FP1 HIGHLIGHTS: Watch all the action as the 70th Anniversary GP weekend kicks off

Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas topped FP1 for the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix weekend ahead of team mate Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull's Max Verstappen as the second round of the season to be held at Silverstone kicked off on Friday morning.

Nico Hulkenberg – back in the Racing Point car deputising for Sergio Perez again – returned to finish in fourth, just 0.049s behind third-place Verstappen, but half a second quicker than his temporary team mate Lance Stroll.

It was a busy morning for Racing Point – who learned of their 15-point penalty and heavy fine before the session began as a result of Renault's protest on the legality of their car.

READ MORE: FP1: Bottas heads Hamilton in opening 70th Anniversary GP session as Hulkenberg takes P4

With sixth-place Red Bull driver Alex Albon just half a second faster than McLaren's Lando Norris in P12, this was a tantalisingly close session between the Red Bulls, Ferraris, Racing Points, Renaults and McLarens, showing just how tight the midfield is this year.

Check out the highlights from Free Practice 1 for the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix in the video above.