The Belgian Grand Prix's third practice session was a wet and wild affair, dominated by Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Heavy rain throughout the session made for challenging conditions, but Verstappen, known for his prowess in wet weather, managed to secure the top spot with a time of 2:01.565.
The session saw two red flags, the first triggered by Aston Martin's Lance Stroll crashing at Eau Rouge. The Canadian driver lost control of his car, hitting the barriers and sustaining significant damage. Luckily, he was unhurt and taken to the medical centre for precautionary checks.
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Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps |
The second red flag was a consequence of the unrelenting rain, forcing drivers back to the pits as the track became increasingly treacherous. While the session provided limited running, Verstappen managed to secure the top spot, even with his time being almost 20 seconds slower than his fastest lap from Friday's dry conditions.
The rest of the field struggled with the wet conditions. Oscar Piastri finished second, just 1.4 seconds behind Verstappen. The two Alpines of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon followed, along with the other McLaren of Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc in his Ferrari.
The remaining top ten was filled by Valtteri Bottas, Lewis Hamilton, Sergio Perez, Alex Albon, Nico Hulkenberg, and Fernando Alonso.
While Verstappen enjoyed a smooth session, Red Bull's team principal Christian Horner expressed his frustration with the team's performance on Friday. However, this doesn't seem to have dampened Verstappen's spirits, and he'll be hoping to carry this momentum into qualifying, despite the challenging conditions.
With more rain expected for qualifying, it's going to be an exciting and unpredictable race at Spa-Francorchamps. Stay tuned for more updates and analysis as the Belgian Grand Prix unfolds!
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