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(Motorsport-Total.com) – Formula 1 could possibly experience its most exciting qualifying of the 2020 season at the Belgian Grand Prix (2020 Formula 1 live on the ticker!). This is the third free practice session at Spa-Francorchamps, in which four different teams landed in the top four positions and were separated by less than half a second on the longest route on the calendar (7,004 kilometers).
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Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel was eliminated last in the third practice session.
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Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) set the best time in 1: 43.255 minutes. The world champion laid the foundations for this with an outstanding middle sector, in which he lost 0.389 seconds of his teammate Valtteri Bottas (5./+0.558) and 0.739 seconds of the first pursuer of another team (Max Verstappen in P6).
This shows that different setup concepts are used, and thanks to the exceptional power, Mercedes relies on more contact pressure than some of the teams that pursue it. Esteban Ocon (2./Renault/+0.230), who lost to Hamilton 0.504 seconds in the first sector, and Daniil Kwjat (12./AlphaTauri/+1.288), 0.376 seconds faster than Hamilton in the third sector, voted as the more extreme.
Ocon in second and Lando Norris (McLaren) in third were the big surprises in FT3. “We assume we can get into Q3,” says McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl. “And then we want to catch up on Ferrari points in the race, which seem to be causing problems here. It is surprising that they are so weak. At the same time, Ferrari should never be underestimated.”
Ferrari: the worst team of all
Ferrari follows the competition. Not even twelve months after Charles Leclerc dominated the two high-speed Grand Prix at Spa and Monza at will, the Scuderia is not one of the best contenders for a top 15 spot. In final training, Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel occupied the 17th and 20th places.
“That’s bitter. A very low blow for the team,” analyzes ‘Sky’ expert Ralf Schumacher. Ferrari reacted after the disastrous Friday and built more downforce on the car. But: “Ferrari has to take off its wings so as not to lose too much on the straights,” believes Schumacher. That does not change the result.
Vettel loses 2,165 seconds in Hamilton’s fastest time, 1,965 seconds of which in the cornering midsection. In the first (Eau Rouge) and third sector (Blanchimont) it is almost at the level of Mercedes. In other words: Ferrari has to make up for the engine’s lack of power with flat wings. Something in which Vettel is less interested than Leclerc.
Whether the two were still in traffic (Leclerc) or made a mistake (Vettel) in FT3’s decisive attempt with new Pirelli softs and little fuel on board, the result may come to a head. But the reality is that: for Ferrari this time it is not a sure success to take the top 15 obstacles and go to Q2.
Racing Point: not all shown yet
The traffic jam at the chicane at the bus stop when the final showdown began ruined the fastest lap for some. Verstappen, for example, is underrated as sixth. Alexander Albon continued his upward trend in fourth place, 0.476 seconds behind. Unlike Racing Points, which with P8 (Lance Stroll) and P10 (Sergio Pérez) remained below expectations.
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Deriving a hierarchical order to qualify from this would be incorrect. Due to the constant rain, the final training was not representative. Ultimately, the two Mercedes, Verstappen and the two Racing Point drivers will be the favorites for the top five starting positions in the time trial. With opportunities outside of Renault.
The opinion that Mercedes is not a contender for pole for the first time this season is not shared at all by ‘Sky’ expert Schumacher. “We know Mercedes. They are always very self-critical. I think Racing Point will be very strong. “. Red Bull could struggle. At least compared to Racing Point. “
(Paddock live: qualifying Saturday on the ticker)
