Belgian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen fastest for Red Bull despite crash By Andrew Benson Chief F1 writer Last updated on
27 August 2021 27 August 2021 .From the section Formula 1 comments
357 Radio and text coverage of the Belgian Grand Prix is live on the BBC Sport website Red Bull’s Max Verstappen ended Friday practice at the Belgian Grand Prix with a crash after setting the fastest time ahead of both Mercedes drivers.
The Dutchman, eight points behind Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in the championship, lost control at the Malmedy right-hander.
Verstappen backed into the wall, causing a premature end to the session.
He said: “I just lost the rear, a bit too much oversteer to correct and unfortunately hit the wall.”
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Hamilton was just 0.031secs behind his team-mate, but the Red Bull and Mercedes drivers used different tyres to set their times.
Verstappen’s quickest time was on the soft-compound tyre, theoretically the quickest, whereas the Mercedes drivers’ best laps were on the medium.
Both Bottas and Hamilton failed to improve when they tried the soft tyres.
Mercedes used a lower-power engine mode for their runs on the soft tyre compared with the medium, and neither driver was satisfied with the car’s balance on the softer tyre.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also had a crash, his at the Les Combes chicane just one corner before Verstappen’s incident.That ended Leclerc’s session midway through, causing a brief red-flag period while the car was removed.
Leclerc carried a little too much speed into the chicane, managed to negotiate the initial right-hander, but the car ran a little wide through the following left.He lost control as he tried to moved to the other side of the track for the quick Malmedy right-hander that follows.
Leclerc said: “It has been a very tricky day overall, for everyone because of the conditions.But we have one night to work on the car and come back stronger.
“I would have preferred not to end the day in the wall, but it is part of free practice and I will try not to do these mistakes later.
“It felt quite good [in the first session] but P2 didn’t feel great.
We need to understand it because we did not change too much on the car.”
In addition, both Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen and Alpha Tauri’s Yuki Tsunoda spun at the La Source hairpin early in the first session, in which the Finn later also crashed into the pit wall on his way into the pits.
Set-up conundrums for Mercedes Mercedes spent the day comparing different downforce levels, on a track where choosing the right aerodynamic set-up is always tricky.
The choice is between low downforce, which guarantees high straight-line speed and pace in the first and third sectors, which contain long, flat-out sections, or more downforce, sacrificing speed on the straights for pace in the sequence of demanding corners in the middle sector.
Bottas preferred the low-downforce set-up – he has a five-place grid penalty for causing the crash at the start of the last race in Hungary and needs to be able to overtake in the race.
Hamilton said it was a tough choice.
“This morning we had it one way and we changed it this afternoon,” he said.”Trying to find the balance is quite tricky.”
Hamilton said the heavy flooding that affected the region and caused widespread damage and some fatalities earlier this summer had also changed the track, producing a nasty bump in the middle of the famous Eau Rouge swerves.
“It is a great circuit.It is very bumpy now through Eau Rouge,” he added.”There is a massive bump right at the compression point which we’ve never had before.
It is really sharp.You feel it on the backside.I think it was something to do with the mudslides, the rain.”
Verstappen, who was running the higher downforce set-up on the Red Bull, said he was happy with the car.
“It was good,” he added.”The whole day we were quite happy, a few things to fine-tune, but a very positive start.”
The forecast of mixed conditions for the weekend, and the chance of a wet race in which higher downforce would be preferred, further complicates the choice.
Behind the top three, Alpine’s Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, ahead of Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and the second Alpine of Esteban Ocon.
McLaren’s Lando Norris was ninth fastest behind Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel and ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
Williams driver George Russell was 17th.
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357 comments Show Latest Oldest Highest Rated Most Replied
D Comment posted by Dave, at 16:18 27 Aug Dave 16:18 27 Aug Has Horner blamed Hamilton/Mercedes yet?
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58 M Reply posted by My Opinion Matters, at 16:24 27 Aug My Opinion Matters 16:24 27 Aug to Dave ” Has Horner blamed Hamilton/Mercedes yet? ” My Opinion Matters replied: Not yet but I understand that Geri is thinking about it.
