Will the Ardennes toboggan run change hands? McLaren finished this Friday taking the first two places in the free rehearsals of the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix, ahead of the World Cup leader Max Verstappenwho has been penalized 10 positions for changing the engine outside the regulations.
On the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit in the Belgian Ardennes, British driver Lando Norris set the best time of the day ahead of his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri and also Verstappen, who finished third despite dominating the first free practice session.
This weekend, Verstappen will try to win for the fourth consecutive year at “his” Belgian Grand Prix. The Dutchman, born in Flanders, about 100 kilometres from the circuit, has won every race on this circuit since 2021.
The proof of his superiority on one of the oldest circuits in F1 is that he won in 2022 after starting from a distant 14th place on the grid. Whereas last year he started sixth and left no chance for his rivals.
This year, the reigning three-time world champion will start far from the front after being penalised ten places on the starting grid on Sunday (13:00 GMT) for an engine change that was not in compliance with current regulations.
A penalty that, unlike in previous seasons, could reduce his chances of winning, as the horizon has darkened for the Dutchman, who has gone six Grand Prix out of the 13 held without a victory, when last year he only lost two in the same period.
Alpine pattern change
On a dry track, which has nothing to do with the weather forecast for the weekend, as it could rain on Saturday, the other Red Bull, Sergio Pérez, did not go beyond seventh place.
The Mexican’s future, officially with the team until the end of 2026, could be called into question at the end of the Belgian GP, admitted influential adviser Helmut Marko.
Alpine announced on Friday that current boss Bruno Famin, who has been in charge of the French team since the summer of 2023, will leave at the end of August. The name of his successor is not known.
The departure of the French engineer is part of a series of changes carried out since the arrival in June of Flavio Briatore as advisor to the French brand, eighth out of ten in the 2024 constructors’ world championship, after 13 Grands Prix contested.