Analysis | Sainz is the closest challenger to Verstappen at Silverstone

Williams surprise at Silverstone

Friday at Silverstone did provide some notable outliers. The biggest is Williams, who ended the second free practice with the third and fifth fastest time for Alexander Albon and Logan Sargeant respectively. It was already a surprise after FP1. After FP2, it could no longer be a coincidence, and Williams themselves also say it was not a glory run with low fuel. 

Friday's data also proves that. Albon and Sargeant obviously don't have the pace to challenge Verstappen for the win, but the fast one-lap run of both drivers is backed up by some strong, long-run pace.

Albon drove a 12-lap long run on the hard tyre. In doing so, the British-Thai driver recorded lap times between 1.34.0 and 1.34.9. They were consistent and fast, as the two other drivers who also appeared on the hard tyre were hardly any faster. Pierre Gasly drove an 11-lap run with times between 1.33.8 and 1.35.1 on behalf of Alpine. Lando Norris drove nine laps on the hard tyre with times between 1.33.6 and 1.34.9. Alpine and McLaren are better than Williams, but that's not yet the case this weekend.

What can explain Williams' sudden rise? Only one thing: Pirelli's new tyres. The Italian tyre supplier brought a new tyre construction for this weekend, which seems to work well for the Grove-based team.

Sainz the closest challenger to Verstappen

Verstappen is once again the best in England on Friday, but he does not seem to hold a significant advantage over the competition. Over one lap, Sainz remains within a tenth of the Dutchman; even in the long run, the two are barely distinguishable. Almost simultaneously, Verstappen and Sainz completed a long run on the soft and then the medium tyre. Verstappen is faster on average but with a slight difference. The two-time world champion recorded laps between 1.33.0 and 1.34.4 in his eight laps on the soft tyre. Sainz completed ten laps on the soft tyre with times between 1.33.3 and 1.35.1.

Sainz is also hardly inferior to Verstappen in terms of top speed. Whereas the RB19 had the advantage on the straights for much of the year, Ferrari seems to have closed that pretty well. Sainz and Verstappen reach 327 km/h in their fastest run on Friday.

Verstappen, Sainz and Sergio Perez are the big favourites for the rest of the weekend after Friday. Mercedes are struggling but cannot be ruled out yet. Over one lap, Mercedes' drivers did not even get into the top ten, but the long run shows there is more in store. Lewis Hamilton completed ten laps on the soft tyre with times between 1.33.6 and 1.34.3. The limited tyre degradation is particularly notable, and the pace is similar to Sainz's. Mercedes' top speed is a concern, though. Hamilton only reached 322 km/h in his fastest lap, but perhaps a slightly lower engine setting in the qualifying run explains the slower lap time and relatively low top speed.

Aston Martin are behind. Fernando Alonso is a second short over one lap, also reflected in the long run. The Spaniard did ten laps on the soft tyre with times between 1.34.1 and 1.34.8. Consistent, though, but also consistently slower than Sainz, Verstappen and Hamilton.

So after the first two free practice sessions, the picture does not seem much different from what it was in Austria. Verstappen is fastest, followed by a Ferrari and his teammate. Behind them, Aston Martin and Mercedes are somewhat disappointing, making them look behind to Alpine, McLaren and, surprisingly in Britain, Williams.