What happened: Mercedes praised Kimi Antonelli following the opening practice running at Silverstone, where the young driver ran near the front of the order. Antonelli posted the second-quickest time in first practice ahead of the British Grand Prix.

Why it matters: Antonelli carries the championship lead into Silverstone after earlier wins this season, and front-running pace keeps Mercedes firmly in the title picture. A strong home-weekend result would further cement his standing at the top of the table.

What to watch: Focus shifts to sprint qualifying, with grid position on the line before the weekend's racing.