The topsy-turvy world of Formula One in 2026 continues at the opening session for the British Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton, in his Ferrari, carved out a lap that stunned the rest of the paddock as the first practice session came to a close.
The seven-time world champion was a massive six-tenths of a second ahead of his teammate as he crossed the line for his final qualifying simulation run. Yet rising star Kimi Antonelli was not done; his final push saw him close the gap to just over two-tenths of a second to the Ferrari driver.
Once again, George Russell was eclipsed by his young Italian teammate, finding himself almost seven-tenths off the pace come the checkered flag. For Ferrari to be setting the pace is a surprise for many, given they introduced an upgraded power unit last time out in Austria and were nowhere compared to Mercedes and Red Bull.
The Unprecedented Power Unit Landscape
Silverstone is an even more power-hungry track, and so expectations were that Red Bull would deliver—especially given the FIA has declared their internal combustion engine is delivering more than 2% more power than the rest of the field.
Yet Max Verstappen was almost a second slower than Hamilton in his Ferrari, with his teammate Isack Hadjar a further tenth of a second back. Nico Hulkenberg was the best of the rest outside the top four teams in his Audi, which is also believed to have improved its internal combustion engine.
Liam Lawson continued his exceptional form, rounding out the top ten in his Racing Bulls. Yet why were Ferrari so quick, when expectations were that this circuit would punish their lack of horsepower?
The Hamilton Factor and Energy Management
Firstly, if any driver can drag a car with a power deficit around Silverstone, it is Lewis Hamilton, who has won a record nine Grands Prix at his home race. Jenson Button argues that Hamilton, who famously wears his heart on his sleeve, gets an increased boost in energy from the home crowd, who cheer and stand to applaud their hero each time he comes around.
Yet with Charles Leclerc in third, clearly the Ferrari is delivering, and for a number of reasons that may not at first glance be obvious. The chassis of the SF-26 is accepted by many as the best-balanced in the 2026 field, and they have been rapidly improving in the area of energy management.
With Silverstone lacking the big stopping corners seen last time out in Austria, the cars are energy-starved of their usual hybrid power, as drivers are flat out for 80% of the lap. Mercedes, while down on Red Bull’s internal combustion engine power, has delivered a unit where their electrical energy efficiency is clearly the class of the field. However, with the reduced influence of the hybrid at the Northamptonshire circuit, their advantage in this area is somewhat nullified.
Combatting “Super Clipping”
To prevent a repeat of the scenes at the opening round in Melbourne—where drivers resorted to extreme driving techniques to harvest every last joule of electrical energy—the FIA has turned down the maximum energy the hybrids can harvest each lap, from 7.5MJ to 6.5MJ.
This has the effect of reducing the amount of time the drivers are flat out on their combustion engine while it is generating electrical energy for the hybrid systems—a phenomenon known as “super clipping.” Further, attempting to lift and coast through the high-speed corners to charge the battery is now diminished in terms of the returns it brings.
There were few onboard shots from the cars during FP1, but those few shown through the iconic Maggots and Becketts high-speed corners showed drivers deliberately not pushing flat out, even dropping down through the gears to harvest electrical power.
Williams boss James Vowles admits the current split of hybrid power at 50% of the total is completely wrong, referencing upcoming incremental changes to reduce this to 40% by 2028. However, he believes the racing this weekend should be gripping, which for the fans is the most important factor of any F1 event.
Christian Horner Breaks His Silence
Meanwhile, Christian Horner has confirmed he will return to the paddock for the first time since his sacking 48 hours after the 2025 British Grand Prix. Speaking at the European Motor Show in Dublin recently, the ex-Red Bull boss broke his silence over his F1 ambitions for the first time.
“I feel like I have unfinished business in Formula One. It didn’t finish the way that I would have liked it to finish. But I am not going to come back for just anything. I am only going to come back for something that can win,” said Horner.
He went on to explain: “I miss the sport, I miss the people, I miss the team that I built. I had 21 incredible years in Formula One. I had a great run, won a lot of races and championships, and worked with some amazing drivers, engineers, and partners. I don’t need to go back. I could stop my career now.”
Ownership Dreams Over Entry-Level Roles
Horner revealed his comeback would only happen if an opportunity arose where he could become a part-owner of an F1 team.
“I would want to be a partner, rather than just a hired hand, but we will see how it plays out. I am not in a rush. I don’t need to do anything.”
Much has been written about Horner leading a consortium to buy a 24% stake in the Alpine team. Yet, Renault Group CEO François Provost told the Press Association in Monaco last month that there are “no discussions” ongoing with the ex-Red Bull man.
Horner is unlikely to be seen working in the pit lane, although he may well be a guest of F1 given his close relationship with Stefano Domenicali, the sport’s CEO. When asked about a potential Horner return, arch-rival and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff remained deeply skeptical.
“He has broken quite a lot of glass, and these things have repercussions in our microcosm,” said Wolff. “When you say things… but that is what he has done all his life, and that is what he knows best.”
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The Judge, a nom de plume of an experienced F1 journalist and site founder with long-standing sources across the paddock. With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
At TJ13, Andrew plays a central role in shaping the site’s output, working across breaking news, analysis, and long-form features. Andrew’s responsibilities include fact-checking, refining editorial structure, and ensuring consistency in reporting across a fast-moving news cycle.
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