Let's start once again!
After almost a month, Formula 1 is back on track and it does so in the racing university, Spa-Francorchamps! Lots of new features on the Ardennes track, among which the wide ones stand out gravel escape routes at Eau Rouge-Raidillion. And they'll think about putting even more spice on this weekend Charles Leclerc e Max Verstappen, which will leave from the bottom of the grill as they will change their power unit, as well as Norris, Ocon, Bottas and Schumacher.
Great chances of victory, therefore, for Sainz, Perez and the two Mercedes. The Silver Arrows, in particular, are more energized than ever after a first part of the season that saw Russell and above all Hamilton struggle at the start but finish more and more on a crescendo. Now they have on their side, if you will, the technical directive 039, according to which it is estimated that they can earn about two tenths per lap.
A new face
There is a new face on the track in FP1: it is Liam Lawson., New Zealand Formula 2 driver in the ranks of the Red Bull Academy, participating in the session on theAlpha tauri by Pierre Gasly. The Frenchman will return to the AT-03 number 10 for FP2, as foreseen by the program which obliges each team to let non-registered riders run two FP1s.
After the first 60 minutes of the weekend Sainz finishes in first place ahead of Leclerc e Verstappen. Russell fourth follows, as they surprise Stroll fifth e Albon sixth. Hamilton e Perez they conclude respectively in ninth and tenth position.
Ferrari, weekend started on the right foot
“I have to do like Vettel in 2013, win all the races after summer break", this is the goal of Charles Leclerc and Ferrari in general to hope for an improbable but not impossible comeback. Maximum yield in FP1, with Sainz first and Leclerc second. With the Monegasque starting from behind, the Madrid player will be the Top horse this weekend and he will aim for his second victory.
Red Bull with two faces
Verstappen he finished third but with some regret: the rain prevented him from scoring the last lap launched before the end of the session. The Dutchman is however very calm and confident that he can have a great weekend despite the penalty on the grid. The mate Perez, on the other hand, is seven places behind. Like Sainz, the Mexican will find himself occupying the unusual position of top pilot for Red Bull and will also be looking for his second triumph of the season.
As for the others, problems for Bottas (who failed to finish even one lap) e Magnussen (which stopped on the track causing a red flag). Small gem to close (data by Michele Merlino). Only twice in history have the top two in the championship started in 19th position or worse: Piquet 20th and Lauda 23rd (Long Beach 1983) and Alonso 19th and Massa 21st (Malaysia 2010).
The Circus returns at 17 for the second free practice!
