Last free practice session before this afternoon’s qualifying for the British Grand Prix – home of quite a few drivers – and weather certainly does not look like we are in the middle of the summer: grey sky, raindrops and only 11 degrees.
On Friday it was Lando Norris who topped both FP1 and FP2 sessions, a promising start after a disappointing ending to what looked like a potential win last weekend in Austria.
First cars to go out for this FP3 are the two Haas, Hulkenberg coming from an impressive P4 in FP2, while Lewis Hamilton is the last one to join.
Everyone is out on Inters and it’s an early led for Yuki Tsunoda.
Not the best conditions to warm up the tyres, as we see Charles Leclerc struggling slipping out the line in the last corner and moments later it’s Pierre Gasly spinning heading into Vale.
The Alpine is very much stuck in the gravel and a red flag is called out to retrieve it from track.
Gasly was already set to start tomorrow’s Grand Prix from the back of the grid, after getting a penalty for substituting parts of the Power Units of his A524.
While cars are getting ready to rejoin the circuit with 45 minutes of running still to go, Daniel Ricciardo will meet the stewards after the session for weaving in the pitlane.
Track conditions appear still rather tricky after the restart – too slippery even for the Intermediates – and it’s not long before Valtteri Bottas spins at the Loop as he announces on the radio “I have no grip at all”.
Charles Leclerc is topping the timesheet, as we can see him struggling with oversteer from his home board, George Russell and Oscar Piastri are following behind.
As we are approaching the second half of the session, the asphalt is starting to dry out and times are improving, with Max Verstappen taking the lead.
It’s second place so far for Lewis Hamilton and third for the other Red Bull of Sergio Perez.
But times are quick to change and the 7-time-world-champion goes fastest, with Leclerc and Norris behind.
Very close pace between the two Mercedeses, with Russell taking the lead from his teammate who is now only 0.035s behind, while Carlos Sainz made his way to fifth leaving both Red Bulls behind.
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Twenty minutes to go and radios open to announce the rain that is starting to fall down.
Almost a repeat of what we have seen earlier with Gasly, this time it is Esteban Ocon locking up and managing to escape just on time not to end up into Vale.
As we head into the final minutes of running it is still the Mercedeses leading the way ahead of Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz.
Times, however, fail to improve as the chequered flag is weaved under a rainy Silverstone.
