Ella Lloyd made an immediate statement on Day 1 of F1 Academy in-season testing at Silverstone Circuit, topping the morning session with a commanding lap of 2:01.568.
The McLaren-backed driver looked comfortable from the outset. She edged out fellow Brit Alisha Palmowski by just 0.023 seconds, while Lisa Billard impressed with a top-three result on her first outing at the circuit.
Morning session
Running began with installation laps before Alba Larsen set the early pace. That benchmark did not last long. Lloyd quickly responded and established herself at the front as lap times rapidly dropped.
The two drivers traded improvements throughout the opening phase. Lloyd soon found another level, stringing together multiple fastest laps and dipping into the 2:01s to build a clear margin.
As the session progressed, the order tightened. Billard closed in, before Palmowski surged to the top midway through the session with a strong 2:01.591.
Lloyd, however, had the final say. She reclaimed P1 in the closing stages with her session-best effort, which remained unbeaten despite a brief red flag interruption caused by an off at Turn 11.
Behind the leading trio, Rachel Robertson secured fourth, followed by Payton Westcott. Larsen and Nina Gademan completed the top seven, with championship leader Emma Felbermayr just behind. Ava Dobson and Ella Stevens rounded out the top ten.
Afternoon session
The afternoon session of F1 Academy testing in Silverstone brought a shift in momentum. Payton Westcott emerged as the driver to beat, placing her Mercedes-backed PREMA machine at the top with a 2:01.779.
She steadily improved across the session and held firm despite late pressure. Palmowski came agonisingly close but fell short by just 0.009 seconds.
Lloyd remained firmly in contention, briefly returning to the top before settling inside the top three. Megan Bruce also impressed, making it three British drivers inside the top four on home soil. The leading quartet finished separated by less than two tenths, underlining the tight margins.
Billard continued her strong form in fifth, ahead of Larsen and Stevens. Rafaela Ferreira followed, while Dobson again secured ninth. Esmee Kosterman completed the top ten.
Looking ahead
With Day 1 complete, Lloyd’s early benchmark and Westcott’s afternoon response set the tone for a closely fought test at Silverstone Circuit.
Both drivers showed strong pace in different conditions, highlighting the depth of competition across the grid. The tight gaps at the top suggest that no single team holds a clear advantage, with multiple contenders capable of stepping forward as running continues.
Teams will now shift their focus towards longer runs, race simulations and fine-tuning their setups. Tyre management and consistency are expected to play a key role, particularly with extended track time available.
The drivers return to the circuit for Day 2 with over five hours of running ahead, offering further opportunities to gather data and build confidence. With margins already razor-thin, even small improvements could prove decisive as preparations continue for the next race weekend.
