FERRARI CONFIRMS LEWIS HAMILTON WILL BE REPLACED DURING FP1 AHEAD OF THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX..Ferrari Confirms Lewis Hamilton Will Be Replaced During FP1 Ahead of the British Grand Prix
Silverstone, England — Ferrari entered the British Grand Prix weekend under the spotlight as speculation circulated about Lewis Hamilton’s participation in the opening practice session at Silverstone. Reports suggested that the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion would be replaced during FP1, potentially giving Ferrari junior talent an opportunity to gain valuable experience in the SF-26.
However, the official Formula 1 record from the 2026 British Grand Prix tells a different story.
Hamilton did take part in the opening practice session at Silverstone and immediately demonstrated his pace. The Ferrari driver ended the one-hour session at the top of the timesheets, setting a benchmark of 1:29.260. He finished 0.213 seconds ahead of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, while Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc completed the top three.
The development is significant because Silverstone represents one of the most important races of the season for Hamilton. The British driver has enjoyed extraordinary success at his home circuit throughout his career, and the 2026 weekend carried additional attention following his move to Ferrari.
Hamilton takes control in FP1
Rather than watching from the Ferrari garage, Hamilton was at the centre of the action when the session began.
The Briton was among the first drivers to establish a competitive benchmark, initially running on hard tyres. His opening lap was a 1:34.696, before the times rapidly improved as drivers became more comfortable with the circuit.
Mercedes initially appeared competitive, with George Russell and Antonelli trading positions at the top of the order. Ferrari, however, quickly demonstrated that it had arrived at Silverstone with a competitive package.
Hamilton continued to improve throughout the session. As the teams switched to faster tyre compounds for qualifying simulations, the Ferrari driver remained at the front of the field.
His final 1:29.260 lap was enough to secure first place.
Antonelli finished second, while Leclerc placed third, giving Ferrari two cars inside the top three. Russell was fourth, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri completing the top five.
The result immediately changed the tone surrounding Ferrari’s British Grand Prix weekend.
Why the FP1 story matters
Formula 1 teams are required to give young drivers opportunities to participate in official practice sessions during the season. The purpose is to provide developing drivers with experience of modern Formula 1 machinery while allowing teams to evaluate potential future talent.
Ferrari had already used this opportunity earlier in the 2026 season.
At the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, Ferrari junior driver Dino Beganovic replaced Hamilton for FP1. Beganovic, a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, took the wheel of the SF-26 while Hamilton sat out the opening session.
Ferrari also made another rookie change at the Austrian Grand Prix, although on that occasion Charles Leclerc was the driver who gave up his FP1 seat to Beganovic.
These changes may help explain why reports about Hamilton being replaced at another Grand Prix could have emerged. Nevertheless, at Silverstone, the official session results confirm that Hamilton drove the Ferrari himself.
A strong start at Hamilton’s home race
The FP1 performance was particularly notable given Ferrari’s expectations heading into the weekend.
Silverstone is one of the fastest circuits on the Formula 1 calendar. Its long straights, high-speed corners and rapidly changing conditions place significant demands on both the car and driver.
Hamilton’s familiarity with the circuit has historically been one of his major advantages. The British driver has enjoyed numerous victories at Silverstone, making the venue one of the defining locations of his career.
In 2026, that experience appeared to remain valuable.
After FP1, Ferrari’s pace was no longer simply a talking point. Hamilton had produced the fastest lap of the session, while Leclerc was also firmly inside the top three.
The result suggested that Ferrari could play a major role throughout the weekend.
Hamilton continues his momentum
The strong FP1 showing also came during an important period of Hamilton’s Ferrari career.
The seven-time World Champion had already secured a major result earlier in the season with victory in Barcelona. That win was followed by further strong performances, giving Hamilton considerable momentum heading into his home Grand Prix.
At Silverstone, that momentum continued immediately.
Hamilton went on to claim pole position for Saturday’s Sprint, beating Antonelli by just 0.011 seconds. The result was another indication that Ferrari had produced a competitive car for the weekend.
Hamilton’s pace was therefore not limited to the opening practice session. He remained competitive when the pressure increased in Sprint Qualifying.
Ferrari’s weekend develops into a major success
The British Grand Prix eventually became one of Ferrari’s strongest weekends of the 2026 season.
Hamilton qualified third for Sunday’s Grand Prix, behind Mercedes’ Antonelli and Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc. Leclerc started second, while Hamilton lined up third on the grid.
The race itself produced an even bigger result for Ferrari.
Leclerc went on to win the British Grand Prix, while Hamilton finished third after a late Safety Car period complicated Ferrari’s strategy. George Russell ultimately finished between the two Ferraris.
That outcome meant Ferrari left Silverstone with a victory and two cars on the podium.
What the original claim gets wrong
The headline claiming that Ferrari confirmed Hamilton would be replaced during FP1 therefore needs clarification.
There was a genuine Ferrari-Hamilton FP1 replacement earlier in the season, when Beganovic drove the Ferrari in Barcelona. But at the 2026 British Grand Prix, Hamilton was not replaced during FP1.
Instead, he drove the session, set the fastest time and immediately established himself as one of the drivers to watch at Silverstone.
The official record provides a clear account: Hamilton completed FP1 with a 1:29.260, ahead of Antonelli and Leclerc. He subsequently secured Sprint pole and eventually finished third in the Grand Prix, while Ferrari team-mate Leclerc claimed victory.
For Ferrari, what began as a weekend surrounded by speculation ultimately became one of its most successful events of the season. And for Hamilton, Silverstone once again provided a stage on which he could demonstrate his speed in front of his home crowd.
