Max Verstappen led team-mate Sergio Perez in a Red Bull one-two in first practice at the British Grand Prix.

Williams driver Alex Albon was an unexpected third fastest, 0.253 seconds off the pace, an indication that other teams have not reached their ultimate potential this weekend.

Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin was the first established front-runner behind the Red Bulls in fourth.

He headed Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in fifth place by just 0.012 seconds.

Alonso was 0.668secs slower than Verstappen, who is looking for a sixth consecutive victory this weekend, with Perez 0.448secs off the benchmark set by his team-mate.

Verstappen’s pace, despite complaints from the Dutchman about a lack of grip that he said felt “like driving on ice”, confirmed the expectation pre-race that Silverstone’s high-speed swerves would emphasise the Red Bull’s advantages over the rest of the field.

Esteban Ocon put in a promising showing and set the sixth fastest time in the upgraded Alpine, which has a new front wing, ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and the McLaren of Lando Norris.

Norris, too, has a new front wing in addition to the major upgrade that improved the performance of the McLaren at the Austrian Grand Prix last weekend.

Mercedes had a difficult session. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were only 12th and 14th fastest, despite both cars being fitted with yet another new front wing as Mercedes continue to deliver upgrades aimed at returning them to a competitive position.

Russell complained that the car was “all over the place in Turns Six and Seven” as both drivers seemed to be battling with a lack of rear grip, a perennial problem for Mercedes since the start of 2022.

Mercedes did not run the soft tyre, which will have affected their positions.

The teams were having their first experience of the new Pirelli tyre, introduced for the rest of the season with a stronger construction to reduce chances of failure.

The session took place under blue skies in temperatures of close to 25C and in front of packed grandstands, with a total of 480,000 expected at Silverstone over the three days of the race meeting.

Unsettled weather with the chance of rain is expected over the weekend.

Those there will have the chance to see Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt driving in a modified Formula 2 car as filming starts for the new Apple F1 movie.

The Oscar winner, who has been practising at Silverstone in the lead up to the race, is playing a veteran racer who returns to the sport to mentor a rising young star.

Manchester United are hopeful of concluding a deal for Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana.

United boss Erik ten Hag is keen to resolve concerns over the goalkeeping situation at Old Trafford amid uncertainty over David de Gea’s future.

De Gea’s contract at Old Trafford expired at the end of last month with no agreement over a revised offer put to the former Spain international.

Onana, 27, kept eight clean sheets in 24 games in Serie A last season.

The Cameroonian also kept eight clean sheets in 13 matches in the Champions League last season – the most of any goalkeeper in the competition.

Ten Hag managed Onana at former club Ajax and the Dutchman believes the player is up to the level he demands and will easily adapt to life in the Premier League.

By contrast, Ten Hag is not convinced De Gea’s ability with the ball at his feet is up to the required standard.

Although United’s budget is limited by financial fair play restrictions, and there has still been no clarity over the club’s ownership situation, Ten Hag feels a goalkeeper and a centre-forward are attainable, particularly as departures should cover some of the cost.

Onana would become United’s second signing of the summer after midfielder Mason Mount joined the Red Devils from Chelsea for an initial £55m earlier this week.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticised the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti as the new Brazil football coach, claiming he would be better off sorting out the Italian national team’s problems.

Italian Ancelotti, who has won the Champions League a record four times as a coach, will take charge prior to the Copa America in the United States next June after honouring the final year of his contract with Real Madrid.

“I admire Ancelotti, but he has never been Italy’s national coach,” Lula told TV station SBT on Thursday.

“Why does he not resolve Italy’s problem, who did not qualify for the 2022 World Cup?” added the 77-year-old.

In the interim, Fluminense coach Fernando Diniz will be in charge of Brazil for their opening 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

“I am a fan of Diniz,” said Lula. “He has the personality, the creativity and it is he who commands the dressing room.”

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has opted for 64-year-old Ancelotti believing one of the most successful coaches in European football history will deliver them their sixth World Cup trophy but first since 2002.

The desire is even greater after bitter rivals Argentina won in Qatar last December.

Brazil were knocked out in the quarterfinals and coach Tite stepped down.

“It is very easy to coach a club in Europe with 11 international players in the team,” said Lula.

“What is difficult is to come here and to coach Corinthians (who are in danger of relegation from the top league).

“I would like to see if Ancelotti did a good job with Corinthians.”

Lula is pessimistic that no matter who the coach is they will have a tough time in the World Cup qualifiers with the present generation of Brazil players.

“The problem is not Diniz, the problem is we do not possess today the level of players we had in previous eras,” said Lula.

Ancelotti will be the fourth non-Brazilian to coach Brazil. The last was Argentine Filpo Nunez who was in charge for one game in 1965.