Britain FP1: Bottas P1 after a flurry of late activity

Valtteri Bottas topped the timesheet in the opening practice for the British GP but it was anything but representative given that only 10 drivers posted lap times in a damp squib of a practice hour.

Any suggestion that F1’s development war had slowed down was quashed in Friday’s opening practice at Silverstone as pretty much every team brought an update or three, some going big.

Williams’ Alex Albon debuted a Red Bull-styled FW44, Alpine had significantly different sidepods and Mercedes also went with a substantial update with a new front suspension, floor and sidepod inlets.

Torquing Point: Mercedes looking to build on Canada form

Torquing Point: Home drivers looking forward to the weekend

Torquing Point: British GP preview

Torquing Point: Verstappen, Red Bull can capitalise on busy schedule

Torquing Point: Upgrades coming for multiple teams

Torquing Point: Verstappen controlling the championship

As for the title contenders, Red Bull ran a new engine cover and floor while Ferrari trialled a revised undercut to their sidepods and engine cover.

The rain, though, meant the teams weren’t able to get in the running they had wanted.

Nuevo fondo para Mercedes en Silverstone

New floor for @MercedesAMGF1 in Silverstone pic.twitter.com/oK5SQizBrB

— Albert Fabrega (@AlbertFabrega) July 1, 2022

It was a very slow start to Friday’s action at the British Grand Prix with only nine drivers posting lap times in the first half of the session.

Charles Leclerc set the early pace on the intermediate tyres, the Ferrari driver clocking a 1:43.801.

His team-mate Carlos Sainz edged ahead with a 1:42.967 with Bottas up to second place ahead of Leclerc.

But with the track still wet, not quite intermediates but definitely not ready for slicks,