Belgium: pre-qualifying 2022

The silly season has gotten started early. As I write this, Albon is confirmed for Williams next year. That is not very silly. What is rather silly is the Alonso/Alpine situation. Having apparently lied to the face of the team principal, the team then learned he’d signed up with Aston Martin when it was released to the press. This may also have prevented Alpine having guaranteed dibs on talented youngster Oscar Piastri, with the team stating he’d be driving for them next year and Piastri himself stating he would not.

The assumption is that he’s got a great chance of going to McLaren but that requires Ricciardo leaving. This means, almost certainly, a payoff. But he might refuse to go. Update: Ricciardo is leaving at the end of the year.

This may also be the final race at Spa, though this is yet to be confirmed. With three races in the US next year and plans for another, this is another wretched moment to go alongside Liberty’s money-grubbing love of sprint race bullshit.

 And Audi are set to enter the sport, supplying engines from 2026.

In even more news, both Verstappen and Leclerc will start from the back of the grid due to changing parts. Similar penalties apply to Norris, Ocon, Schumacher, and Bottas. Also, I had a dream (rare for me) which prophesied Perez would retire due to a reliability failing. Make of that what you will.

I think that finally covers all the off-track stuff and we can turn to first practice. 

Sainz edged Leclerc by less than a tenth in FP1, with Verstappen a tenth and a half further back. Russell was next but six-tenths down the road, followed by Stroll, Albon, Ricciardo, and Tsunoda. Hamilton was the ninth fastest chap, a tenth ahead of Perez, but the pair were nearly 2s off the ultimate pace so that’s probably not hugely reflective of reality. 

Second practice had Verstappen fastest by over eight-tenths of a second (note both sessions were somewhat rain-affected). Leclerc was the next best, just ahead of Norris. Stroll and Sainz followed, with Hamilton, Alonso, Russell, Ricciardo, and Perez (1.8s off his team mate) rounding out the top 10.

Given the penalties, I’m wondering if Sainz might be the chap to win this weekend. Perez could also be good although he’s better at street circuits than the likes of Spa. 

Perez was fastest, a tenth ahead of Verstappen in FP3. Sainz was next but six-tenths down the road, with Norris and Alonso following. Russell and Leclerc ended up in sixth and seventh, with Vettel, Ocon, and Gasly completing the upper half of the time sheet.

Final practice was slightly interrupted at the end by Leclerc having a minor crash. There’s also a chance of showers… oh, and Verstappen had a yellow flag incident which may or may not lead to additional penalties.

 

I do wonder if Ferrari are actually rather closer. 

Sainz, Verstappen, and Perez are all 3 to be fastest in qualifying. Leclerc is 9. Not finding any of those too tempting, really. Perez might be best value although I suspect Sainz is closer than third practice indicated.

So, no tip.

 

Qualifying is at 3pm UK time.

 

Morris Dancer

 

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