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M Comment posted by morph, at 16:21 27 Aug morph 16:21 27 Aug I wonder if Mercedes will be blamed again for his crash!!!
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40 M Reply posted by muddy wolf, at 22:03 27 Aug muddy wolf 22:03 27 Aug to morph ” I wonder if Mercedes will be blamed again for his crash!!! ” muddy wolf replied: No, but they will expect them to pay.
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J Comment posted by Jeddle, at 16:29 27 Aug Jeddle 16:29 27 Aug I wonder if CH thinks it was amateurish?
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11 G Reply posted by GT, at 16:44 27 Aug GT 16:44 27 Aug to Jeddle ” I wonder if CH thinks it was amateurish? ” GT replied: I wonder if CH thinks it was Mercedes’ fault.
How very dare LH and VB try to drive as fast and force Max to overstep the car’s/tyres’ limits
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13 C Comment posted by Crystal Ball, at 16:50 27 Aug Crystal Ball 16:50 27 Aug I have little doubt that Max will be a champion….one day!
Nevertheless, he has to understand that it isn’t just about driving talent….it’s about controlling the red mist and that includes not picking up the toys that Horner keeps throwing out of his pram.
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16 S Reply posted by selfy, at 16:54 27 Aug selfy 16:54 27 Aug to Crystal Ball ” I have little doubt that Max will be a champion….one day!Nevertheless, he has to understand that it isn’t just about driving talent….it’s about controlling the red mist and that includes not picking up the toys that Horner keeps throwing out of his pram.” selfy replied: You’re right it’s not just about driving talent.
It’s about your ability to force someone off the track.
Ask Hamilton
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183 More replies (11) down
B Comment posted by blogg102, at 16:12 27 Aug blogg102 16:12 27 Aug Crashtappen strikes again.
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44 J Reply posted by Jeddle, at 16:33 27 Aug Jeddle 16:33 27 Aug to blogg102 ” Crashtappen strikes again.” Jeddle replied: He’s not mastered control of his emotions yet and it makes him make mistakes.
Hamilton was similar when he was younger but matured and became who is now.Verstappen needs to get a grip.
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N Comment posted by Nico Rosberg, at 16:26 27 Aug Nico Rosberg 16:26 27 Aug this is all that verstappen deserves for his absolutely petulant behaviour which would not stand in my household let alone on the world stage.
Jos really ought to show that kid some sporting etiquette and some jolly good decent manners! at least we have hamilton who is every bit the gentleman as my hero graham hill
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36 M Reply posted by mickwoo, at 16:38 27 Aug mickwoo 16:38 27 Aug to Nico Rosberg ” this is all that verstappen deserves for his absolutely petulant behaviour which would not stand in my household let alone on the world stage.
Jos really ought to show that kid some sporting etiquette and some jolly good decent manners! at least we have hamilton who is every bit the gentleman as my hero graham hill ” mickwoo replied: Lewis not so much the gentleman, when driving Max off the road!
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121 More replies (10) down
C Comment posted by Crystal Ball, at 16:18 27 Aug Crystal Ball 16:18 27 Aug So max is back in crashing form.No throttle or brake pedal required in his red bull car.So Horner in a corner again.More rebuilding and tired mechanics.
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16 N Reply posted by Name, at 17:31 27 Aug Name 17:31 27 Aug to Crystal Ball ” So max is back in crashing form.
No throttle or brake pedal required in his red bull car.So Horner in a corner again.More rebuilding and tired mechanics.” Name replied: I’m sure they’ll find some way to blame this on Mercedes
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8 T Comment posted by theprowerwins, at 18:02 27 Aug theprowerwins 18:02 27 Aug Have RB announced how much this Max inflicted crash is going to cost them?
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1 V Reply posted by Voice Of Reason, at 18:22 27 Aug Voice Of Reason 18:22 27 Aug to theprowerwins ” Have RB announced how much this Max inflicted crash is going to cost them? ” Voice Of Reason replied: I’d hazard a guess as to No? Turns out it isn’t such a big deal after all and they’ve also realised – crashes, in F1, are actually quite common.
