Belgian GP - Practice Roundup

Summer break is over and F1 is back, this time in Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton finished the first half of the season ahead of Championship contender Max Verstappen, by 8 points, having 195 and 187 points, respectively. Over to the Constructors Championship, Mercedes is leading by 12 points over Red Bull, with 303 and 291 points, respectively.

Let's see how practice went, on the first two days of the Belgian GP weekend.

FP1:

Friday morning was very foggy in Spa-Francorchamps, and Valtteri Bottas topped the first practice session of the Belgian GP weekend, followed by Max Verstappen in P2 and Pierre Gasly in P3. The two Ferraris placed P4 and P5, with Charles Leclerc leading Carlos Sainz, by 0.117s. Sergio Perez finished in P6, ahead of Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel in P7. Completing the top 10, Lando Norris in P8, followed by Esteban Ocon in P9 and Fernando Alonso in P10.

Outside the top 10, a decent session for George Russell, who placed in P14, two places ahead of his Williams teammate, Nicholas Latifi, in P16.

Lewis Hamilton was down in P18, having been impededed by Nicholas Latifi on a late flying lap.

Full FP1 Classification:

FP2:

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen led the second practice session of the Belgian GP weekend, ahead of the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas in P2, followed by Lewis Hamilton in P3. The session ended horribly for Verstappen, after he backed his Red Bull into the wall at Malmedy, prematurely calling time on FP2.

Verstappen wasn't the only one to bring a red flag out, as Charles Leclerc (P18) also spun in the same corner with 20 minutes to go, bringing out the first red flag of the session.

Following the top 3 and having re-signed with Alpine for 2022, Fernando Alonso finished the session in P4, just 0.012s ahead of Pierre Gasly in P5. Both Astons in the top 10, with Lance Stroll in P6 and Sebastian Vettel in P8, splitted by Esteban Ocon in P7. Completing the top 10, Lando Norris in P9 and Sergio Perez in P10, who was announced by Red Bull for 2022 in between sessions.

Full FP2 Classification:

FP3:

Rain appeared around the Belgian mountains on Saturday morning, so all drivers set their times in intermediate tyres, with Max Verstappen topping the last practice session of the weekend, almost a second ahead of teammate Sergio Perez in P2 and Lewis Hamilton in P3.

Lando Norris finished the session in P4, followed by Esteban Ocon in P5. Another double top 10 for Aston Martin, with Lance Stroll in P6 and Sebastian Vettel in P8, splitted by Pierre Gasly in P7. George Russell seems to be enjoying the wet conditions, as he climbed up to P9, just ahead of Fernando Alonso in P10.

Full FP3 Classification:

Click here to see the full Belgian GP weekend schedule.