BELGIAN GP – Max Verstappen fastest eight tenths ahead of Charles Leclerc in second practice
Max Verstappen was fastest in second practice for the Belgian Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver set a 45.507 on the soft tyres to put himself over eight and a half tenths ahead of his championship rival Charles Leclerc. Verstappen appeared to control most of the session under grey skies in Spa.
However, the two title rivals will start near the back of the grid as they are two of five drivers who have taken new power units, qualifying still will decide which one will start highest on the grid, but no higher as things currently stand fifteenth. Verstappen during the qualifying runs looking to have the edge in responding to every lap by Leclerc.
In reality, the gap between the top two teams is likely to be closer when they turn the cars up in qualifying, with the forecast for the rest of the weekend being drier and warmer Ferrari should be able to fight with Red Bull. Luckily there will not be a repeat of 2021’s washout, thought Spa’s microclimate will always mean the risk will always be a risk of rain
Lando Norris put his McLaren third just over two tenths behind Leclerc, and ahead of Lance Stroll who set his lap later in the session going fourth. Carlos Sainz put his Ferrari fifth, he will likely be the favourite for pole tomorrow, the Spaniard going a tenth and a half faster than Lewis Hamilton.
Conditions at Spa were overcast with a bit of rain, but for the majority of the session, drivers managed to keep it out the barriers though several cars had their moments. Eau Rouge and Les Combes being where several drivers went wide, but Hamilton was eight-hundredths faster than Fernando Alonso.
The limited running throughout the conditions suggests Red Bull are a step in front of their rivals ahead of Saturday’s qualifying. Ferrari and Mercedes will hope the forecast for warmer and drier conditions over the weekend will enable them to close the apparent gap to Verstappen.
The two Mercedes looked to be struggling for pace despite their recent step forwards, Hamilton going over three and a half tenths ahead of teammate George Russell. But the seven-time champion was over a second off the outright pace. Mercedes and Ferrari hoping that warmer weather moves in to allow them to close the gap to Red Bull.
Daniel Ricciardo was a further two-tenths off the outgoing McLaren driver going nine hundredths ahead of Sergio Perez. However, the gap between Norris and Ricciardo further underlines McLaren’s decision to terminate his contract, there were six tenths of a second between them.
The gap, however, between the two Red Bull’s was three times that, with Perez a second and eight tenths behind Verstappen.
Alex Albon put his Williams eleventh fastest going nearly a tenth ahead of the Alpha Tauri’s of Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly. The two teammates separated by a tenth and a quarter. Sebastian Vettel put his Aston Martin fifteenth going almost eight hundredths ahead of Esteban Ocon.,
Kevin Magnussen was seventeenth fastest going two-tenths ahead of Valtteri Bottas, both drivers getting much need track time. The Haas driver stopped in FP1 with an electrical issue while Bottas only managed two laps because of a unknown issue.
Nicolas Latifi was nineteenth ahead of Mick Schumacher, but the German drivers lap time may be slightly reprehensive as he was over a second behind the Williams.