Hamilton and Rosberg finished 1-2 in both of Friday’s practice sessions.
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Rosberg, the top challenger who became a father for the first time last weekend, was a narrow 0.021 seconds behind. “We have told Ecclestone we want to close the deal by the end of this year”. “It’s still a massive challenge regardless of how fast we are”. Mercedes is chasing its 23rd consecutive pole position, which would move the team within one of he all-time mark set by Williams n 1992 and 1993.
Ecclestone said that in future drivers should discuss tyres behind closed doors. “They have been very, very professional, have handled it with extreme care, very seriously, things are going the right way, and our target now is to improve the situation and make progress”. “Our pace was not bad …”
Pirelli motorsport boss Paul Hembery said that as well as agreement for greater dialogue with teams and drivers, that the way was open for a return of proper in-season testing.
Force India drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez flip-flopped between fourth and fifth over the two trainings.
Grosjean sat out the morning to give Jolyon Palmer a chance behind the wheel amid speculation that the cash-strapped Lotus team could be taken over by Renault.
The session was halted briefly when Spaniard Carlos Sainz lost control of his Toro Rosso at Parabolica and skidded into the gravel, bringing out the red flags at the half hour mark.
But, following Pirelli’s comprehensive examination of what unfolded, with Nico Rosberg also involved in a frightening incident in his Mercedes, Vettel has been left convinced by the company’s diligence to try to rectify matters.
Sainz lost control at the 180-degree Parabolica turn.
If even a small piece of debris – made of carbon or any other particularly sharp material – penetrates and cuts the various structural parts of a tyre (which is obviously subject to high-speed use, and more susceptible if used for a prolonged period) without penetrating the actual structure, this can cause a failure that is different to that found in the event of a normal puncture, which is characterised by a loss of tyre pressure.
McLaren’s Jenson Button also wondered why cuts in the tyres needed an increase in pressure.
Still, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner seemed perplexed. “I think there is quite a willingness for the drivers to work with us”.
“It’s been a lot less than 20 years ago but it’s still too many”, Hamilton said.
The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, Formula 1’s sanctioning body, declared in a statement that it is “satisfied with the thoroughness of the investigation and Pirelli’s conclusions as to the reasons for the tire failures in Belgium“.
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Each of the 20 drivers sported stickers on their crash helmet in tribute to Justin Wilson, the 37-year-old Briton who was killed last month in an IndyCar race in Pennsylvania.
