Verstappen quickest in final practice on wet Spa-Francorchamps

Published on 28 August 2021 by Mike Motilall

Max Verstappen topped the board after the final free practice for the Belgian Grand Prix. The Dutchman lapped the wet and tricky Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps ten times on the intermediate tyre, clocking a 1:56.924 as his best time. Sergio Pérez and Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top three.

It’s midday when the lights at the end of the pit lane turn green and the third free practice gets underway. George Russell is the first driver to make to the still wet track on a set of the intermediates. Max Verstappen exits the pit lane after some ten minutes on exact the same compound. On his first timed lap, the Dutchman does a 2:00.086 which puts him seventh fastest. Despite the poor conditions almost all the drivers are quickly out on track on a quest to find grip.

The track is slowly getting drier, minute by minute, which is evident as the lap times keep getting bettered. Max clocks a 1:56.924 after about some twenty minutes, putting him at the top of the time sheet. Team mate Sergio Pérez does a 1:57.871 and comes in second.

Verstappen is still leading the pack halfway the session. Sergio Pérez (+0.947), Lewis Hamilton (+1.072), Lando Norris (+1.585), Esteban Ocon (+1.989) and Lance Stroll (+2.281) form the top six behind of him, for the time being.

In the period that follows, the Heavens open up and consequently the drying race line starts to disappear. The shower is brief though and causes the track to get crowded again with just fifteen minutes remaining on the clock. The sun even shows itself on some points on the track. Max Verstappen stays inside for the remainder of the final practice, with just ten laps in total to his name. However, he tops the board with the previously noted 1:56.924. Sergio Pérez and Lewis Hamilton completed the top three.

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Results third free practice Belgium: