FP1 – Bottas sets the tone ahead of Verstappen

It is in a typical Spa-Francorchamps way that this Free Practice 1 session kicked off the weekend of the Belgian Grand Prix: under the threat of uncertain rain which could well disrupt the rest of the weekend. end.

The track was almost completely dry at the start of the session, but all the drivers did one or more installation laps in intermediates, necessarily driving very slowly so as not to wear them out unnecessarily … All? No. Lando Norris was the exception and was the first to put on slicks, quickly imitated by his peers.

Max Verstappen set the tone with a time of 1’45 “905 on hard tires, when no one else had done better than 1’47, then Valtteri Bottas took the fastest time in 1’45” 199 with soft gums. Verstappen put them on too but never managed to surpass this benchmark, not having fielded three good sectors. He shot in 1’45 “363.

Pierre Gasly completed the top 3 ahead of the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc (who kept control brilliantly despite two wheels in the gravel at Malmédy) and Carlos Sainz, as well as the Red Bull of Sergio Pérez. What about Lewis Hamilton? He was vegetating in 18th row, just ahead of the Haas. The seven-time World Champion complained about a lack of top speed as Mercedes tested various settings, so his poor result is not cause for concern. Hamilton was in any case a little scared when he caught up with Nicholas Latifi in slow motion approaching the Bus Stop, forced to brake and graze the lawn.

Note that Kimi Räikkönen and Yuki Tsunoda were noticed by a spin at the exit of La Source, the Finn making a more costly error a few moments later by hitting the left side of the wall at the entrance to the pits. , losing control of his Alfa Romeo as a result.

Belgian Grand Prix – Free Practice 1