This Belgian Grand Prix has only one free test session, it allowed Oscar Piastri to sign the best time in front of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.
Since the Belgian Grand Prix is in sprint format, there will be only one free test session, with a more than uncertain weather. We announce three days of rain, although this Friday noon, the sky is quite mild, 21 ° C in the air and 35 ° C on the track. For the first time, Pirelli shifts its tire allocation, with the C1 for the hardest, C3 and C4 for medium and soft.
Belgium, EL1
As soon as I left the stands, Carlos Sainz encounters a problem on his Williams, he returned to his stand in slow motion in a constant speed mode without being able to accelerate. Concern on the side of Aston Martin also since Lance Stroll is not installed in his car, the mechanics inspect the latter. While the first minutes are flowing, Verstappen in medium tires signs the best time in 1’45 “545 under the eyes of his new main team, Laurent Mekies. Piastri will take over on the Dutch in hard tires, while several teams take new things. At Williams, in particular, with sidepods, completely revised flat, Ferrari brings his new rear suspension. Bull There are also new aerodynamic elements.
After the first quarter of an hour, Verstappen resumed the lead in 1’44 “236 in medium tires, before Leclerc managed to hoist his ferrari at the top of the time sheet for 0” 088 in front of the Red Bull. Ocon with his Haas, totally discharged of support, is 3rd row at 0 “155 of the Ferrari du Monegasque. At mid-session, Piastri approaches 0” 005 of the head Ferrari, with hard tires. At Williams, the fuel power concern seems resolved, the Spanish pilot is on the track.
The stables test several aerodynamic configurations, at Racing Bulls for example with two different profiles of the front and rear fins. At Red Bull also compare the front fins, Verstappen tested the two profiles. In the teams, there are several schools, the very flat fin to promote the tip speed, or the one more curved in its “spoon” type center, to press the rear axle a little more. Several pilots have rolled in hard tires, and the simulations of long relays take place in this last quarter of an hour of session.
Logically with soft tires, Stroll settles at the top of the hierarchy in 1’43 “112. Tenors show their rhythm on soft tires, this turns to the advantage of the McLaren of Piastri in 1’42” 123 almost half a second than Verstappen and 8 tenths in front of Leclerc, the two Aston Martin are returned to almost a second. Russell in medium tires is less than 5 tenths from Piastri. In the very last minute, Piastri improves in 1’42 “022 while Verstappen also pushed to its maximum failing at 0” 404, Norris returned to 3rd row.