Practice 1 Report - Sainz fastest in wet opening practice

by Peter Habicht

Carlos Sainz was fastest today around the Spa Francorchamps circuit in this weekend’s opening free practice followed by the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. The Spaniard set a time of 2:03.207s in challenging conditions during a session that limited competitive running to intermediate tires early on, as teammate Charles Leclerc was behind in fourth and the Redbull of Sergio Perez took fifth.

Williams Alex Albon was sixth fastest followed by the Alpha Tauri of Yuki Tsunoda, Haas’ Kevin Magnussen. Alpha Tauri’s Daniel Ricciardo and the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg in 10th.

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was 11th fastest ahead of the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, with the Alfas of Valtteri Botas and Guanyu Zhou the last cars to set a time in the session.

Drivers struggled through standing water and increasing rainfall throughout, with Williams’ Logan Sargeant, Guanyu Zhou, Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly losing traction to go off around a very damp circuit.

Sargeant was one of five drivers who did not set a time in the session, joined by Aston's Lance Stroll, the Alpines of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, as well as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who will be facing a five grid penalty for Sunday’s race following a gearbox change going into this weekend.

Qualifying for Sunday’s race begins at 5p today.