Summary

  • Russell takes pole ahead of Hamilton and Norris

  • Three Britons take first three grid slots

  • Perez out in first session after spin; Leclerc out in Q2

  • Get involved #bbcf1

Live Reporting

Alicia Turner & Lorraine McKenna

  1. Last time out in Austria

    It was Max Verstappen in the Red Bull who secured pole position last weekend at the Austrian Grand Prix.

    Lando Norris was four-tenths of a second behind with his team-mate Oscar Piastri third fastest before having his lap time deleted.

    It was a qualifying that had everyone on the edge of their seats, I have a feeling it may be a similar session this time round.

    Max Verstappen at the Austrian Grand PrixGetty Images

  2. Third practice classification

    It was an all-British top three in final practice, with George Russell first, Lewis Hamilton second, and Lando Norris going third fastest.

    It was wet for the whole session with everyone running on the intermediate tyres, meaning that the times were a bit all over the place, but we are heading into qualifying not knowing who is quickest.

    It will be a great one for British fans if qualifying ends with the same top three.

    Third practice classificationFormula 1

  3. Welcome back

    Fans at the British Grand PrixGetty Images

    Welcome back everyone. The grandstands are packed and it's smiles all round from fans despite the rainy weather. The British Grand Prix is the last of the European triple-header before heading to Hungary in a couple of weeks.

    A wet final practice ended with a Mercedes one-two with George Russell topping the timesheets and Lewis Hamilton second.

    The opening session of qualifying gets under way at 15:00 BST.

    Live commentary will be online-only via this live page. You can now enjoy our F1 coverage via most smart speakers. It’s quick and easy, all you need to do is ask BBC Sounds to play British Grand Prix qualifying, and there you go.

    Tune in to Jennie Gow, Harry Benjamin, former F1 mechanic Marc Priestley, British racing driver Sam Bird and BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson.

  4. Russell tops final practice

    Andrew Benson
    BBC F1 correspondent at Silverstone

    George RussellGetty Images

    George Russell and Lewis Hamilton completed a Mercedes one-two in a wet final practice session at the British Grand Prix.

    In cold conditions of just 11C, Russell led Hamilton by 0.015 seconds with Lando Norris’ McLaren third quickest and 0.185secs off the pace.

    Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was fourth fastest, split from team-mate Charles Leclerc by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

    McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was seventh, ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg.

    The session was wet throughout, although there track dried progressively until about 15 minutes to go when more rain started to fall.

    Hamilton, who took pole in the wet for the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race back in April at a time when Mercedes were less competitive than now, looked comfortable and for a time in the session was going fastest every time he completed a lap.

    But Russell pipped him a few minutes after Hamilton had stopped running.

    Rain is expected to continue in the gap before qualifying at 15:00 UK time, by which time the wet weather is expected to have abated.

    More rain is expected on Sunday morning.

  5. Back for qualifying at 14:15 BST

    Pierre GaslyGetty Images

    Will the sun peep through for qualifying? It's touch and go at the minute. Better keep the intermediates and full wets close by, just in case.

    Let's all go and dry off and then come back together at 14:15 BST for build-up to the fight for pole position at Silverstone.

    See you shortly!

  6. And the rest

    11. Alex Albon (Williams)

    12. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

    13. Logan Sargeant (Williams)

    14. Yuki Tsunoda (RB)

    15. Valtteri Bottas (Sauber)

    16. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

    17. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)

    18. Daniel Ricciardo (RB)

    19. Zhou Guanyu (Sauber)

    20. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

  7. Marc Priestley
    Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    We are heading into qualifying with a bit of an unknown of exactly who is quickest.

  8. Top 10

    1. George Russell (Mercedes) - 1:37.529

    2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +0.035

    3 Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.185

    4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.610

    5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.864

    6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.925

    7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +1.125

    8. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +1.411

    9. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) +1.755

    10. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) +1.811

  9. Marc Priestley
    Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    It's been a wet session, rain coming down still now, the circuit is soaking wet and everybody on the intermediate tyres for the whole session, meaning the lap times are a little bit all over the place, a difficult one to read.

  10. chequered flag

    Chequered flag

    There are waves from the little fans in the grandstands. We all have memories of being young, wet and cold at an event.

    That's your lot for practice at Silverstone. George Russell comes home quickest with a 1:37.529 on the green inters from Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

    Lando Norris finishes in third place. What odds for an all-British top three on Sunday?

  11. Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Logan Sargeant has done a really decent session currently in P12 just over a tenth off his colleague Alex Albon. Let's see if he can translate that into a Q2 appearance this afternoon.

  12. And here it is. Does it get the thumbs up?

    Williams special Union Jack liveryGetty Images

  13. Marc Priestley
    Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    A special livery [on the Williams] this weekend highlighting the names of all of the members of their team throughout the factory on display on their engine cover. A nice touch from the team.

  14. Work complete over at Red Bull as Max Verstappen rejoins the action to collect a bit more data on the intermediate compound ahead of qualifying this afternoon. The reigning world champion's latest lap time is a 1:39.952.

  15. Jennie Gow
    F1 pit-lane reporter

    There is a bit of work going on to Max Verstappen's car, they've taken the engine cover off.

  16. Weather update

    Ian Fergusson
    BBC weather forecaster

    Albeit shower risk will tend to reduce later this afternoon, this period of wet running is useful for teams given tomorrow's forecast.

    Shower risk tomorrow afternoon is currently assessed as 60%, with potential for localised heavy downpours (thunder possible). A lottery.

  17. Brrrr

    Jennie Gow
    F1 pit-lane reporter

    I can see my breath it’s THAT cold.

    Jennie GowJennie Gow

  18. Andrew Benson
    BBC F1 correspondent at Silverstone

    Fernando Alonso has not had his best few races which is not like him. Aston Martin have got some work to do with the car and Fernando, I'm sure why he's not been performing well.

  19. Lewis Hamilton is still chipping away at the laps in the Mercedes. His engineer has been in contact to say with the level of rain now they do expect the standing water to increase a little bit more.

    "Yeah," replies the seven-time world champion.

    Over at Alpine, the single car left in third practice, Esteban Ocon, is in 16th place and just about avoids the same fate of his team-mate. That gravel was definitely calling to the Frenchman.

    Lewis Hamilton at the British Grand Prix.Getty Images

  20. Top five

    1. George Russell (Mercedes) - 1:37.529

    2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +0.035

    3. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.185

    4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.610

    5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.864