McLaren drivers upbeat after first day

Lewis Hamilton was fastest in the morning session, and despite Ferrari taking a 1-2 in the afternoon, McLaren were satisfied with their progress.

"It's great to be here at my first home Grand Prix," said Hamilton. "Today has been really positive, and the work we have done seems to be taking us in the right direction.

"The car feels great to drive around this track, and I am looking forward to the rest of the weekend where I expect us to remain strong."

Fernando Alonso was shaded by his teammate in both sessions, but he was equally optimistic at the end of the day.

"The work has been good, and I am happy with the results so far," said the world champion. "We seem to be competitive and the car is working very well here, so hopefully we will have a strong weekend."

Alonso also said that the tricky conditions during the day were the reason for his off-track excursion in first practice.

"Today has been quite windy and with Silverstone being such a flat circuit it can really affect the balance of the car," he said. "This is why we saw so many people, including myself, going off at some point today."