London: 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 favourite. Racing Point’s Lance Stroll was third ahead of Red Bulls 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.
Perez’s positive test emerged on Thursday afternoon, and Racing Point chose Hulkenberg over Mexican Esteban Gutierrez, who as Mercedes reserve driver this weekend the team had the right to call on.
Hulkenberg, who was out of F1 after being dropped by Renault last season, was preferred because of his long experience, both in F1 and with the team, having driven for it when it was known as Force India in 2012 and 2014-16.