The first free practice session in Belgium was not without interruption: Haas driver Kevin Magnussen landed in the gravel and shortened the start of practice session on the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. The Spaniard Sainz set the best time with 1:46.538 minutes, Leclerc (Monaco) followed 0.069 seconds behind. World champion and championship leader Max Verstappen in the Red Bull was third, the Dutchman was 0.217 seconds behind. Decision on the starting grid for Formula 1 Qualifying on Saturday from 4:00 p.m.
Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc set the tone in the first free practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix. The Spaniard Sainz set the best time with 1:46.538 minutes, Leclerc (Monaco) followed 0.069 seconds behind. Formula 1 world champions and championship leaders ranked third Max Verstappen in the Red Bull, the Dutchman was 0.217 seconds back.
Rain before the training session and heavy rain towards the end put the significance of the times into perspective, as did a long red phase. The Formula 1 qualifying on Saturday also threatens to become a pattern of little value. Because there are at least six drivers, including Mick Schumacher, the demotions due to engine or transmission penalties in the Starting grid for the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, August 28th, 2022 collect. What is already certain: Max Verstappen will start from the end of the field in any case, on whose Red Bull all engine components have been replaced.
Overtaking is relatively easy on the high-speed circuit at Spa. More resets over the weekend are therefore likely.
Max Verstappen leads the world championship by a comfortable 80 points over the Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc who in turn loses at least 15 starting places. Same goes for Haas Pilot Mick Schumacherwho finished 18th (+4,721). Sebastian Vettel (Heppenheim / Aston Martin) in 15th place was more than three seconds behind the second Ferrari Carlos Sainz.
Big beneficiaries of the punishment festival could Mercedes be. The world champion racing team of the past eight years is still without a win this year, the pilots Lewis Hamilton and George Russell As things stand at the moment, they are still without being reassigned for the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday. In the first Formula 1 practice they finished ninth and fourth.
01. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, 1:46.538 min
02. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, 1:46,607
03. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:46,755
04. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, 1:47,396
05. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, 1:47,437
06. Alex Albon (T), Williams, 1:47,835
07. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), McLaren, 1:48,081
08. Yuki Tsunoda (J), AlphaTauri, 1:48,310
09. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, 1:48,420
10. Sergio Perez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, 1:48.474
11. Nicholas Latifi (CDN), Williams, 1:48,485
12. Guanyu Zhou (RC), Alfa Romeo, 1:48,672
13. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, 1:49.470
14. Fernando Alonso (L), Alpine, 1:49,664
15. Sebastian Vettel (D), Aston Martin, 1:49,813
16. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, 1:50,315
17. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, 1:50.982
18. Mick Schumacher (D), Haas, 1:51,259
19. Liam Lawson (NZ), AlphaTauri, 1:52.065
20. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Alfa Romeo, no time
Also interesting:
Formula 1 Belgium 2022 schedule for the F1 race at Spa – The start after the summer break!
Formula 1 Mick Schumacher – Every race a new chance
Formula 1 Sebastian Vettel does not regret his retirement announcement
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