Lando Norris avoids another Red Bull crash to top in British Grand Prix FP1

Lando Norris almost crashed into the back of Red Bull stand-in Isack Hadjar as the McLaren driver set the pace in the first practice session for the British Grand Prix.

Lando Norris looked set to suffer his second incident with a Red Bull in as many races after his contact with Max Verstappen in Austria; however, unlike the collision in Spielberg, the Brit managed to avoid hitting Isack Hadjar’s rear.

Hadjar had replaced Sergio Perez in FP1 as part of the mandate to run rookie drivers in two Formula 1 practice sessions. However, the Frenchman’s fairly smooth stint almost took an unexpected turn when he came dangerously close to being hit by Norris.

Hadjar found himself driving slowly through Turn 2 when Norris pulled up behind him on a fast lap and without realizing the McLaren driver was behind him, the Red Bull youngster stayed on the racing line.

Norris who was fast approaching, was forced to lock his brakes and take evasive action when he encountered the 19-year-old at the exit of Farm. Hadjar, who came P19 in the session, apologised on the radio for his error, which the stewards are investigating.

The two drivers were then summoned to meet the stewards at 2pm track time.

Despite the near miss, Norris set the benchmark in the opening sixty-minute practice session at the British Grand Prix, beating Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.

The 24 year old set a 1m27.420s which was enough to top sixty-minute session as his team-mate Oscar Piastri took 3rd for McLaren.

Max Verstappen ended the session in P4, albeit he was the quickest driver on the medium compound as he elected to save the softs for the remainder of the weekend.

George Russell and Lewis Hamilton confirmed the upward trajectory Mercedes have achieved recently. The two-time F1 race winner ended the session in P5, two places ahead of his seven-time world champion team-mate with both drivers setting their best times on the C2 compound.

Ferrari had three tough race weekends on the trot, and for the moment, the Scuderia appears to be slightly behind the leading trio of Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes again. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz took 8th and 9th respectively, but they did not use the soft tyres. Esteban Ocon rounded out the top ten.

Yuki Tsunoda caused an early red flag when he beached his RB in the gravel at Luffield, leaving him sidelined for the rest of the session. His team-mate Daniel Ricciardo took 13 in the other RB.

2024 F1 British Grand Prix Free Practice 1 Results