Belgium – EL1: The Ferraris ahead of Max Verstappen

Contested in the dry with the exception of the last three minutes which prevented the drivers from improving their marks, the first free practice session smiled on Ferrari this Friday in Belgium. Carlos Sainz indeed set the best time in 1'46″538. The Spaniard beat his teammate Charles Leclerc (+0″069), and the leader of the championship Max Verstappen (+0″217). As a reminder, the Monegasque and the Dutchman will start from the back of the grid on Sunday for engine changes. 

The Ferraris, moreover, spent the first half of the session on hard tires, when Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez quickly put on the tenders. Verstappen also held the best mark for a long time in 1'48"755, before being beaten in turn by Sainz and Leclerc. 

The second part of the session was marked by a red flag and an interruption of around ten minutes when the Haas de Kevin Magnussen stopped on the track after the first turn. In question, a problem with the high voltage system of the car. As the car was charged with electricity, it had to be removed from the track by a crane, which took some time. 

Poleman of the last Grand Prix to date in Hungary, George Russell (Mercedes) signed the 4th time less than 9/10th of Sainz's time. He stuck for a second Lewis Hamilton but the seven-time world champion did not have the same flat bottom. The surprise came from Lance stroll (Aston Martin) and Alex Albon (Williams), respectively 5th and 6th, ahead Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) who will leave the Woking stable at the end of the season.  

Note the big official debut in Formula 1 of Liam Lawson, driving theAlpha Tauri de Pierre Gasly. The Kiwi, currently 8th in F2, finished in 19th position, after sticking to hard tires and long stints, as Jüri Vips did with Red Bull in Spain on May 22. For his part, Valtteri Bottas, concerned by the changes of engine parts, did not do a single lap on the track. As a reminder, the second free practice session will take place this Friday at 17 p.m. 

More info to follow…

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