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Carlos Sainz fastest in FP1

13:53, 26 Aug 2022

byjoolsreimer

Carlos Sainz tops the timetables in FP1 as we return to the F1 calendar in Spa. After a mixed session for not only the weather but also the drivers it was Ferarri who need up fastest, but how did the session unfold?

Well with a return to Formula 1 action after a four-week absence, there was no better place to get the season back underway than at Spa in Belgium. But for all the drama this track usually throws up in the opening session of the weekend was business as usual.

How it unfolded

With the usual Belgian weather setting in the green light was on and the drivers were back on track for the first time in nearly a month and it was Max Verstappen who headed straight to the top of the timetables. The championship leader had over a 2-second gap to Carlos Sainz with a time of 1:46.7 but on the faster compound.

Much like Sainz, several drivers headed out onto the track on the harder set of tyres, long run pace seemingly the favoured option as the threat of rain settled in. Charle Leclerc was part of that pack and with the news that he along with others would be taking engine penalties, his pace looked strong early on.

But as the session wore on the teams took their chance to get some fast running on and with the soft tyres, they were able to test the real pace of their cars. Both Carlos Sainz and Charle Leclerc went fastest with just 20 minutes to go but as the drivers started their fast runs Kevin Magnussen was forced to pull over in his HAAS causing the first red flag of the weekend.

With 10 minutes to go the cars returned to the track for their finals runs of the day but typical of Spa as they started they're flying laps the rain came and forced all of them into the garage.

Uncertain end

With the disruption at the end of the session, it's unclear where to the true comparison of pace sit for all the teams but Ferarri will no doubt be happy to sit one and two in the time standings. But for all their happiness, Aston Martin will be overjoyed to see Lance Stroll in P5 and Williams with Albon in P6 respectively. Maybe this weekend finally we could see some higher running for both teams after a tricky first half of the season.

Mercedes seemed to go under the radar with George in P4 and Lewis in P9 but with the rain on its way, could they have another brilliant weekend to continue on their recovery this season?

Final top 10.