FROM THE SENT TO SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS. After the holidays, Max Verstappen gets back behind the wheel and is immediately in the lead. The Dutch driver sets the best time in free practice for the Belgian Grand Prix, but his day is not perfect, on the contrary: 3 minutes from the end, he crashes at the exit of the Les Combes chicane, breaks the right rear suspension, gets out of the car and proclaims: “I’m done.” In reality, the session is over for everyone, because the race marshals wave the red flag and there is no time to resume the session (in free practice the clock is not stopped when there is an accident).
The Dutch driver therefore remains the leader on Friday in 1’44 ” 472, ahead of the Mercedes couple, in order Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton, trailing by 41 and 71 thousandths, a minimum delay in a circuit of 7 kilometers and 4 centimeters ( the longest in the Formula 1 World Championship). This is Verstappen’s third accident in the last three race weekends. The top two, respectively at Silverstone and Budapest, cost him the championship lead in favor of Hamilton, who now leads by eight points.
Worse went to Charles Leclerc, the protagonist of an accident at the Stavelot corner (just before Verstappen) during his lap with soft tires: the Ferrari driver destroyed the left front suspension. His 18th time remains on the rankings sheet, 2 ” 3 away from the best. Also disappointing was the performance of Carlos Sainz, who set the 11th time in 1’45”017. Both drivers complained about the understeer of the SF21.
Well Fernando Alonso, loaded by the renewal until the end of 2022 with the Alpine: his fourth place behind the unattainable in 1’44 ” 953 (0 ” 481 from Verstappen). Following: 5. Gasly (AlphaTauri) at 0 ” 493; 6. Stroll (Aston Martin, 0 ” 708); 7. Ocon (Alpine, 0”830); 9. Norris (McLaren, 0”914); 10. Perez (Red Bull, 0 ” 932), also for him renewal of the contract until December 2022.
The program: tomorrow (Saturday 28) 12-13 free practice, 15 hours qualifying; Sunday at 3 pm race.