F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix LIVE RESULTS: Qualifying latest – Hamilton dominates in FP2, Perez OUT with Covid-19 – The Sun
F1 is at Silverstone for a second week running and Lewis Hamilton will be hoping for a similar result.
The Brit showed incredible calmness in last week's British Grand Prix to win even after his tire punctured on the final lap.
Follow all the updates from the F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix below…
GOOD MORNING, FORMULA ONE FANS,
Lewis Hamilton continued his dominance of the new Formula One season.
The Brit finished fastest in second practice for the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.
Hamilton saw off Valtteri Bottas by 0.176 seconds at Silverstone after the Finn went quickest in the morning running.
Renault's Daniel Ricciardo was third in the order.
While Charles Leclerc has hit out at racist accusations he's faced for refusing to take a knee before the start of Formula 1 races.
He told Gazzetta dello Sport: “I'm against racism, I fight it and I'm glad F1 is using its platform to show the world the right way.
“But I didn't want to do that because there have been many protests all over the world associated with violence, and I don't accept any form of violence. And I don't like a civil protest to be used by politicians.”
CAR BLIMEY
Lando Norris has heaped praise on fellow Brit Lewis Hamilton, but stressed that his Mercedes has allowed him to achieve all he has in F1.
Norris said: “[Hamilton and his Mercedes team-mates] have been driving for the last few years with a massive advantage over every other team.
“Mercedes have been the best with the car, the best with the engine and that has allowed him to achieve the things he has done.
“If Lewis was in a McLaren, he wouldn’t look anywhere near as good as what he has done. Mercedes have been so dominant over the last few years, it’s not been often they have had to race many other cars.
“But I don’t think you can take anything away from him. He’s had some good team-mates, Rosberg and Bottas.
“Especially with Bottas, he has clearly had the upper hand on him the whole time they have been at Mercedes.”
DA MAN
Exclusive by George Boulton:Antonio Felix Da Costa has driven like a man possessed since Formula E's return after 158 days out.
Da Costa comfortably won the first two races since the restart and now has a whopping 68-point lead in the drivers' championship.
The Techeetah driver told SunSport how he managed to go up a gear during lockdown.
He said: “I came into Berlin and I just wanted to make sure that if we don't win it [the title], I would never blame myself for not being the best version of me.
“I trained a lot, I recovered – I am healthier than I was before the lockdown.
“For four or five years now I have been doing a double or triple motorsport programme between FE, being an F1 reserve driver, DTM and WEC.
“It's 150 flights a year and my body needed a break.
“So in a way these three months really helped me to reset, recover, get rid of pains I've had here and there.
“I've trained and I started working with a mental coach as well, so I wanted to make sure I ticked every box.
“And if we did not win in the end, I did not want to blame myself for not training.”
NOT VETTED
Sebastian Vettel has escaped another ticking off from the sport's bosses – despite getting in a car with Racing Point boss Otmar Szafnauer.
The German, who was warned about breaching F1's Covid Code of Conduct in Austria, where he was spotted talking to Red Bull team members without wearing a mask, was seen riding in Szafnauer's Ferrari.
Szafnauer's driver, Sergio Perez, only last week tested positive for Covid-19 and was forced into self isolation.
But Vettel – who has been linked a seat at the team next season – has NOT been warned about his latest blooper and the Ferrari man says he is in the clear because he wore a mask.
He said: “We were heading to the fuel station. After the fuel station he was going home and I continued going somewhere else.
“We were wearing masks… I find it a bit awkward nowadays that people make a fuss out of everything. I don't see the news in that.”
END OF FP2
Hamilton leads the way from Bottas.
Ricciardo an impressive P3 while Verstappen in P4.
Racing Point make it a 5 and 6 with Stroll and Hulkenberg.
Leclerc in 7th and McLaren's Lando Norris in P8.
Sainz in P9 and Esteban Ocon in 10th.
RED FLAG
And now we have another failure. This time it is Antonio Giovinazzi who has stopped at Turn 12 in his Alfa Romeo.
Worth pointing out at this point that he too has a Ferrari engine in that car.
The session is over.
DISASTER FOR VETTEL AGAIN
He has pulled over with an engine failure. He was only 14th in the times sheets and now has pulled over.
He's been unlucky this season and one wonders whether he will stick this season out. Vettel says it is an engine or a gearbox, “big failure in the rear of the car”.
Deary me… Things are bleak at Ferrari.
HULK LOOKING STRONG
It is easy to forget over this double-header just how little running Hulkenberg has done in this Racing Point.
A few hours on the simulator and a few runs around the track but still not an actual race.
However, he in FP2 he is keeping his teammate Lance Stroll, honest as the two are in P5 and P6.
Yes the car is quick, but he is also doing a decent job.
Could that elusive F1 podium be on for him come Sunday?
TYRES…AGAIN
Leclerc is thumping around in his Ferrari, but the right rear tyre looks in bad shape. He will have to stop soon before it comes off the rim.
As I explained in FP1, teams are chomping though these tyres at an alarming rate, which could make things tricky for them on Sunday, but more exciting for TV viewers. Strategy is going to be crucial.
