But after a surprising turn of events in final practice, Ferrari have suddenly thrown their name into the mix.<\/p>\n When the sound of Silverstone\u2019s engines echoed into first practice on July 4, Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari set the standard<\/a> with a 1:26.892, just 0.023 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and 0.150 ahead of Oscar Piastri.<\/p>\n Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, slotted into fourth, heralding a more competitive weekend for Maranello than expected.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> third.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n YOU MAY ALSO LIKE<\/strong>: IndyCar at Mid-Ohio Preview: Schedule, Predictions and How to Watch<\/a><\/p>\n 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<\/a> was topped by Leclerc.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, McLaren shared the podium but never quite claimed control of the sessions. And yet, their long-run pace and consistency remain formidable.<\/p>\n Silverstone tempers pace swings – cooler ambient conditions, wind and potential rain can destabilise setup, and Ferrari\u2019s chassis appears more resilient amid that variability.<\/p>\n Their repetitive Friday to Saturday frontrunning hints that their upgrades and aero balance are working in harmony with the circuit. McLaren, while consistent, haven\u2019t had the outright edge over a full sequence.<\/p>\n So, is Ferrari<\/a> a real threat? Absolutely. Their session-topping consistency via Hamilton and Leclerc across FP1 to FP3 signals more than a one-off fluctuation.<\/p>\n While McLaren\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n The weekend\u2019s key moments are coming: qualifying will reveal whether Ferrari can eclipse McLaren when it counts. But heading into Q3, there\u2019s no longer an expected McLaren monopoly – Ferrari are genuinely eyeing the weekend, and playing spoiler at their home race.<\/p>\n![\"CreditIMAGO](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/07\/imago1063570877-scaled.jpg\")
Ferrari Start Off Silverstone Weekend Strong<\/h3>\n
Ferrari Rising<\/h3>\n
The Threat Is Real<\/h3>\n