Norris quickest after near-miss with Red Bull’s Hadjar and problem for Piastri · RaceFans

Lando Norris set the pace in the first practice session for the British Grand Prix with a best lap of 1’27.420 on the soft tyre compound.

It wasn’t an entirely smooth session for McLaren, however. Oscar Piastri pitted in the final 10 minutes with a suspected hydraulic problem on his MCL38.

Norris, who clashed with Max Verstappen in the previous race, ended his session with a hair-raising near-miss involving another Red Bull driver. He was forced to lock his brakes and take evasive action when he encountered Isack Hadjar at the exit of Farm. Hadjar, who took over Sergio Perez’s car for this session, apologised on the radio for his error, which the stewards are investigating.

Hadjar was part of a quartet of junior racers who appeared in the session. Four teams used the opportunity of a regular race weekend at a permanent circuit to satisfy part of their retirement to run an inexperienced driver in one of their cars. Franco Colapino made his practice debut in Logan Sargeant’s Williams, Isack Hadjar took over Sergio Perez’s Red Bull, Jack Doohan made his second appearance of the year for Alpine, this time in Pierre Gasly’s car, and recently-announced 2025 Haas F1 driver Oliver Bearman.

However it wasn’t one of the inexperienced drivers who brought the session to an early halt, but Yuki Tsunoda. The RB driver failed to catch a snap of oversteer at Luffield which sent him into the gravel trap. He spun the RB’s wheels but told his team “I’m stuck” on the radio and the session had to be stopped so the marshals could collect him.

Norris moved to the top of the times with his second run on soft tyres. Piastri led the way on the soft rubber initially but ended the session third, Lance Strolls separating him from his team mate.

With just under 10 minutes to go Oscar Piastri slowed suddenly approaching Stowe corner. He reported his power steering had stopped working and suspected an hydraulic problem. Piastri was able to roll slowly into the pit lane entrance, which was briefly closed while marshals pushed him into the lane so he could be collected by his crew.

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Max Verstappen elected not to do a run on soft tyres and ended the session fourth-fastest, three-tenths of a second off Norris’ time. George Russell also avoided the soft tyres and lapped just nine-thousandths of a second off Verstappen in his Mercedes.

Fernando Alonso concluded an encouraging session for Aston Martin in sixth….