Ticktum leads F2 practice at home race

Six weeks after their last round, FIA Formula 2 got back on track at Silverstone as Dan Ticktum led the way in practice at his home grand prix.

The Brit, who claimed his third podium of the year in Baku last time out, was a comfortable two tenths clear of the field in his Carlin as he started the weekend in the perfect fashion under Northamptonshire sunshine.

He had to wait to set his fastest lap after two red flags halted the early running. Théo Pourchaire was the first to exit the session as he spun into the barriers at Luffield. The Frenchman is racing for the first time since fracturing his arm in Azerbaijan. Alessio Deledda also brought out the red flag after spinning and stalling at Club.

Oscar Piastri sits just five points behind championship leader Guanyu Zhou so he could reduce the gap to just one point with pole later today, he was second fastest ahead of the star of Baku, Juri Vips who won twice on the Caspian sea shore.

Richard Verschoor was the surprise name among the fastest in fourth for MP Motorsport while Ticktum’s teammate Jehan Daruvala completed the top five.

Zhou was a competitive sixth while Christian Lundgaard gave ART something to smile about in seventh, before they begin the rebuild on Pourchaire’s car.

Lirim Zendeli made it both MP cars in the top ten in eighth with Liam Lawson and Robert Shwartzman ninth and tenth.