Horner expects tough challenge: "Hamilton will come through the field quickly"

Christian Horner saw Max Verstappen slot in behind the Mercedes, while Sergio Perez had to settle for the seventh fastest time. The Mexican driver looked very fast on the mediums, but on the red compound, he had to acknowledge the likes of AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly. Horner had hoped for more, although he is pleased that Friday's problems are all but resolved.

"I think the guys have gone a good recovery overnight," Horner said to the Sky Sports camera. Friday did not go according to plan and so it was a long night for the Austrian formation. "We had some issues to work out and I think the whole engineering team trackside and in Milton Keynes have done a strong job to make the progress we have."

Perez four-tenths slower

Verstappen will start from P2 and Perez from P6 due to Hamilton's ten-place grid penalty. "Hopefully, it puts us in a great position for tomorrow. His time on the scrubbed tyres were decent but his second was good but on the new set of the softs, it didn't come together. He said they had too much understeer in the car," explained the British boss.

Verstappen had to leave a gap to Mercedes, but things aren't looking too bad for the current number two in the World Championship. At the same time, Perez wants to creep towards a podium. "With the strategy, we picked he should make good progress. Hopefully, we can be closer in the race tomorrow then on one lap pace. The Mercedes is hooked up around here on this asphalt and Lewis will be coming quickly through the field."