Charles Leclerc sets pace in final practice before British Grand Prix qualifying

Charles Leclerc was fastest ahead of qualifying. Pic: Bradley Collyer/PA

Charles Leclerc set the pace as final practice hinted at a tight battle for pole position at the British Grand Prix.

The top four cars were separated by just over a 10th of a second as Leclerc edged out McLaren’s championship leader Oscar Piastri by just 0.068 seconds.

Max Verstappen was third with Lando Norris, who trails team-mate Piastri by 15 points in the standings after victory in Austria last weekend, in fourth.

Charles holds P1 as the pace ramps up, while Lewis has to abort his lap on new softs as a red flag is brought out for debris on track 🚩 pic.twitter.com/Tr46uwRYYI

— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) July 5, 2025

Ferrari underlined the pace they showed on Friday, where seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton topped the charts in FP1.

Hamilton was on course to set the fastest time before a red flag curtailed his lap with only a couple of corners to complete, meaning he finished only 11th.

The 40-year-old has a remarkable record at his home race, winning a record nine times at Silverstone including victory in the rain last year.

He has also finished in the top three in all of his last 11 appearances here but is yet to stand on the podium in Ferrari colours.

🚩 Red Flag 🚩

BOR is in the gravel, but he's ok and out of the car.#HaasF1 #F1 #BritishGP

— TGR Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) July 5, 2025

George Russell was eighth for Mercedes.

British driver Oliver Bearman had a horrible moment at the end of the session, which had been red-flagged after Gabriel Bortoleto crashed, spinning nose-first into the wall on the entry to the pit lane.

Qualifying for Sunday’s race at Silverstone gets under way at 1500 BST.