World Championship leader Lewis Hamilton suffered a big setback during final practice after he crashed into the barriers at Fagnes corner.
Here is how qualifying day unfolded at Spa, starting with FP3…
Valtteri Bottas was particularly eager to get going on Saturday morning. Must have been a triple espresso shot he had…
Someoneโs keen… ๐ #FP3 isnโt for another hour yet, @ValtteriBottas! pic.twitter.com/hU0SuZVdXg
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) August 31, 2019
Conditions were pretty much spot on as drivers returned to the track for final practice.
Another beautiful day at Spa โ๏ธ
Perfect conditions for a bit more practice!
FP3 gets under way in 15 minutes โฐ#F1 #BelgianGP ๐ง๐ช pic.twitter.com/F9jLUHNq1o
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 31, 2019
Sergio Perez made his way out on track for the first time since the announcement of a brand spanking new three-year deal with SportPesa Racing Point.
The drivers were quietly going about their business during FP3, then this happened…
Pretty big impact for Lewis Hamilton at Turn 12 ๐ฅ#F1 #BelgianGP ๐ง๐ช pic.twitter.com/btMFjHikTT
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 31, 2019
Hamilton emerged unscathed from the big shunt, but has left his team with a lot of repair work to do ahead of qualifying.
And we mean a lot…
Session due to restart in two minutes
Busy couple of hours coming up for those Mercedes mechanics ๐๐จโ๐ง#F1 #BelgianGP ๐ง๐ช pic.twitter.com/L0FTQFb0Tq
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 31, 2019
As Mercedes put it, even the best make mistakes…
A reminder that even the best in the business can make mistakes… ๐ฎ๐ฅ
Working flat-out to get Lewisโ W10 fixed it time for #BelgianGP Quali! ๐ช
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) August 31, 2019
The accident left just 13 minutes left on the FP3 session clock, which passed with Ferrari once again occupying the top two spots.
CLASSIFICATION: END OF FP3
Another 1-2 for Ferrari, giving them a clean sweep of the practice sessions
Next stop – qualifying in two hours' time ๐#F1 #BelgianGP ๐ง๐ช pic.twitter.com/9QMjUnBcfa
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 31, 2019
Hamilton was good to go for qualifying, just about, and also escaped the dreaded pit-lane start.
Lewis Hamilton's car set to be ready in time for #BelgianGP ๐ง๐ช qualifying.
Also set to avoid pit-lane start with current chassis intact.https://t.co/tXF5ZgciFu #F1 pic.twitter.com/bGXGRLPFOq
— Planet F1 (@Planet_F1) August 31, 2019
Kubica brought out the red flags early in Q1 as another Mercedes power unit went bang, an internal combustion engine failure making it the exact same fate that befell Perez on Friday.
Flames at the rear of Kubica's car ๐ฎ
The marshals have extinguished it
We're still under a red flag early in Q1 #F1 #BelgianGP ๐ง๐ช pic.twitter.com/AAjNN2RfHA
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 31, 2019
Oh Ferrari, it seemed Leclerc was in trouble, but we avoided the usual story after he made it out onto the circuit and went 1.5s faster than Bottas.
Ferrari? Having technical issues in a qualifying session where they could easily take pole?
I am STUNNED pic.twitter.com/3b4K2jMdlC
— iGP Manager (@iGPManager) August 31, 2019
Power issues have plagued Max all weekend and they were determined not to go away.
Verstappen says he has a problem, and gets instructions from his team to try and rectify it so he's staying out on track for now #F1 #BelgianGP
— Chris Medland (@ChrisMedlandF1) August 31, 2019
Antonio Giovinazzi’s engine was next to quit, and with the red flags coming out less than a minute before the end of Q1, the bottom five was set.
ELIMINATED – Q1
16 Gasly
17 Sainz ๐ธ
18 Kvyat
19 RussellKubica (no time set)#F1 #BelgianGP ๐ง๐ช pic.twitter.com/Ev6KOTtuwr
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 31, 2019
Norris dropped out in Q2 to complete a difficult day for McLaren, while Albon and Stroll didn’t go for a final lap knowing they would start from the back anyway.
ELIMINATED – Q2
11 Grosjean
12 Norris ๐ธ
13 Stroll
14 Albon
15 Giovinazzi#F1 #BelgianGP ๐ง๐ช pic.twitter.com/i5PQyKeSnT— Formula 1 (@F1) August 31, 2019
Ferrari secured their first front-row lockout since Bahrain, but Leclerc would take pole seven tenths clear of his team-mate!
Leclerc on pole by SEVEN TENTHS #BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/dhwydUmdde
— WTF1 (@wtf1official) August 31, 2019
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