Last Updated: 08/27/22 1:58 PM Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Charles Leclerc spins his Ferrari during final practice at the Belgian Grand Prix Charles Leclerc spins his Ferrari during final practice at the Belgian Grand Prix Sergio Perez led a Red Bull one-two in final practice at the Belgian GP, ​​before Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc narrowly escaped major damage when he crashed into the barriers. World championship leader Verstappen looked set to repeat his dominance in Practice Two until Perez clocked a 1:45.047 in the final moments of the session to better his team-mate by a tenth. The late flurry of speed from Red Bull, which had also seen Verstappen increase the advantage he had held for much of the session, came when Leclerc once again lost control of his Ferrari to go through the gravel and to contact the barrier at turn 12. . The Monegasque, whose 80-point deficit to Verstappen in the world championship was largely caused by both team and driver errors, managed to keep his car running and return to the pits despite red flags being waved right now. Perez’s late show of strength is particularly important because Verstappen and Leclerc – along with five other drivers – face penalties for getting new engine components that will see them start at the back of the grid. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Red Bull’s Sergio Perez tops the grid with the fastest lap in Belgian Grand Prix Practice Three
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez tops the grid with the fastest lap in Belgian Grand Prix Practice Three With Mercedes once again off the pace with George Russell sixth and Lewis Hamilton 12th, Perez would appear set for a pole position penalty later on Saturday with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who was third. The third and final practice session was somewhat slow as the Red Bulls and Ferrari waited until the closing stages to unleash their pace. Alfa Romeo duo Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas had topped the grid until Sainz and Perez replaced them when they finally entered the fray at the halfway mark. Twitter Due to your consent preferences, you cannot see these Privacy Options
Then it was Red Bull’s turn, with Perez beating the Ferraris by the better part of half a second, before Verstappen got away by a similar margin from his team-mate. Leclerc, perhaps frustrated by Ferrari’s deficit to Red Bull, was caught pushing too hard at Turn 12. The incident evoked memories of Leclerc’s crash in the lead of the French GP in July, which was followed by a haunting scream over the team radio. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Anthony Davidson takes us through the track changes at Spa for the Belgian Grand Prix
Anthony Davidson takes us through the track changes at Spa for the Belgian Grand Prix However, in this case, it may prove to be a no-brainer, with the car – apart from the front fender – looking in good shape as it made its way back to the garage. When the session resumed for the final few minutes, there was still time for Red Bull to further underline their dominance as both cars improved to leave Sainz almost 0.8 seconds off the lead time. Lando Norris, who also starts at the back of the grid due to receiving new components, was fourth, with Fernando Alonso fifth for Alpine. It was confirmed during the session that Leclerc, Mick Schumacher and Zhou Guanyu are getting new power units, meaning they join Verstappen, Norris and Esteban Ocon in being relegated to the back of the grid. Valtteri Bottas faces a 15-place penalty, meaning he will start ahead of the other six relegated drivers, whose order will be determined by their performance in qualifying. Watch Belgian Grand Prix qualifying live on Saturday from 2pm on Sky Sports F1.