories so far this year to Norris\u2019 three and will be determined to assert himself once again.<\/p>\n McLaren look to be the team to beat this weekend, with the car\u2019s performance suiting the fast, flowing corners of Silverstone, and both drivers looking sharp in practice.<\/p>\n With just a handful of points separating them and the team\u2019s recent floor upgrades working wonders, the battle between the papaya cars could reach boiling point once more.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/strong>: Mercedes Hopeful Silverstone Can Be \u201cA Strong Circuit\u201d for W16<\/a><\/p>\n There\u2019s also the small matter of Lewis Hamilton. A nine-time winner at Silverstone, Hamilton topped FP1 ahead of Norris and Piastri, raising hopes of a long-awaited return to the podium.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been 13 races since Hamilton last stood on the podium, but Ferrari have brought a strong package to his home race, and for the first time this year, the seven-time world champion looks like a genuine threat near the front.<\/p>\n If conditions turn chaotic – as they so often do at this circuit – don\u2019t rule him out of pulling off something special.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s not forget, he won the 2024 British GP – a surprising but welcomed result.<\/p>\n As for Verstappen, things have gone from bad to worse. His crash in Austria – after tangling with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli – marked his first DNF of the season, keeping him third with 61 points adrift of Piastri.<\/p>\n The Dutchman has been dogged by inconsistency and off-track speculation<\/a>, with fresh reports suggesting a potential Mercedes switch for 2026 is not off the table.<\/p>\n But this weekend is all about damage limitation. Verstappen needs a clean run, and he needs it now.<\/p>\nMomentum Shifts to Norris, but Piastri Holds the Upper Hand<\/h3>\n
Hamilton Eyes Redemption at a Circuit He\u2019s Made His Own<\/h3>\n
Speculation Swirls as Verstappen Looks to Stop the Slide<\/h3>\n