Verstappen Leads in Rain-Hit Practice as Stroll Crashes Ahead of Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying

Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll crashed in the rain-affected final practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen set the fastest time amidst challenging conditions.

Rain Disrupts Final Practice

After two dry practice sessions on Friday, rain fell on Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday, limiting drivers’ and teams’ preparations for the afternoon’s qualifying session. The session was significantly interrupted by adverse weather, creating a challenging environment for the teams.

Stroll’s Crash Brings Out Red Flag

Stroll aquaplaned after the Raidillon corner, losing control and hitting the barriers, which caused significant damage to his Aston Martin’s left-front suspension. The incident brought out the red flag just 12 minutes into the session. Aston Martin reported that Stroll exited the car unaided and was taken to the medical center for precautionary checks, but he was later confirmed to be fine and back with his team.

Verstappen Sets Fastest Time

Max Verstappen, the current Formula One leader, managed to set a lap time of 2:01.565, which was almost 20 seconds slower than the best time from Friday set by Lando Norris. However, due to the poor conditions, no one could better Verstappen’s time during the session. His performance remains crucial as he faces a 10-place grid penalty for engine changes.

Limited Running for Several Drivers

The rain and subsequent red flags meant that several drivers, including Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, Mercedes’ George Russell, and Haas’ Kevin Magnussen, did not make it onto the track before the session was halted. Although the session briefly resumed, no drivers ventured out due to the persistent rain and water on the track.

Top Performers

Oscar Piastri, fresh off his first Formula One Grand Prix win in Hungary, posted the second-fastest time, 1.433 seconds behind Verstappen. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was third, with McLaren’s Lando Norris, who showed strong pace on Friday, in fourth. Esteban Ocon of Alpine and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc followed in fifth and sixth, respectively.

Final Moments and Qualifying Outlook

The session resumed for a brief two-minute window at the end to allow drivers to practice their starts. Teams are now hoping for improved conditions for the qualifying session. Stroll’s Aston Martin team is working to repair his car ahead of qualifying.

Overall, the session highlighted the unpredictability of Spa’s weather and the resilience required from the teams and drivers as they prepare for the race weekend.