Joshua Dürsken led the pack into the Formula 2 practice at the British GP. He topped the timing sheet with a 1:58.064, leading from the Campos of Pepe Martí with a 1:58.693 and his teammate in the AIX Taylor Barnard with a 1:58.920.
Heading into the final race of the triple header, all eyes were on Ollie Bearman. The 19-year-old Brit not only heading into his home race, but his first ever Formula 1 contract. Eyes were also on the current championship leader, Paul Aron, who currently doesn’t have an affiliation with any F1 team.
The rain was falling around Silverstone, which was promising to make the practice session more challenging for the drivers.
As it Happened
One by one, the cars headed out on to the track, led by the Argentinian Franco Colapinto. Colapinto set the first fast lap with a 2:02.326 in his MP Motorsport. He was followed by the Hitech Pulse-Eight of Paul Aron, who put in a 2:05.177. However, Aron went round again, putting in three purple sectors, breaking the two minutes mark for a 1:59.526.
Verschoor in the Trident went round to do a 2:00.424, not quite breaking the 2 minute mark but getting within a second of Aron’s time.
A few cars remained in the garage, both PREMA’s opted to remain out of the wet track for the first laps of the session along with both Invicta’s and the Campos’. With Kimi Antonelli graduating straight from FRECA to F2, he has never raced in Silverstone, so this session was important for the Mercedes hopeful.
The other Trident of Roman Stanek managed to get into the 1:59’s, however he was still 0.3 tenths off of Paul Aron with a 1:59.921.
With 30 minutes remaining in the session, Aron still led from Stanek and Verschoor. Rookie champion Paul Aron, was out of the Hitech Pulse-Eight, stood on the pit wall watching on. Drivers in F2 only get a few sets of wet weather tyres, hence why seven drivers were yet to go out. Opting to save those tyres for qualifying and the two races.
Finally, with 24 minutes left, the two invicta cars went out onto the track. Bortoleto finally took a win in the Austrian feature race. However, his lap time round Silverstone was still 1.341 off the time of Paul Aron. Maini also fell short of his teammate, 1.921 off the Hitech out in front.
20 minutes to go and the PREMA cars head out around the Silverstone Circuit. Bearman took a purple middle and final sector in his PREMA car. The track was drying and the wet tyres getting faster. Bearman went fastest with a 1:59.474. His teammate was behind with a 1:59.493.
Josep María “Pepe” Martí finally went out with 15 minutes to go in the practice session. Both Campos hadn’t set a time in this session, but Martí crossed the line to go 15th, 1.842 off of the pace of the PREMAs out in front. Hadjar remained in the pit lane, yet to go out.
Pepe Martí went out for a second fast lap around Silverstone, the Spaniard taking the fastest time by 7 tenths with a 1:58.693. A sign of the dying track.
Similarly, Joshua Dürksen then crossed the line with a 1:58.064. He put himself 0.629 ahead of Martí and Bearman.
The Crossover Point
Franco Colapinto was the first driver to head out on slick tyres. The car was looking unsteady as it slid around in the water. He didn’t pit despite the instability, taking the brave option of doing a fast lap.
Colapinto’s move led to a flurry of drivers going out on the slick tyres except for Dürksen in the AIX Racing car. With rain forecast throughout the weekend, the teams wanted to get a feel of the crossover point between the wets and slicks.
Ollie Bearman took a wide run on the slicks, fighting with Victor Martins as they headed round the track. After a lap on the slicks, Bearman headed into the pits. Followed by his teammate Kimi Antonelli.
Barnard had a huge snap in the exit of Copse but keeps control of the car. Barnard was on the wet tyre, proving it was still the best tyre in the track conditions. He put in a 1:58.920 fast enough for third on the timings
O’sullivan had a quick yellow flag called as he took a run through the gravel. It was quickly a green flag as he kept the car going. Verschoor crossed the line to go second fastest, only 0.079 of Dürksen in first. Pepe Martí in the background heading through the gravel.
The chequered flag was waved, but there was a yellow flag for Franco Colapinto as he had a spin and found himself beached on the kerb and gravel after a rear lock up.
The British GP Formula 2 practice session ended with Joshua Dürsken in the AIX Racing first with a 1:58.064. Leading from the Campos of Pepe Martí with a 1:58.693 and his teammate in the AIX Taylor Barnard with a 1:58.920.
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