Lewis Hamilton was fastest across the severely rain-hit practice sessions for the British Grand Prix on Friday in front of his home fans.

As conditions improved slightly in the afternoon, the McLaren driver clocked 1 minute 56.345 seconds in the second session with Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber 0.129 seconds adrift.

Michael Schumacher posted the third fastest time fresh from his first podium finish at the European GP since coming out of retirement two years ago.

Mark Webber was sixth fastest in the morning session and did not post a time in the second session.

With rain drenching the Silverstone circuit, Bruno Senna of Williams spun off the soggy track and hit the barriers.