Max second in Spa FP1

Published on 24 August 2018 by Stefan Meens

In the first session after the summer break, FP1 at Spa-Francorchamps, Max Verstappen was second fastest. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) was quickest around the famous Ardenne circuit, followed by the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing driver. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton completed the top three.

Conditions are typical of Spa in summer: moderate temperatures (15 degrees) and always a thread of rain (20%). To scope out the conditions, most drivers opt for an installation lap, before heading for a multiple lap stint.

Twenty minutes into the session, Kimi Raikkonen reports a small amount of rain on track. Meanwhile McLaren’s Stoffel Vandoorne, this session partnered by Lando Norris, complaints about his brakes: “The pedal just went to the floor.”

After half an hour, Daniel Ricciardo has yet to set a time. Max Verstappen’s team mate has thus far only completed a single installation lap. It turns out the Australian's RB14 has power-unit issues.

Traditionally after the summer break, Formula 1 teams bring a whole host of upgrades to track. Both Ferrari and Mercedes introduce power-unit upgrades this weekend. It means that Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas will take a grid penalty for swapping engines. He will be joined near the back of the grid by Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg, who is also victim to an engine penalty.

With half an hour two go, the lap times drop. Max bolts on a new set of the soft Pirellis and makes the most of the available grip; a good lap with a purple third sector, bumps the Red Bull Racer up to second.

In the closing stages, Daniel Ricciardo makes an appearance and uses the last three minutes to put a lap time on the board. Meanwhile, his Dutch team goes wide at the high-speed left hander Pouhon, but is able to finish his session without issues.

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