2023-07-28 13:57:24
Published on July 28, 2023 at 3:57 p.m. Aurélie Sacchelli
Carlos Sainz Jr set the fastest time in the first free practice session of the Belgian Grand Prix, during a session that took place in the rain.
Ahead of the summer break, F1 drivers are throwing their last strength into battle this weekend in Belgium, where rain is expected. She was also already present during the first and only free practice session which took place this Friday, since the qualifications will take place at the end of the followingnoon (Q1 at 5:00 p.m.), in this marked weekend by a sprint race. And on the wet track, it was Carlos Sainz Jr who did best on his Ferrari, setting one of his three timed laps in 2’03″207. The Spanish driver was 585 thousandths ahead of Oscar Piastri’s McLaren, and 1″277 the other McLaren, that of Lando Norris.
The Alpines did not do a timed lap
Alexander Albon had time to place himself at the top of the time sheet at the very start of the session on his Williams, before the rain became really too heavy. Some still tried to get started, like Pierre Gasly, but the Alpine rider came out a little wide, which required a yellow flag. Charles Leclerc then Oscar Piastri and Nando Norris then set the fastest time in turnbefore Carlos Sainz Jr came to achieve his 2’03″207 following 27 minutes of session. It was just before the red flag was deployed, following an exit from the track by Logan Sargeant (Williams) at the end of the Kemmel straight. The interruption lasted nine minutes, then the rain fell even harder. A few drivers tried their luck once more before the end, but without managing to do better than the Ferrari driver. However, five did not complete a single timed lap during this rainy session: Max Verstappen (who will be penalized five places on the starting grid due to a change in gearbox), Logan Sargeant, Lance Stroll, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly.
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