The ultimate follow session for the 2024 Method 1 Belgian Grand Prix on the 7.004-kilometre Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps was marred by heavy rain and two purple flags, casting uncertainty over the upcoming qualifying session.
The primary purple flag got here lower than 12 minutes into the hour-long session at Spa-Francorchamps after Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll crashed on the prime of Raidillon. Even supposing the FP3 session resumed eight minutes later, the depth of the rain quickly pressured one other purple flag. With solely two minutes left, the purple flag was lifted, permitting drivers to finish only a few sighting laps and follow begins on Pirelli’s full-wet tires.
With extra heavy rain anticipated all through the afternoon, the prospects for qualifying are unsure. In stark distinction to the dry circumstances throughout Friday’s follow periods, the anticipated rain hit Spa-Francorchamps laborious on qualifying day. A moist morning was heavy rain 20 minutes earlier than the beginning of FP3, which intensified lower than 10 minutes into the session.
Max Verstappen was the primary driver on observe with intermediates on his RB20. As he tried to get the tires as much as temperature, the three-time F1 champion ran off the circuit on the gradual Bruxelles right-hander. Oscar Piastri confronted an analogous difficulty at Les Fagnes quickly after, however each he and Verstappen have been on observe early sufficient to set instances when the circumstances have been at their finest.
The Dutchman set an preliminary lap of two:03.232s, adopted by a 2:01.565s. Oscar Piastri initially posted a 2:04.946s earlier than bettering to 2:02.998s, trailing Verstappen by 1.433s. These remained the main instances. Because the rain intensified, Pink Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda and McLaren’s Lando Norris ran off observe into the gravel earlier than Stroll’s crash introduced out the purple flags with lower than 12 minutes on the clock.
Ascending Eau Rouge, Lance Stroll skilled oversteer and, within the moist circumstances, slid off at Raidillon. His automobile spun 360 levels earlier than hitting the barrier with the entrance left, breaking the suspension. Stroll was attended to by the medical automobile, and his broken automobile was eliminated, permitting the session to renew at 12:50 native time. Nonetheless, the remaining 19 drivers stayed of their garages because the rain intensified.
The pause allowed Pink Bull to deal with a problem with Daniel Ricciardo’s automobile. The Australian had reported a sense of “shedding hydraulics” and “heavy steering”. Though the group discovered no points within the knowledge, Ricciardo insisted one thing felt off, and he was advised to pit.
At 13:04, the FIA red-flagged the session once more because of the treacherous circumstances. Automobiles returned to the observe at 13:28 to follow begins.
Scuderia Ferrari Spanish driver Carlos Sainz, who had not accomplished a lap, was first out however skidded into the gravel on his preliminary try. Underlining how difficult the circumstances have been, particularly on comparatively chilly tyres, the Ferrari SF-24 automobile slid off at Rivage and went by means of the gravel earlier than rejoining. The seven drivers who opted to exit accomplished solely out-and-in laps. Behind Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri on the timesheet have been Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Norris, whose McLaren group had modified the ground of his automobile after his earlier gravel tour.
RESULT FREE PRACTICE 3 – BELGIAN
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