BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Press the play button at the top to listen to our commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

As always, Jack Nicholls, Jolyon Palmer, Jennie Gow and Andrew Benson will be the voices you will hear.

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer at Silverstone

Image source, Getty Images

“Crazy and wild” were the words Nico Hulkenberg used to describe the 24 hours leading up to the start of first practice on Friday after he received a call from Racing Point team boss Otmar Szafnauer asking him to stand in for Sergio Perez following the Mexican’s positive coronavirus test. “It's been very special,” Hulkenberg said, admitting to feeling the G-forces at Silverstone: "The G-force it’s tough to train for because it’s so unique, it’s so special.

"Even though I’m in decent shape, this kind of G-force, especially around here, once of the fastest high-speed tracks, in 35 degrees, the hottest day of the UK so far… I got the best of everything! My body will feel it tomorrow and the day after, but yeah, it’s obviously a huge challenge but I’m not shy of that one.”

He ended Friday seventh, just over 0.6secs off team-mate Lance Stroll, who was fastest. Hulkenberg said after practice: "You can see the huge potential, the car is massively fast. I didn't exploit the soft tyre that well, I think I have a bit more in the bag, and need to use that tyre better."But that's what we're going to work on obviously through the night, and try to get the best possible from this weekend.”

But Sergio Perez's positive test gave a chance for an old face to return as Nico Hulkenberg, dropped by Renault at the end of last season, stepped up off the substitutes' bench at the last-minute to get himself into the top 10 in both sessions.

And yesterday Sergio Perez released this video, explaining what happened.

He says: "As you know I tested positive, I'm extremely sad, one of the saddest days of my career. It shows how vulnerable we are to the virus.

"After Hungary I took a private plane towards Mexico to see my mum for two days because she had a big accident and as soon as she left hospital I was able to see her. I then came back to Europe the same way, with all the protocols in place and I got it, I don't know from where.

"I have no symptoms at all. I want to thank all the fellow drivers for the support they have given me. Certainly a tough moment but I will come back stronger from this."

Watch the full video here...

Image source, Getty Images

The biggest story before racing started this week was this one...

Racing Point's Sergio Perez has tested positive for coronavirus and will miss this weekend's British Grand Prix.

The Mexican is the first Formula 1 driver to test positive since the 2020 season made a belated start in Austria this month. Perez has gone into self-quarantine, along with all his close contacts, as per F1's track-and-trace system.

A statement from governing body the FIA said "procedures… have provided for swift containment". The statement adds that Perez's positive test "will have no wider impact on this weekend's event"

As everyone knows, sadly there are no fans in attendance at Silverstone this weekend or next because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But, let's celebrate today all your best memories from previous British GPs. Feel free to include any pictures you have taken from Silverstone too.

Tweet us your memories using #bbcf1 and tell us what made it special.

The eagle-eyed among you will notice Lando has given his twitter name an extra capital 'S'.

The reason is a very sweet one, as that is how six-year-old Eva spelt it when she won a competition to design the helmet he is wearing this weekend at Silverstone.

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer at Silverstone

Image source, EPA

A day has made quite a difference at Silverstone. After temperatures in the mid-30Cs on Friday, it was a mere 18C an hour before final practice and blue skies have been replaced by clouds white and grey. One suspects something else will change, too.

Mercedes drivers Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton were only third and fifth fastest on Friday afternoon, but no-one was really fooled. Hamilton was complaining of tricky balance in the heat and wind. “It’s not a disaster,” he said. “But it was a tricky day of driving.”

Bottas said: “The gaps are quite small and normally we can make some steps for qualifying.” But you could hear in the pauses between Bottas’ words and the small parts of his face you could see behind his mask that they were pretty sure they would be OK. “I’m not too worried,” he said. “We will focus on our thing tonight and hopefully it will be enough.”

Lance Stroll ended day one on top but what a story it would be if he ended day two on top.

Image source, F1

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer at Silverstone

Image source, Getty Images

Alexander Albon suffered a heavy crash in his Red Bull as Lance Stroll's Racing Point set the pace in second practice at the British Grand Prix.

Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton were only third and fifth, struggling with the windy conditions and balance on the 'soft' tyres.

Albon was second fastest, 0.090 seconds behind Stroll, but crashed at Stowe.

Albon has a new race engineer as Red Bull try to help the inexperienced driver cope with a difficult car.

The Anglo-Thai's crash was the umpteenth time either he or team-mate Max Verstappen have lost the rear of their car mid-corner this season as the team battle with an aerodynamic instability problem with their new design.

And these were the times from Friday morning.

Image source, F1

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Image source, Getty Images

Red Bull's Max Verstappen headed Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton in first practice at the British Grand Prix.

Verstappen was 0.474 seconds clear of the world championship leader but using a softer tyre than Hamilton, whose team start the weekend as strong favourites.

Racing Point's Lance Stroll was third ahead of Red Bull's Alexander Albon.

Nico Hulkenberg, a last-minute sub for Sergio Perez after the Mexican contracted coronavirus, was a creditable ninth on his return to F1.

The German was 0.588 seconds slower than Stroll after his position was confirmed only minutes before the session started because of the wait to confirm he did not have coronavirus.

Hello again.

Welcome to BBC Sport's coverage of third practice and then qualifying for the British Grand Prix.

As always, we will have live radio commentary just before third practice starts at 11:00 BST.

Let's catch up first with what happened in Friday's action.

On a boiling Friday at Silverstone, neither Mercedes man was the quickest in either session, there was a heavy crash for Alexander Albon, all sorts of problems for Sebastian Vettel and a fine return from the Hulk.

What will today have in store for us?