Max Verstappen crashes as Sebastian Vettel sets British Grand Prix pace

Championship leader fastest on Friday at Silverstone ahead of Mercedes pair Hamilton and Bottas

Championship leader Sebastian Vettel was fastest in second practice for the British Grand Prix. EPA

Drivers' championship leader Sebastian Vettel was fastest in second practice for the British Grand Prix as Max Verstappen's preparations took a dent as he crashed.

It had been Lewis Hamilton, bidding to win the race for a record sixth time, who had topped the times in first practice on Friday at Silverstone.

But the Mercedes-GP driver had to be content with second quickest in the afternoon as he could only get within 0.187 seconds of Vettel's effort of 1 minute, 27.552 seconds.

Valtteri Bottas was third fastest in the second Mercedes, ahead of Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari and the Red Bull Racing car of Daniel Ricciardo.

Verstappen spun and crashed on his first lap in the second session, leaving the Dutchman with little time now to set his car up properly for both qualifying and the race.

Hamilton has won the race the past four years, and also in 2008, and shares the record for most successes in the race's history with Jim Clark and Alain Prost.

Qualifying is at 5pm UAE time on Saturday, while the 52-lap race begins at 5.10pm on Sunday.

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