Formula 1: Max Verstappen has been hit with a 10-place grid penalty with Australian Oscar Piastri setting the pace.
The Belgian Grand Prix at the iconic Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is one of the most difficult to prepare for, with inconsistent car demands and variable weather challenging teams and drivers on set-up.Friday started with Max Verstappen topping FP1 by an ominously large margin.Having dominated at this circuit for the last two seasons under these rules, the Dutchman appeared set to return the sport to normal programming after three consecutive defeats.
FP1 epitomised the need to balance straight-line speed and downforce at this track. No car can be fast in all sectors; it’s a choice between sectors one and three or sector two.PODCAST: Oscar Piastri has become Australia’s fifth grand prix winner after leading a dominant McLaren one-two finish in Budapest, but the result was overshadowed by teammate Lando Norris threatening to pinch victory for himself in a team orders fracas.The first is about tyre degradation.
If the forecast rain brings Ferrari and Mercedes into play — as happened in the wet during the British Grand Prix — that could risk the Dutchman starting further back still. The team carried more rear wing through both practice sessions, which made him quick through the twisty middle sector and benefited his tyre life, but it left him 11th in the speed trap. Ahead of him were almost exclusively midfield cars, some of which he’s likely to start behind.
Though the Mexican suggested he and Verstappen were running with differing set-ups, there was no expected straight-line speed boost to compensate for what might have been a lower downforce configuration. Charles Leclerc was a still significant 0.667 ahead, but the Monegasque expressed no confidence in his fourth place on the time sheet.
George Russell was fastest but more than a second adrift — and only 0.214 seconds ahead of Pérez — while Lewis Hamilton was 10th and slowest among the frontrunners. All that might at least open the door to Pérez pulling himself together and emerging as the closest starter to the McLaren drivers on the grid, though even that will require serious overnight work for the Mexican to achieve.Bruno Famin took the opportunity of appearing in the Friday press conference to announce he will step down as Alpine team principal at the end of August.
“It’s a very difficult situation there, and I think all the people, they are worth that we dedicate the necessary time to be with them in this project, which is huge. That’s why I will finish.”
Eastern Europe Team Orders Inconsistent Car Demands ALPINE CHANGES COURSE Grid Penalty Expected Straight-Line Speed Midfield Cars George Russell Team Orders Fracas Pat Fry Top Spot Paul Frere Lando Norris Hungary Grand Prix Car Dominance Europe Lower Downforce Configuration Oliver Oakes Final Chicane Executive Adviser Grand Prix Winner Western Europe Engine Operation Budapest Qualifying Session Telemetry Shows Grid Position Straight-Line Speed Belgium Forecast Rain Sergio Pérez Engine Penalty Race Simulation Penalty Pain Minnow Team Practice Sessions Team Orders Drama Silver Lining Head Role Agence France Presse Oceania Max Verstappen High-Speed Bends Grid Penalties Title Battle High-Downforce Set-Up Long-Time Sporting Director Tyre Degradation France Alan Permane Junior Series Speed Trap Charles Leclerc Tyre Life Time Sheet Works Status Australia And New Zealand One-Two Finish Power Unit Program Team Principal Role Sergio Perez Power Unit Victory Hopes Combustion Engine Practice Analysis Fields Teams PIT TALK Auto Giant Australia Paris Pole Position Balance Issues
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