Valtteri Bottas
Valtteri Bottas did not let the rumors of an alleged Mercedes-off slow him down and drove the fastest time in the first spa training session.
In the first practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix, the Finnish “Silver Arrow” driver had turned the fastest lap with 1: 45.199, leaving Red Bull Star Max Verstappen behind by just 0.164 seconds. Pierre Gasly in the Alpha Tauri was already 0.500 seconds behind in third place.
The Ferraris presented themselves again on the upswing. Charles Leclerc finished fourth (+0.619), his team-mate Carlos Sainz in fifth place (+0.736) just ahead of Sergio Perez (+0.928).
World Championship leader Lewis Hamilton was unable to get going in the changeable conditions on the Belgian Ardennes roller coaster and ended up in 18th place, 3.025 seconds behind. The British World Cup leader had to abandon the fastest lap to avoid a collision with Nicholas Latifi. The Williams driver had not seen the approaching 36-year-old, Hamilton climbed heavily into the iron to avoid the Canadian.
The second free practice session is scheduled for Friday afternoon.
