On a sunny and – perhaps even more importantly – bone-dry Spa-Francorchamps, Max Verstappen and company completed the final free practice on Saturday for the Belgian GP. This last hour was, as usual, dedicated to qualifying simulations, with Kimi Antonelli emerging as the fastest. Max Verstappen once again mixed it up with the frontrunners, although he was not completely satisfied with the RB22.
Read more Result third free practice (FP3) GP Belgium
At 12:30 the lights at the end of the pit lane turn green, but the teams hold back for a moment. No one is eager to start this last training hour in Belgium. After a few minutes, Cadillac breaks the silence in the Ardennes for the first time. On the soft tires, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez simulate their first qualifying laps. Isack Hadjar shoots to the top of the timesheet shortly after, while Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen is still in the garage.
With forty minutes left on the clock, the Dutchman heads out on track for the first time. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton holds the fastest time. While on Friday he was still searching for the right balance, especially in the twisty second sector, he now records – for what it’s worth – purple in the second part of the circuit. While Verstappen makes his first meters, Mercedes is nowhere to be seen. The leaders in the constructors’ championship were satisfied after the first sessions on Friday and are in no hurry.
Read more Red Bull solved problems with the ‘Macarena’ wing, aims for comeback during Hungarian GP
Late crash Lewis Hamilton
After half an hour of testing, Hadjar’s RB22 comes to a halt. Due to what sounds like a problem with the brand-new engine, the French-Algerian driver is stranded at the end of the pit lane. Meanwhile, Mercedes ventures out for the first fast laps. Kimi Antonelli immediately flexes his muscles and dives almost eight tenths under Lewis Hamilton’s time. Russell only manages P5, behind Hamilton, Verstappen, and Charles Leclerc.
Where the gearbox was already problematic for Verstappen on Friday, it troubles him again in FP3. “Upshifting is going fantastic again,” he says very sarcastically over the radio. Lando Norris meanwhile pushes the Red Bull driver off second place; the reigning world champion must only yield to the quick Mercedes of Antonelli. The track gets faster and faster in the final phase of the session. Hamilton makes a desperate attempt to improve his time in the last seconds but goes off track. The rear wheel on the right side comes loose and his rear wing also appears seriously damaged.
Read more Lewis Hamilton warns after first impressions at Spa: ‘Mercedes will be very strong’
Read everything about the Belgian GP here
