Belgian GP- Friday Summary: Hot heat by Ferarri, Mercedes show good race pace
F1 News
- Tom Mason
Friday at the Belgian Grand Prix saw a blisteringly hot day where Ferrari set the pace in both sessions, Mercedes right up behind them and Racing Point looking strong until the end of practice 2.
FP1 and FP2
Sebastian Vettel came out on top in the first practice session following the summer break at a time of 1:44.574 just ahead of his teammate Charles Leclerc. It was the Red Bulls who finished behind the Ferrari's, Max Verstappen in 3rd and new Red Bull driver Alexander Albon in 4th. Unsurprisingly it was Williams and Toro Rosso towards the back of the grid in the first session as Williams struggles in particular continue.
In FP2, Leclerc got the better of his teammate with a time of 1:44.123, completing 28 laps in the session. Mercedes improved in the second session with Valtteri Bottas in 3rd and Lewis Hamilton in 4th. Daniel Ricciardo finished in the top ten in both sessions which could prove a promising sign as he looks to move himself up the driver's list.
Sergio Perez signs new Racing Point deal
Racing Point's Sergio Perez has signed a new deal until 2022 continuing the six-year partnership which he's held with the team, back when it was Force India.
Ross Brawn has suggested that there could be changes for the 2020 season
F1 managing director Ross Brawn has said that there wouldn't be many changes to the overall structure, but just to look at how they could make races more interesting, through something such as a sprint race.
Albon: I'll be taking "baby steps" as he gets set for his first weekend with Red Bull
Alexander Albon has recently made the switch to Red Bull from Toro Rosso, but he feels that it will take time for him to get used to how things work in his new team.
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