Mercedes protégé Russell leads ART 1-2-3-4 at Silverstone practice

Mercedes Formula 1 junior driver George Russell has gone fastest in GP3 practice at Silverstone, leading an ART 1-2-3-4 on the timesheets.

Russell set a time of 1m46.738s at the end of the session to snatch the top spot away from championship leader and Honda-backed Nirei Fukuzumi, lapping 0.361s quicker than the Japanese.

Renault academy member Jack Aitken finished third, with Anthoine Hubert fourth.

Leonardo Pulcini continued his record of placing in the top-five in every practice in 2017 above Red Bull junior Niko Kari.

The Finn’s sixth-place is his best in any session in the series this season, placing ahead of team-mate Steijn Schothorst, who finalised an Arden 5-6-7.

Ferrari-mentored Giuliano Alesi, Julien Falchero and Haas development driver Santino Ferrucci completed the top-10. Ferrucci’s time was 1.640s slower than the leader.

Haas’ other interest, Arjun Maini, finished 12th, while Sauber’s Tatiana Calderon was 14th.