© Getty ImagesFree Practice Update – Belgian Grand Prix 2021The summer break is over and the Bulls are back on the track at Spa-Francorchamps.
ThesecondhalfoftheseasongotunderwaytodayattheiconicSpa-Francorchamps–oneoftheoldesttracksonthecalendarandthedrivers’favourite.
It’s one of the quickest circuits we go to, even though it has 103m of elevation and a track length of more than 7km, this makes it the longest lap length and has the highest elevation of any track on the current calendar.
Checo In The Zone© Getty Images
Drivers, teams and fans love the Belgian circuit and it’s always noted down as one to visit. This weekend the race is 44 laps giving a total race distance of 308.052km. But before we get to Sunday, we have Free Practice…
Max and Checo returned to the track for the first time in three weeks for Free Practice One. Max finished the session in P2 after a total of 14 laps with a time of 1:45.363, just 0.164s behind Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas who was P1. Checo finished the session in P6 after completing 17 laps with a best time of 1:46.127.
For the afternoon’s session – with a constant threat of rain that never arrived – Free Practice Two saw Max finish P1 with a time of 1:44.472 after running for 12 laps. The Dutchman span in the final stages of FP2 and ended his session in the tyre wall, which subsequently brought out the red flag and put an end to Friday’s running. Checo, fresh from re-signing with the Team for 2022, set a best time of 1:45.404, which saw him in P10 after 13 laps.
The final session before qualifying, Free Practice 3, saw heavy rain begin to fall around halfway through the hour’s track time. However, the Bulls had already done everything they needed by then. Max started on intermediates on a drying track and finished the session in P1 with a fastest time of 1:56.924 in just 10 laps. Checo, also on the green-rimmed tyres, was just 0.947s behind his teammate which was enough to see him complete FP3 in P2 after only seven laps.
Max Heads Out On Hards© Getty Images
I think Saturday and Sunday will be similar weather to today so it will definitely be interesting. “I think we definitely had a positive start today but unfortunately I just lost the rear at the end of the second session, there was a bit too much oversteer to correct and I hit the wall. As a Team we were quite happy with how everything was going and we did some fine tuning between FP1 and FP2. Looking ahead to tomorrow, there are of course things to take into consideration including the weather but it’s difficult to say what the track is going to be like in the wet. I think Saturday and Sunday will be similar weather to today so it will definitely be interesting. It’s also great that Checo will be with the Team next year, we have a good relationship so I’m happy to continue working together to try and score a lot of points for the Team for the rest of this season and of course next year.”
I think we will be in the fight and able to have a good qualifying, the pace was strong out there today. “The car is feeling good and I think we have strong potential for this weekend. It’s going to be interesting what happens with the weather tomorrow as that obviously affects how you configure the car but I’m looking forward to it. I think we will be in the fight and able to have a good qualifying, the pace was strong out there today and it will be interesting to see who has what when they put it all together in Q3. We collected plenty of information over the two practice sessions, we’ll sit down this evening to analyse it so we have the best package tomorrow. It’s also great to have my contract for next year with Red Bull finalised so that I can focus my energy on this season. I really enjoy being a part of this Team so I’m really happy to continue for 2022 but my focus right now is on this weekend and delivering the best possible result.”
Position | Driver | Team | Time | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
Valtteri Bottas | Max Verstappen | Pierre Gasly | Charles Leclerc | Carlos Sainz | Sergio Pérez | Sebastian Vettel | Lando Norris | Esteban Ocon | Fernando Alonso |
Mercedes | Red Bull Racing Honda | AlphaTauri | Ferrari | Ferrari | Red Bull Racing Honda | Aston Martin | McLaren | Alpine | Alpine |
1.45.199 | 1.45.363 | 1.45.699 | 1.45.818 | 1.45.935 | 1.46.127 | 1.46.177 | 1.46.336 | 1.46.497 | 1.46.612 |
Position | Driver | Team | Time | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
Max Verstappen | Valtteri Bottas | Lewis Hamilton | Fernando Alonso | Pierre Gasly | Lance Stroll | Esteban Ocon | Sebastian Vettel | Lando Norris | Sergio Pérez |
Red Bull Racing Honda | Mercedes | Mercedes | Alpine | AlphaTauri | Aston Martin | Alpine | Aston Martin | McLaren | Red Bull Racing Honda |
1.44.472 | 1.44.513 | 1.44.544 | 1.44.953 | 1.44.965 | 1.45.180 | 1.45.302 | 1.45.336 | 1.45.386 | 1.45.404 |
Position | Driver | Team | Time | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
Max Verstappen | Sergio Pérez | Lewis Hamilton | Lando Norris | Esteban Ocon | Lance Stroll | Pierre Gasly | Sebastian Vettel | George Russell | Fernando Alonso |
Red Bull Racing Honda | Red Bull Racing Honda | Mercedes | McLaren | Alpine | Aston Martin | AlphaTauri | Aston Martin | Williams | Alpine |
1.56.924 | 1.57.871 | 1.57.996 | 1.58.509 | 1.58.913 | 1.59.205 | 1.59.324 | 1.59.436 | 1.59.492 | 1.59.613 |