Leclerc Sets the Pace in Rain-Affected Final Practice at Silverstone

Charles Leclerc showcased his speed by finishing as the fastest driver in the rain-affected final practice session for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Despite the arrival of heavy rain, Leclerc managed to set an impressive pace during the dry running earlier in the session. Williams’ Alex Albon secured second place, followed by Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in third, with Pierre Gasly from Alpine taking fourth and Lewis Hamilton claiming the fifth spot.

Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, who topped both sessions on Friday, finished in eighth place.

Although the one-hour practice session began under dry conditions, it didn’t take long for the predicted rain to make its appearance.

In the initial dry laps, Leclerc quickly emerged as the fastest driver, outpacing Albon by a tenth of a second.

Hamilton, who had a disappointing 15th-place finish on Friday, expressed concerns about an issue with his Mercedes car. However, the seven-time world champion managed to improve his performance on Saturday morning, finishing half a second behind the leading pace.

The forecast indicates the possibility of heavy showers persisting throughout the day, with qualifying scheduled to commence at 3pm.