GP2 Series frontrunners
Lewis Hamilton and
Nelson Piquet Jr turned their first 'real' laps with their respective
Formula One connections at
Silverstone this morning, opening the next chapter in what could become a long-running battle between the pair.
Having finished 1-2 in this year enthralling
GP2 championship, Hamilton and Piquet were back in action with
McLaren and
Renault respectively as the
Silverstone group test opened for business in blustery conditions.
Although Hamilton was limited to just a handful of shakedown laps in the MP4/21, he was still among the main centres of attention, with a lot of speculation still linking him to the second race seat, alongside Fernando Alonso, at the Woking team next year. Although
McLaren remains coy about its line-up, this week's may go a long way to deciding whether Hamilton finds himself on the front line next year, or lining up against Piquet Jr at the various test days.
Unlike his British rival, Piquet at least has the satisfaction of knowing that he has a deal for next season - and, as things stand, at a more competitive team - having been named to Renault's testing strength prior to the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Although unlikely to see race action in 2007, the Brazilian will feel that he is in the right spot for a front-running car in seasons to come. Piquet enjoyed considerably more running than Hamilton on the opening morning.
A third
GP2 runner was also in action at Silverstone, with occasional pointscorer Adrian Valles getting his promised run-out with Spyker MF1. The Spaniard, considered an unusual choice with so many drivers either on the team's testing roster or sniffing about the third car for the remaining races, gave Spyker's new orange-and-silver livery its first airing, having been finished at the factory overnight. Valles will continue in the car today, with
GP2 rival Ernesto Viso expected to take over later in the week as he attempts to rack up enough miles to earn the superlicence that would allow him to drive the team's third car at Interlagos next month.
For further images of Hamilton and Piquet Jr in action
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