Max Verstappen, the Red Bull driver, showed his prowess in the wet conditions during the final practice at the Belgian Grand Prix. However, the session was not without incident as Lance Stroll from Aston Martin suffered a big crash at Eau Rouge due to the treacherous weather conditions.
Verstappen’s impressive time of 2:01.565 put him at the top of the timesheet, almost 20 seconds slower than the fastest lap from Friday’s dry conditions. He was followed by Oscar Piastri in second place, while Lando Norris from McLaren secured the fourth spot.
The practice session was marred by rain and limited running time, making it difficult for the drivers to navigate the track safely. Stroll’s crash prompted a red flag, halting the session for nine minutes before the rain intensified, further challenging the drivers.
Despite facing a 10-place grid penalty for the race due to exceeding his engine allowance, Verstappen remains the frontrunner in the drivers’ standings with a 76-point lead over Norris. McLaren, on the other hand, aims to narrow the 51-point gap to Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship.
The unpredictable weather forecast for Saturday sets the stage for a thrilling qualifying session, with rain likely to play a significant role in shaping the grid. The teams will need to exercise caution and patience if the conditions worsen, potentially leading to further stoppages.
It was a challenging session for the Mercedes team, with Lewis Hamilton finishing ninth and his teammate George Russell failing to set a lap time. The Silver Arrows missed the opportunity to capitalize on the best track conditions due to a delayed start.
With the Belgian Grand Prix qualifying ahead, fans can expect an exciting weekend of racing at Spa-Francorchamps. The event marks the final race before F1’s summer break, offering spectators a chance to witness thrilling battles on the iconic circuit.
As the drivers gear up for the qualifying session, the competition is expected to intensify, with Verstappen aiming to maintain his dominance despite the grid penalty. Stay tuned for more updates and live coverage of the Belgian Grand Prix on Sky Sports F1 to catch all the action from the track.