F1 News

Belgian GP FP3 Report: Ferrari on top again as Hamilton crashes out!

31 August 2019 at 12:00
Last update 31 August 2019 at 12:06
  • Bevan Youl

Charles Leclerc and Ferrari were yet again on top of practice at Spa in a session that saw current Championship leader Lewis Hamilton crash his Mercedes half-way through, giving his team a lot of work to do ahead of qualifying.

After and extremely lacklustre 10 minutes of FP3 which saw few cars come out for installation laps and nothing else Robert Kubica set the first time of the session before Leclerc and Vettel placed themselves on top for Ferrari in the 1:44 regions.
 
Teams were consistently setting times with Mercedes putting themselves behind the Scuderia before Hamilton lost control of his car at turn 12, sliding off into the barrier and causing some serious damage to his Silver Arrow.
 
The Brits crash brought out the red flag for around 25 minutes as the car was recovered and drivers could return to track.

Action was plenty as all cars piled onto the track in an attempt to get that bit extra in before qualifying with Max Verstappen complaining of car issues as he sat in P5 to finish the session.

Leclerc managed to again out-pace Vettel towards the end setting a 1:44.206.  It looks promising for the Scuderia going into the afternoon.

A positive look for Renault as Daniel Ricciardo ended P4 behind Valtteri Bottas in third just 0.768 off the pace of Ferrari.

The man with a few more years on the grid with Racing Point in Sergio Perez placed himself in sixth, ahead of both Alfa Romeo's, while demoted Red Bull, now Toro Rosso driver Pierre Gasly finished off the top 10.

Midfield leaders McLaren again looked to struggle at Spa as Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris left FP3 in 14th and 15th.

With the few laps completed by drivers during FP3, Verstappens new teammate Alex Albon, who will start at the back of the grid looked to be focusing  on race pace as he propped up the field in 20th.

Qualifying looks like it's Ferrari's to lose this afternoon!