After a 22 year wait, Formula One witnessed a woman driver taking part in a grand prix weekend on Friday. For all of 20 minutes. If Susie Wolff, whose husband Toto is head of Mercedes motorsport, was bitterly disappointed to have her British Grand Prix practice session cut short by an engine failure she refused to dwell on her misfortune.

The Scot has another opportunity with her Mercedes-powered Williams team in Germany later this month and is still not giving up on her dream — admittedly still no more than a long shot — of becoming Formula One’s first woman racer since 1976.

“That’s racing. I’ve known over the years that it can be massive ups and then massive downs as well,” she told reporters in the Williams motorhome.

“I’ve still got Hockenheim. I’ve got to go out in Hockenheim and show what I can do because I didn’t get the chance to do that today. I’ve still got one more shot at it, so head up high.”

Engine trouble for hamilton

Lewis Hamilton was fastest in practice for his home British Grand Prix on Friday despite losing precious track time due to a Mercedes engine problem.

The Briton, who has not won at Silverstone since 2008 but desperately needs to do so on Sunday to rein in runaway team mate and Formula One championship leader Nico Rosberg, set a best time of one minute 34.508 seconds on a blustery day.

However, Hamilton had to sit out the last half hour after an oil pressure problem stopped him on track with 30 minutes remaining.