Verstappen on P3 in Silverstone third free practice

Published on 05 July 2025 by Florence Cobben

Max Verstappen has come third in the third free practice of the British Grand Prix on the Silverstone circuit. With a time of 1:25.585, the Oracle Red Bull Racing-driver was just 87-hundredths of a second slower than fastest man on track, Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) ended the session in P2. 

The track is much cooler compared to yesterday, with an air temperature of 20 degrees celsius ahead of the third and last free practice of the Silverstone weekend. It is the two Alpines, Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto, who appear first on the 5.891 meter long circuit. For a time they are the only two drivers setting times. The others, including Max, wait patiently in the pits. Only when the timer shows three quarters of an hour to go, do other cars trickle onto the track. Max heads outside on a set of soft tyres and sets a 1:26.499 time immediately after his first flying lap. This places him in second, just five-thousandths of a second behind Charles Leclerc.

Max comes into the pits for a fresh set of soft tyres and improves his time to a 1:26.166. It doesn’t promote his place in the standings – Leclerc has, in the meantime, raced to even greater heights and faster times, protecting his position in first. Max returns, after a stint of three laps, to the Red Bull garage, again to fit his car with a set of fresh soft tyres. The four-time world champion loses his streak of momentum in his next flying lap, coming up against the back of heavy traffic which prevents him from improving his time.

With just a quarter of an hour to go, Max returns to the track on a set of soft tyres. He looks to be well underway, but ultimately loses two-tenths in the last sector to Oscar Piastri, leaving the Dutchman in second. Max’s time (1:25.585) is nineteen-thousandths of a second slower than the Australian. Moments later, Leclerc speeds his way past the competition into first place.

When the timer shows eight minutes to go, a red flag is waved as a bit of Oliver Bearman’s car has flown off and onto the track. After a short intermission the session resumes. Gabriel Bortoleto continues the sudden onset of misfortune and spins at high speed through turn thirteen. The Brazilian flies over the grass, breaking his left front suspension. With the Sauber stranded in the gravel pit, another red flag is waved, effectively ending the session. Unexpectedly, Bearman has another mishap; as he comes into the pitlane, his brakes jam and he crashes into the guard rails, destroying his front wing.

The session ends with Charles Leclerc at the top of the time sheets, followed by Oscar Piastri, with Max just 0.087 seconds behind Leclerc in P3. Lando Norris finishes in fourth, with Yuki Tsunoda in fifth.

At 16:00 CEST the Silverstone Grand Prix returns for qualifying.

Contest British GP: win a by Max Verstappen signed Red Bull Racing 2025 cap!

Results third free practice Great Britain: