Sat Jul 05 10:40:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Ferrari and McLaren Shine in British Grand Prix Practice, Red Bull and Mercedes Grapple with Conditions**

Silverstone, UK – Ferrari and McLaren emerged as frontrunners after Friday’s practice sessions at the British Grand Prix, showcasing impressive pace around the challenging Silverstone circuit. Ferrari, boosted by its updated Austria floor, demonstrated its best Friday performance of the season, closely matched by McLaren’s speed.

Lando Norris in his McLaren set the fastest single-lap time, outpacing Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari by approximately 0.2 seconds. However, Max Verstappen in his Red Bull did set the fastest average in the long run simulations.

Red Bull and Mercedes struggled to varying degrees, with Mercedes particularly challenged by overheating tires in the hot conditions, with track temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius during FP2. This issue is exacerbated by the track’s fast, long corners and Pirelli’s choice of a softer tire compound compared to last year. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli struggled to manage tyre temperatures. The Mercedes team hopes for improvement as cooler temperatures are forecasted for qualifying and the race.

Verstappen’s long-run performance on medium tires was well-managed, although he was not confident that those runs were representative of the true pace of his Red Bull car. McLaren’s Norris and Oscar Piastri initially ran conservatively in the long-run simulations, while Ferrari opted for a more aggressive approach, causing tire degradation over longer stints.

The Friday results indicate a promising weekend for Ferrari and McLaren, while Red Bull and Mercedes will need to address their challenges to compete for top positions. The expected cooler temperatures and potential showers could further shake up the competitive landscape, making for an unpredictable qualifying and race.

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