Lance Stroll set the fastest time of the first free practice session of the year for reigning team champions Prema Powerteam, ahead of Carlin’s George Russell and the consistently quick Antonio Giovinazzi.
The Ferrari junior driver edged out the rest of the field, with the top 15 all covered by less than a second, testament to just how closely matched the drivers this year are. Drivers who’ve consistently been at the front in testing retained their form, with others making improvements make for a decent fight to kick the year off.
Brandon Maïsano (FRA) set the pace in the second session, keeping Prema Powerteam on top. Teammate Felix Rosenqvist came behind him in second, with FP1 leader Lance Stroll finishing in sixth.
Times in the second session were faster overall than those of the first, with Maïsano logging a 1:51:677 compared to Stroll’s 1:52:123. Rosenqvist’s time showed that it’s not just the rookies on the pace at the historical British track, further backed up by strong times from others such as Giovinazzi and Dennis.
George Russell improved on his time, but not by enough to sustain the second place he’d held previously. Fellow rookie Charles Leclerc also improved to fifth, although not showing the same dominance he displayed on Tuesday’s tests.
FP1 Top 10
| Pos. | No | Driver | Laps | Time | Gap |
| 1 | 25 | Lance Stroll / CAN Prema Powerteam |
14 | 1:52.123 | – |
| 2 | 10 | George Russell / GBR Carlin |
16 | 1:52.136 | +0.013 |
| 3 | 3 | Antonio Giovinazzi / ITA Jagonya Ayam with Carlin |
16 | 1:52.256 | +0.133 |
| 4 | 1 | Felix Rosenqvist / SWE Prema Powerteam |
15 | 1:52.292 | +0.169 |
| 5 | 21 | Alexander Albon / THA Signature |
14 | 1:52.367 | +0.244 |
| 6 | 24 | Brandon Maisano / FRA Prema Powerteam |
14 | 1:52.448 | +0.325 |
| 7 | 2 | Jake Dennis / GBR Prema Powerteam |
14 | 1:52.504 | +0.381 |
| 8 | 7 | Charles Leclerc / MON Van Amersfoort Racing |
14 | 1:52.514 | +0.391 |
| 9 | 34 | Markus Pommer / GER Motopark |
13 | 1:52.736 | +0.613 |
| 10 | 27 | Mikkel Jensen / DEN kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport |
14 | 1:52.756 | +0.633 |
FP2 Top 10
| Pos. | No | Driver | Laps | Time | Gap |
| 1 | 24 | Brandon Maisano / FRA Prema Powerteam |
16 | 1:51.677 | – |
| 2 | 1 | Felix Rosenqvist / SWE Prema Powerteam |
15 | 1:51.743 | +0.066 |
| 3 | 10 | George Russell / GBR Carlin |
14 | 1:51.957 | +0.280 |
| 4 | 3 | Antonio Giovinazzi / ITA Jagonya Ayam with Carlin |
13 | 1:51.958 | +0.281 |
| 5 | 7 | Charles Leclerc / MON Van Amersfoort Racing |
13 | 1:51.997 | +0.320 |
| 6 | 25 | Lance Stroll / CAN Prema Powerteam |
13 | 1:52.065 | +0.388 |
| 7 | 2 | Jake Dennis / GBR Prema Powerteam |
14 | 1:52.078 | +0.401 |
| 8 | 30 | Callum Ilott / GBR Carlin |
14 | 1:52.338 | +0.661 |
| 9 | 27 | Mikkel Jensen / DEN kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport |
12 | 1:52.342 | +0.665 |
| 10 | 34 | Markus Pommer / GER Motopark |
11 | 1:52.362 | +0.685 |
