World champion Max Verstappen is in no rush right now. The Dutchman has still got his Red Bull cap on, chatting to a member of the team at the back of the garage.

Here's Lewis Hamilton. Something for the crowd to enjoy.

Well, Lewis Hamilton is climbing back into his car, so does the seven-time world champion and Mercedes think the track is in better shape now to get some running in? Only 13 minutes of first practice left.

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

The driers are out in the pit lane to try and dry out the pit stop areas outside all the garages. I don't think it looks like it's actually raining anymore. The track is still very damp in parts. There is still a very large looming grey cloud over at least half of the circuit.

Conflab going on in the Mercedes garage. Both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell are smiling as the team are huddled around the desk.

Meanwhile, lots of other crew members in the garages are staring into space, waiting for something to happen.

Lewis Hamilton has come out to wave at the crowds to boost morale.

Not really much to sink our teeth in at this point. Luckily, the weather is improving at Silverstone. If you're in the stands, you might even be able to put your hood down.

Over 400,000 people will be cheering on the drivers and teams across the next three days at Silverstone.

Would love to know if you braved Glastonbury last week and then the British Grand Prix this weekend.

Fair to say first practice probably won’t be action packed today. The session has 26 minutes left on the clock and the track is quiet as a mouse.

Valtteri Bottas finished seventh at the Canadian Grand Prix and the Finn has put his Alfa Romeo second on the early timing sheets, four tenths off the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz with a 1:43.437.

The skies are still looking murky and grey but there are some sunny shoots trying to poke out over the 5.891km circuit.

Lando Norris hasn't got a black eye after taking a space hopper full in his mush. The McLaren man has his race helmet on and is waiting patiently to join the action.

The two Alfa Romeos are putting laps on boards, along with the Haas of Kevin Magnussen, the Aston Martin pair and Yuki Tsunoda's Alpha Tauri.

The fans are sounding the horns and clapping their hands. It can only mean one driver has entered the mix. Lewis Hamilton...

Image source, Getty Images

We haven't seen Charles Leclerc finish in the podium places for four races now; a mixture of engine issues, bad strategy calls and a grid penalty have thwarted his efforts to build on that commanding championship lead he held at the start of the season over rival Max Verstappen.

Does the Monegasque driver have high hopes for Ferrari's chances ta Silverstone? "We have have been quite strong in the past here," Leclerc told Sky Sports.

"I love this track and I've also been quite strong in the past here, so hopefully the combination of the two will make us win on Sunday.

"It's obviously a really important month before the break. We are quite far behind in the drivers' championship and we want to catch back, so these next four races are really important."

Carlos Sainz is lighting up purple in each sector on the timing screen and his efforts are rewarded with a top time of 1:42.967 on the intermediate tyres.

According to Pierre Gasly, who has just gone out in his Alpha Tauri, the rain has eased off now.

As well as Ricciardo, F1 will be birthday bumping Sebastian Vettel on Sunday too.

BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast presenter Rick Edwards said he saw the first fans queuing up for the showers at Silverstone this morning at 04:45 BST.

Worth it to feel fresh and clean for practice? Or just to do a once over with some (biodegradable) wipes and sleep in a bit longer?

Very quiet out on track at the moment as the weather doesn't quite know what to do with itself. Scratch that, a shot of the crowd shows it is lashing down.

Only Charles Leclerc in his scarlet Ferrari has a time on the board so far with a 1:43.801.

Danny Ric reassured us in a tweet that Lando was Ok. Lando begged to differ...