A LITTLE OVER 30 MINUTES TO GO
And Daniel Ricciardo has again moved up to third in the time sheets. Renault have been off the pace for a number of years, but this could be a glimpse that they are slowly making improvements.
The Aussie was fourth last weekend in the British GP, albeit lucking in after punctures to Carlos Sainz's McLaren and Bottas.
But it is progress nonetheless. Although, also worth remembering that he is leaving Renault at the end of this year and will be replaced by Fernando Alonso.
HAMILTON NOW TOPS THE TIME SHEETS
He's popped in a time that is 0.006 seconds better than Bottas to go into P1.
Max Verstappen, who is best of the rest, is a whopping 0.577 down on Hamilton's time.
Mercedes' advantage here is still huge, hardly a surprise given there was little time in between these two races.
EARLY PACE FROM RACING POINT
It is a been a messy day for the Silverstone-based team today. Sergio Perez failed a second COVID test and now the teams are all lining up to take pop-shots over their pink Mercedes verdict.
But Nico Hulkenberg and Lance Stroll are currently P1 and P2 and the quickest two cars on track.
FP2 IS GO
The temperature is now up to 30 degrees and perhaps more representative to Sunday's conditions for the race.
This could give us a good indication as to who is quick and who isn't.
RACE STANDINGS
FIRST PRACTICE IS DONE
It is as you were. Bottas is P1 ahead of Hamilton by just 0.138 seconds.
Verstappen is 0.727 seconds behind Bottas's time, so Red Bull – along with the rest – have plenty of work to do.
Ferrari's Leclerc is almost a second off the pace as the best-placed Ferrari.
FIVE MINUTES TO GO
We have Bottas, Hamilton, Verstappen, Hulkenberg, Leclerc, Albon, Vettel, Stroll, Kvyat and Ocon.
That's the top 10.
Down the bottom, the usual candidates, the Alfa Romeos, Williams and Haas, plus Daniel Ricciardo.
THIS ALL FEELS A BIT FLAT
After last week's British GP, this 70th special race all feels rather flat.
I am over the no fans in the grandstands, but there is a distinct feeling of fatigue at Silverstone.
Would really loved to have seen this weekend turned into a two-day event – something F1 wish to trial later in the year at Mugello.
VETTEL HAS AN EXCURSION
The Ferrari man has a shocker and drifts off track. He manages to avoid any contact with the barriers but his car looks frightfully difficult to control.
As for the Mercedes, usual service resumed. Bottas and Hamilton trading places at the top of the timesheets.
TYRES PART 2
To prove the point, Alex Albon, who has done just eight laps on his soft tyres, says his rear tyres have gone.
Hardly and encouraging sign for Sunday. Maybe there will be three or more stops…
TYRES…
A quick word on the tyres this week. Remember last week at Silverstone, there were late failures for Hamilton, Bottas and Sainz.
Pirelli blamed that on team going too long on the tyre and extreme forces put upon the rubber – this is a high-speed track, lots of fast corners with the weight transferring across the car.
Well, this week, to make it different, they have brought a softer set of tyres. What does that mean? Ultimately the tyres will be even quicker, but the trade off is they are less durable.
Expect to see teams forced to make two pitstops on Sunday, especially if it is hot.
LECLERC CURRENTLY QUICKEST
It is an unlikely man at the top of the timesheets. Charles Leclerc in his Ferrari beats his teammate to go P1.
Still very early days here at Silverstone. No long runs for Lewis Hamilton or Valtteri Bottas yet.
Red Bull's Alex Albon currently in P3
WE ARE BACK AT SILVERSTONE
First practice for the Formula One's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix is soon underway.
Plenty of early news to get stuck in to.
Perez has failed his latest COVID test, so he will NOT take part and will be replaced by Nico Hulkenberg again.
Racing Point are also in the news after they were found to have illegally copied Mercedes' brake ducts from last season – an infringement in the rules.
The Silverstone-based team have been slapped with a €400,000 fine PLUS a 15-point deduction.
HULK SMASH
Nico Hulkenberg has spoke of his excitement at replacing Sergio Perez at Racing Point.
He said: “I'm excited to get going again with the team at Silverstone. Last weekend, it was a real step into the unknown having been away from the team for a few years – and driving a car I'd never driven before.
“I've learned a lot in the last week about the RP20, and I am ready to apply my experiences to this weekend. Racing at the same track again makes things a bit easier and the team has done a great job in helping me get up to speed.
“I think we can fight for points this weekend, which is definitely my goal. I also want to wish Checo all the best in his recovery.”
Racing Pont team boss, Otmar Szafnauer, added: “Nico did a really strong job last weekend after receiving a last-minute call to drive for us at Silverstone, and he proved why he was an obvious choice to stand in for Checo.
“It was a big shame he couldn't actually take the start of the race last Sunday, but the all that hard work will prove very useful for this weekend.
“We miss having Checo with us, but we wish him well and look forward to welcoming him back into the team in the near future.”
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