EL1 – Valtteri Bottas slips through the drops at Spa

The holidays have obviously been good for some pilots. Valtteri Bottas signed this Friday noon, the best time in the first free practice session at Spa-Francorchamps. The Finn slipped through the drops in Belgium to climb to the top of the timesheet. He is closely followed by Max Verstappen. The pilot Red Bull signed a 1.45.363 and failed 164 thousandths behind Bottas. The top 3 is completed by Pierre Gasly. The Frenchman placed his Alpha Tauri in third position with a 1.45.699, promising for the rest of the weekend. Both Ferrari de Charles Leclerc (4th) and Carlos Sainz (5th) follow the Norman by less than two tenths. 
Sergio Perez, for his part, did not start his Belgian weekend in the best possible way with a 6th time. The Mexican is 8 tenths behind his teammate Max Verstappen, while the leaders indicated that “Checo” must now increase his level.
The top 10 is completed by Sebastien Hag (Aston Martin), Lando Norris (McLaren) and the two pilots Alpine Esteban Ocon et Fernando Alonso.
Significantly absent from the first part of the table, Lewis Hamilton is only in 18th position, 3″ behind his teammate. The Briton was setting the best time of the session when he encountered Latifs in the last turn. Big scare for the championship leader who had to put two wheels on the grass to avoid the Canadian.

A very tight moment for Latifi and Hamilton?#BelgianGP ?? #F1 pic.twitter.com/RBg58gl8SF

— Formula 1 (@F1) August 27

The session was also marked by Kimi Raïkkönen's slight accident (Alfa Romeo) in the pit lane. The Finn tapped with the back of his car flanked by the number 7 at the entrance to the stands. He is only 17th in the ranking, more than a second behind his teammate Antonio Giovinazzi. 

Belgian Grand Prix – EL1

Arrival a little too quickly in the pits for Kimi Raikkonen

▶ https://t.co/7plkVVV12v pic.twitter.com/6FJeo5XKjB

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) August 27

The second free practice session will start at 15:00 p.m.