Practice report
Formula 1 British GP
F1 British GP: Charles Leclerc outpaces McLarens in red-flagged FP3
Tiny margins mean Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull may have a realistic shot at pole position at Silverstone
Jake Boxall-Legge
Edited: Jul 5, 2025, 12:22 PM
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc headlined a twice red-flagged final Formula 1 practice session ahead of the British Grand Prix, as tiny margins among the frontrunners set the scene for a closely fought battle for pole.
Just 0.108s separated the top four as Leclerc dispatched the McLarens on his final flyer of the session, although Lewis Hamilton's final attempt to herald a five-way qualifying battle for pole was ended by a red flag for debris.
Gabriel Bortoleto then brought out the second red flag with a minute left, having suffered a snap of oversteer through Maggotts and Becketts and lost control of his Sauber - which ended in the gravel as the suspension snapped.
In a quiet opening 10 minutes to the session, following a clean-up delay to clear marbles left by the support categories, the Alpine drivers largely had the circuit to themselves to validate their overnight balance changes. Hamilton broke their deadlock with a 1m27.351s to set the early benchmark on softs.
The circuit then started to become a greater hive of activity; after Hamilton improved to a 1m26.529s on a second run, Charles Leclerc raised the game even further - finding a 0.035s advantage to set a 1m26.494s.
Max Verstappen then split the two Ferraris with a lap just 0.005s off Leclerc's opening effort, while the McLarens found themselves unable to replicate Friday's FP2 pace amid the early phases, but the papaya cars had been fuelled for multiple runs and a longer run. Norris and Piastri got closer on their second efforts on the same tyres, but Leclerc then posted a 1m25.922s to make a statement as the opening half-hour closed for business.
Verstappen took another chance and, despite traffic and his unease with his brake-bias setting, posted a lap just 0.223s off Leclerc's benchmark. This was then challenged by the two Mercedes once more; Andrea Kimi Antonelli's lap fizzled out after an explosive first sector, while George Russell grew into his own lap and put the car second overall for the time being - but still 0.2s off Leclerc.
The McLarens then found their way back after the early runs; Norris set a 1m25.606s on a new set of softs, but was nudged off the top by Piastri by a scant 0.04s.
Verstappen split the already fine margins between the McLaren duo to sit just 0.019s off Piastri's time; the low-downforce RB21 paid off well in the opening sector and on the straights, but struggled to keep the minimum speeds up through the high-speed corners.
Leclerc then posted a 1m25.498s, reclaiming top spot with just over 10 minutes to go, and Hamilton continued to whet the appetites for qualifying with a strong start to his lap - but had to abort in the final sector as the red flag was called for debris - a piece of Oliver Bearman's floor had made a break for freedom.
The session was resumed with four minutes to go, but Bortoleto's accident led to the session being called to an end with a second red flag.
Photos from British GP - Practice
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
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2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 British Grand Prix - Saturday
Formula 1
76
F1 British GP results - FP3
Main Information Additional Data Driver Info Driver Info
1
-
4
Main Information Additional Data
1
-
2
Cla Driver # Chassis Engine Laps Time Interval Tyres km/h 1 C. Leclerc Ferrari 16
Ferrari Ferrari 14
1'25.498
S 248.047 2 O. Piastri McLaren 81
McLaren Mercedes 14
+0.068
1'25.566
0.068 S 247.850 3 M. Verstappen Red Bull Racing 1
Red Bull Red Bull 14
+0.087
1'25.585
0.019 S 247.795 4 L. Norris McLaren 4
McLaren Mercedes 17
+0.108
1'25.606
0.021 S 247.734 5 Y. Tsunoda Red Bull Racing 22
Red Bull Red Bull 13
+0.606
1'26.104
0.498 S 246.302 6 O. Bearman Haas F1 Team 87
Haas Ferrari 13
+0.614
1'26.112
0.008 S 246.279 7 A. Albon Williams 23
Williams Mercedes 15
+0.621
1'26.119
0.007 S 246.259 8 G. Russell Mercedes 63
Mercedes Mercedes 13
+0.627
1'26.125
0.006 S 246.242 9 I. Hadjar Racing Bulls 6
RB Honda 14
+0.631
1'26.129
0.004 S 246.230 10 L. Lawson Racing Bulls 30
RB Honda 14
+0.758
1'26.256
0.127 S 245.868 View full results
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