British Grand Prix: first and second practice

Summary

Bottas fastest, Hamilton 2nd as Mercedes show dominant form
Several cars spin, including Ferraris
Hamilton bidding for fifth British Grand Prix win

Live Reporting

Jamie Strickland

Thanks and bye for nowpublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 14 July 2017
Image source, Reuters
Ok, we are done and done. Andrew Benson's report is being chiseled into shape by the BBC Sport elves as we speak - you can read it right here.
As for the action on the track, well yet again we have Valtteri Bottas atop the pile. Quickest in both sessions and already a two-time race winner this season, he is very much a threat to Lewis Hamilton's hopes this weekend.
Speaking of which, Mr Benson's excellent analysis of Bottas' title credentials is also to be recommended.
We'll be back with you for FP3 coverage from 09:30 BST tomorrow, when I will be hammering away at this keyboard and m'coll Gary Rose will be out and about at Silverstone, bounding around the place in a yellow jumpsuit like a modern-day Anneka Rice.
OK, the jumpsuit part isn't true but the rest is.
See you tomorrow.
Postpublished at 14:41 British Summer Time 14 July 2017
Image source, .
BBC Radio 5 live's Jennie Gow is backing Lewis Hamilton to secure pole position tomorrow.
Do you agree with Jennie's top three? If not, make your predictions here.
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Practice starts for most of the drivers on the start grid at the moment.
Postpublished at 14:31 British Summer Time 14 July 2017
Chequered flagpublished at 14:30 British Summer Time 14 July 2017
Valtteri Bottas finishes fastest in second practice for the British Grand Prix.
Two minutes left...published at 14:28 British Summer Time 14 July 2017
No late dramas here.
Postpublished at 14:26 British Summer Time 14 July 2017
British Grand Prix alternative trackspublished at 14:25 British Summer Time 14 July 2017
#bbcf1
Image source, .
I'm loving how many of us are tooling around on Google maps this Friday afternoon.
Postpublished at 14:23 British Summer Time 14 July 2017
"The Mercedes looks to be three to five tenths up on the Ferrari on these runs," says Andrew Benson in the 5 live commentary box, before adding that he would be surprised if that was indeed the gap come race day.
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Meanwhile...published at 14:19 British Summer Time 14 July 2017
Looking for an easy-to-digest breakdown of how Britain's 10 world champions have done at the British GP down the years?
Well, you're in luck.
Postpublished at 14:16 British Summer Time 14 July 2017
Make mine a Martinipublished at 14:15 British Summer Time 14 July 2017
The chaps in the commentary box have been chatting about Minardi and, specifically, Pierluigi Martini in a Minardi.
So let's enjoy this lovely picture of him tackling Sainte Devote at Monaco in 1990.
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 14:12 British Summer Time 14 July 2017