Second practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix on the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps: Max Verstappen achieves the best time, but it is already clear that the world champion will not be able to secure pole position on Saturday.
The 2022 GP weekend on the traditional Spa-Francorchamps circuit is characterized by three factors: Firstly, the moody weather, with a wet track on Friday, changing conditions on Saturday, as Belgian meteorologists assure, and sun (nomen est omen) on Sunday.
Second, Audi’s confirmation that it will enter Formula 1 in 2026, followed shortly therefollowing by Alfa Romeo’s announcement that it would be separating from Sauber at the end of 2023. So much for the question of who will become an Audi partner.
The third factor is the penalty situation: at least half a dozen drivers are transferred as a penalty, including world champion and championship leader Max Verstappen and his pursuer, Ferrari star Charles Leclerc, but also Mick Schumacher in the improved Haas racing car.
A quick look at the latest improvements to the race cars following the summer break: New front wing end plates and new rear wing on the Mercedes, along with a new underbody. Slightly modified sidepods on the Red Bull Racing car, plus an aerodynamically optimized lower wishbone of the rear suspension.
McLaren showed up with the biggest Evo package: underbody, rear wing, rear brake air intake, engine cowling with exhaust louvers, front suspension cowling – all new.
Different rear brake air intakes on the Alpine, new rear wing on the AlphaTauri car, new front and rear wings on the Williams, Alfa Romeo and Aston Martin, a new rear wing on the Ferrari.
The second free practice session on the longest Formula 1 circuit of the year (7.004 kilometers) began with plenty of action on the track. No wonder: rain was in the air and no one might say if and how hard it would pour; In addition, the Grand Prix should take place on a dry track. Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz (this weekend with a helmet camera) complained on the radio: “The track is wetter than expected.”
Early best time by Carlos Sainz (the fastest in the first practice session), before World Champion Max Verstappen showed who’s in charge. Charles Lerclerc misbraked at Les Combes and skidded straight. Carlos Sainz was upset with Sebastian Vettel, the Spaniard felt the German had slowed him down unnecessarily. The Madrilenian can calm down: With Verstappen and Leclerc having to move back, Carlos has an excellent chance of his second win, following Silverstone in 2022.
To do this, however, Sainz has to stay on the track. Carlos on the radio following a trip through the gravel bed: “A little rally.” Most drivers at this point on medium-hard Pirelli tires (marked in yellow).
Max Verstappen meanwhile reported that a tear-off visor got caught in the rear suspension. The Dutchman tried to shake off the annoying part by driving in a wavy line.
Standing following a quarter of an hour: Verstappen, Sainz, Leclerc, Pérez, Norris, Zhou, Ricciardo, Alonso, Hamilton and Stroll. Sainz once once more off the track, this time without a snappy comment. Where were the Germans? Mick Schumacher in 17th place, Sebastian Vettel only 18th.
Mercedes driver George Russell scolded: “I just can’t get the temperature in the tires.” No wonder with a slope temperature of 22 degrees. The Englishman spoke of the hard Pirelli rollers, and Lewis Hamilton also had his hands full with them – heavy braking in the La Source.
Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Pérez took to the track with soft tyres. The Spaniard held the best time with this rubber for ten seconds before Max Verstappen restored the order – the Red Bull Racing car a second quicker than the Ferrari, most of the lead coming from the middle section (where downforce is key). In the first and third sector, with many flat-out sections, the two cars were regarding equally strong.
Charles Leclerc is already in second place behind Verstappen. His race engineer Xavier Marcos Padros told him on the radio: “You’re second, Verstappen is ahead with a 1:45.5.” To which the Monegasque, breathing heavily, replied: «45.5? That’s really sick.”
Fifteen minutes before the end it started to rain once more, so the chance of faster lap times was gone. As Mick Schumacher showed next to the track – the German was last.
2. Training, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:45,507
02. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, 1:46,369
03. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, 1:46.589
04. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, 1:46,635
05. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, 1:46.649
06. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, 1:46,893
07. Fernando Alonso (L), Alpine, 1:46.975
08. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, 1:47,042
09. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), McLaren, 1:47.255
10. Sergio Perez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, 1:47.346
11. Alexander Albon (T), Williams, 1:47,520
12. Guanyu Zhou (RC), Alfa Romeo, 1:47,617
13. Yuki Tsunoda (J), AlphaTauri, 1:47,658
14. Pierre Gasly (F), AlphaTauri, 1:47.782
15. Sebastian Vettel (D), Aston Martin, 1:47,867
16. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, 1:47,944
17. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, 1:48.208
18. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Alfa Romeo, 1:48,419
19. Nicholas Latifi (CDN), Williams, 1:48,612
20. Mick Schumacher (D), Haas, 1:49,941
1. Training, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
01. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, 1:46.538 min
02. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, 1:46,607
03. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:46,755
04. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, 1:47,396
05. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, 1:47,437
06. Alex Albon (T), Williams, 1:47,835
07. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), McLaren, 1:48,081
08. Yuki Tsunoda (J), AlphaTauri, 1:48,310
09. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, 1:48,420
10. Sergio Perez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, 1:48.474
11. Nicholas Latifi (CDN), Williams, 1:48,485
12. Guanyu Zhou (RC), Alfa Romeo, 1:48,672
13. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, 1:49.470
14. Fernando Alonso (L), Alpine, 1:49,664
15. Sebastian Vettel (D), Aston Martin, 1:49,813
16. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, 1:50,315
17. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, 1:50.982
18. Mick Schumacher (D), Haas, 1:51,259
19. Liam Lawson (NZ), AlphaTauri, 1:52.065
20. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Alfa Romeo, no time
