Leclerc tops red-flagged FP3 as margins prove tight

Charles Leclerc headlined a twice-red flagged final Formula 1 practice session ahead of the British Grand Prix, as tiny margins among the front-runners have set the scene for a close 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 trail a five-way qualifying battle for pole was ended by a debris red flag.

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, 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. But Hamilton then broke their deadlock with a 1m27.351s to set the early benchmark on softs.

The circuit started to become a greater hive of activity; after Hamilton improved to a 1m26.529s on a second run, Leclerc raised the game even further – finding a 0.035s advantage to set a 1m26.494.

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 – although the 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 cars once more; Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s lap fizzled out after an explosive first sector, while George Russell grew into his own lap and went 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 remaining, 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.

F1 British GP results – FP3