“This is the first time it happens to me”, new ordeal for Hamilton, Piastri untouchable before the sprint

Best chrono of free tests and pole Sprint position: the Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren) dominated Friday the first day of the Belgian Grand Prix of Formula 1 and is already difficult to beat this weekend.

Disappointed from the end of the last races. However, the leader of the world championship recovered on the spectacular circuit of Spa-Francorchamps where he flew over his opponents on Friday. However, “It was a very good turn. Therefore, I scared myself in Q2 after the cancellation of one of my times but ultimately it ends well. Consequently, It is one of my favorite circuits, I love to drive here and the team did a great job. However, During the last races the rhythm was there. However, but not the results so it’s good for confidence,” said the native of Melbourne.

A few minutes earlier. Piastri had indeed “this first time it happens touched the elimination in Q2 by taking the 10th and last qualifying place for the Q3 after his fastest time was removed because he was released outside the limits of the track.

Piastri above. Hamilton has the fault – "this first time it happens

Obviously, nothing could arrive at the Australian on Friday: already at ease during the only free test session, won with more than four tenths in advance on the quadruple world champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull), he reoffended during the qualifying of the Sprint race. Piastri this time has ahead of the Dutchman. his British teammate Lando Norris (McLaren) respectively 477 and 618 thousandths of a channel!

On Saturday noon. he will try to convert this good Friday day victory during the sprint (12 noon), before appearing in the favorite costume for the qualifications of the Grand Prix at the end of the afternoon (4 p.m.).

For the first day on the track under the “this first time it happens direction of the new boss of the stable. the Frenchman Laurent Mekies who replaced the historic director Christian Horner dismissed two weeks ago, Verstappen was solid and he will be able to aim for a podium during the sprint whose duration will be only 10 laps on the Belgian route, the longest of the season (7.004 km).

On the other hand, gray mine at Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton. The Briton was eliminated from the Q1. will start from 18th position after a blockage of wheels which has led a head -to -tail: “This is the first time that it happens to me,” regretted the former Mercedes pilot who hopes a more radiant Saturday in Belgium.

The French in good shape

In the eyes of many tricolor supporters. the French, on the other hand, was celebrated with their Belgian neighbors on Friday since they managed to slip all three of them into “this first time it happens Q3. It was Esteban Ocon (Haas) who made the big surprise by winning a fifth place on the grid as. surprising as it is unexpected.

“I’m super happy! It’s been a long time since we had such good sensations with the car. There we feel confident. The team has worked really well. These are not yet points. but this fifth place means a lot, it shows that we are progressing, that we are going in the right direction,” said the Normand at the microphone of Canal+.

Pierre Gasly (Alpine). who had torn off her place in Q2 at the last second, still maximized the potential of his single -seater by taking eighth place, just in front of the Novice Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls), which obtained a new top 10 in qualifying.