Formula 1: Max Verstappen was the fastest in the Belgian GP tests, but on Sunday he will start from the bottom

the Dutch Max Verstappen (Red Bull), undisputed leader of the Formula 1 world championshipwas the fastest this Friday in the second free trial for the Belgian Grand Prixthe thirteenth of the championship, which will take place on Sunday on the traditional circuit of Spa Francorchamps,

In the best of his 20 laps Verstappen covered the 7.004 meters of the track in 1m45s507, 862 thousandths less than the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) -second in the World Cup, 80 points behind- and with an advantage of 1s082 over the English lando norris (McLaren)which marked the third best time of the session, like the previous ones, with the soft compound.

The Spanish Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)who had been the fastest in the first free practice, he set the fifth time in the second test, in which the best times of the day were recorded, all on soft tires and before the race simulation took place, in the final stretch of the day.

The talented driver from Madrid, fifth in the World Championship -102 points behind Verstappen- lapped twenty times and, in his best attempt, was 1s142 behind the Dutchman. He followed him British Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)seven times world champion, who shot in 1m46s893.

The other Spaniard, the legendary Fernando Alonso (Alpine)completed the Ardennes circuit 19 times and in his fastest lap he was 1.4 seconds behind the time of Crazy Max. The Asturian double world champion (2005 and 2006, with Renault), who will be an Aston Martin driver next year, finished seventh in the standings, in a session that ended with 17 degrees Celsius ambient and 21 degrees on the ‘asphalt.

Both Verstappen and Leclerc – and other drivers, like the Frenchman Stefano Ocon (Alpine), Finnish Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) or German Mike Schumacher (Haas) – he will penalize, by changing the engine, and will start from the back of the grid in the first Grand Prix after the holidays.

On Saturday, a few hours before qualifying, the third and final free practice will take place which will order the starting grid for Sunday’s race: scheduled in 44 laps, to complete a distance of 308 kilometers.

Source: EFE