Nico Rosberg emerged as the fastest driver in the first practice session of the Belgian Grand Prix on Friday. “To be so close to Nico on a track with long straights, we can be very pleased with that”.
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“For me, it’s like a clean slate at this stage”, said Rosberg.
After becoming the youngest victor of an F1 race with a brilliant victory in Spain earlier this season, Verstappen is now the youngest driver to qualify on the front row of the grid.
“It was a straightforward day for me but a tough one for the guys in the garage with the engine change”, said Hamilton, who was off the pace in practice on Friday as he concentrated on his race strategy.
Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel was fourth in the second Ferrari ahead of Australian Daniel Ricciardo in the second Red Bull.
Rosberg was pushed hard by Max Verstappen in the Red Bull who was only a fraction of a second behind his time.
Lewis Hamilton’s weekend did not begin well, as he was sure to take on grid penalties.
And under the sport’s complicated engine rules, his penalty could yet rise to as high as 75 places should Mercedes opt to fit further new parts to his engine – in order to ensure he does not incur any further penalties in the remaining races – before qualifying on Saturday.
With 65% of a lap spent at full throttle, Spa suits the power advantage Mercedes enjoy and with several overtaking opportunities the team’s intent is to give Hamilton the best chance to take the hit in one fell swoop, while minimising the points damage as much as possible.
Vettel, a four-time F1 champion, has not won a race since the Singapore GP last September, and this might explain his somewhat brittle mood.
Fernando Alonso is expected to join him on the back row after suffering an engine change that notched up 30 positions worth of grid penalties. Manor’s Esteban Ocon on his debut qualifying session, will start in 17th, with Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat also eliminated in the first session in 19th place.
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The 55-place drop equals the record grid penalty handed to Alonso at last year’s race in Spa, when his Mclaren teammate Jenson Button also picked up a 50-place penalty under the complex system.
