Stroll fastest as Albon crashes in British Grand Prix practice

Racing Point's Canadian racer Lance Stroll wins the F1 British Grand Prix practice held without spectators at Silverstone circuit in Northampton, UK, July 31, 2020. /VCG

Canadian Lance Stroll led the way for the Racing Point in British Grand Prix practice on Friday while Red Bull's Thai racer Alexander (Alex) Albon crashed and brought out red flags. This Prix is being held with empty stands due to the pandemic.

German Nico Hulkenberg meanwhile signed on as Stroll's stand-in team mate after a busy 24-hour period triggered by Mexican Sergio Perez becoming the first F1 driver to test positive for COVID-19.

Racing Point's Canadian racer Lance Stroll leads during the F1 British Grand Prix practice at Silverstone circuit in Northampton, UK, July 31, 2020. /VCG

"Sergio is physically well and in good spirits, but he will continue to self-isolate under the guidelines of the relevant public health authorities, with safety the ultimate priority for the team and the sport," Racing Point said in a statement.

Stroll, whose billionaire father owns the team, lapped the former WWII airfield with a best time of one minute 27.274 seconds in front of empty grandstands with spectators not allowed due to the pandemic.

Red Bull's Thai racer Alexander Albon (C), team's racing principal Christian Horner (L) and consultant Dr. Helmut Marko talk in the garage during the F1 British Grand Prix practice session at Silverstone circuit in Northampton, UK, July 31, 2020. /VCG

Red Bull's car crashes with aerodynamic instability problem

Albon crashed in the afternoon but still ended up second overall with 0.09 seconds behind Stroll and played down the accident.

Red Bull assigned Daniel Ricciardo's former engineer Simon Rennie to help Albon cope with the car as the team has been "battling with an aerodynamic instability problem with their new design," BBC reported, citing either Albon or his teammate team-mate Max Verstappen would have lost the rear of their car mid-corner this season.

"The rear went quite quickly and I struggled to correct it," said the British-born Thai. "I thought I had it but then you get the tank-slapper as well. We'll have a look at the data and see.

"We've definitely made a step as a team. The car feels good and we expected worse to be honest.

"The car was hooked up straight away. I'm sure Mercedes are hiding quite a lot but as a car it feels well balanced."

Red Bull's Thai racer Alexander Albon driving the #23 Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB16 crashes into a track barrier during the F1 British Grand Prix practice session at Silverstone circuit in Northampton, UK, July 31, 2020. /VCG

'It's always windy at Silverstone', says Hamilton

Mercedes' six-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton led Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas to finish sixth and third fastest in the respective practice sessions, in the standings by five points after three races.

Mercedes have won all three races so far this year.

"Quite a difficult day, to be honest," said Hamilton. "It's always windy here (at the Silverstone circuit)... that's actually a good thing about this track but it's made it really tricky today with the car. The balance is not as good as I'd like.

"It's not a disaster but it's definitely been a hard day of driving."

(With input from Reuters)