Would you believe it?
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S Comment posted by Shades, at 16:14 27 Aug Shades 16:14 27 Aug If it rains on Sunday…then we could have carnage!
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3 F Reply posted by F1Knowledge, at 19:10 27 Aug F1Knowledge 19:10 27 Aug to Shades ” If it rains on Sunday…then we could have carnage! ” F1Knowledge replied: Can have carnage anyway – W Series today
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S Comment posted by stellatorty, at 16:17 27 Aug stellatorty 16:17 27 Aug Did Lewis force him off again or was he just being his usual clown?
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29 W Reply posted by wagnan77, at 16:19 27 Aug wagnan77 16:19 27 Aug to stellatorty ” Did Lewis force him off again or was he just being his usual clown? ” wagnan77 replied: haha love this
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P Comment posted by Pugwash, at 16:46 27 Aug Pugwash 16:46 27 Aug Surprised CH hasn’t blamed Hammy for Verstappen’s crash
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14 K Reply posted by kevirl, at 19:12 27 Aug kevirl 19:12 27 Aug to Pugwash ” Surprised CH hasn’t blamed Hammy for Verstappen’s crash ” kevirl replied: Wow nobody else has posted that
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1 K Comment posted by Killer, at 16:20 27 Aug Killer 16:20 27 Aug Crash Verstappen, sticks doesn’t it?
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15 B Reply posted by Badboy, at 18:35 27 Aug Badboy 18:35 27 Aug to Killer ” Crash Verstappen, sticks doesn’t it? ” Badboy replied: He crashes more often than crypto currencies
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2 B Comment posted by Bensons buddy, at 16:15 27 Aug Bensons buddy 16:15 27 Aug And once again Max collapses under any sort of pressure, when will people realise his very fast but not true champion material.
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35 W Reply posted by wagnan77, at 16:18 27 Aug wagnan77 16:18 27 Aug to Bensons buddy ” And once again Max collapses under any sort of pressure, when will people realise his very fast but not true champion material.” wagnan77 replied: Fully agree
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T Comment posted by Trinity Starr, at 17:25 27 Aug Trinity Starr 17:25 27 Aug RB & CH, blames Hamilton for MV crash stating his breathing pushed MV and made him crash
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6 O Comment posted by Olliewilks, at 16:49 27 Aug Olliewilks 16:49 27 Aug No problem with spinning/crashing in practise, Schumacher used to do it all the time.
The whole point of practise is to explore the limits so you know exactly where they are on race day.
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4 G Reply posted by GT, at 16:55 27 Aug GT 16:55 27 Aug to Olliewilks ” No problem with spinning/crashing in practise, Schumacher used to do it all the time.The whole point of practise is to explore the limits so you know exactly where they are on race day.
” GT replied: Weather/tyre & track temp render FP limits irrelevant to a large degree
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Z Comment posted by Zameen, at 19:10 27 Aug Zameen 19:10 27 Aug Breaking news – stewards to investigate Hamilton after Horner complains that Hamilton has got into Verstappens head
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7 W Reply posted by week 2 name, at 21:13 27 Aug week 2 name 21:13 27 Aug to Zameen ” Breaking news – stewards to investigate Hamilton after Horner complains that Hamilton has got into Verstappens head ” week 2 name replied: Glad it’s put something in there, it was a void before.
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2 T Comment posted by Terminus, at 16:27 27 Aug Terminus 16:27 27 Aug How long before Hamilton haters blame the spectre of Hamilton for the Verstappen’s crash?
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23 S Reply posted by ScottishNOTbritish, at 16:56 27 Aug ScottishNOTbritish 16:56 27 Aug to Terminus ” How long before Hamilton haters blame the spectre of Hamilton for the Verstappen’s crash? ” ScottishNOTbritish replied: I blame hammy 😆
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I Comment posted by Irons45, at 18:35 27 Aug Irons45 18:35 27 Aug I am a Hamilton fan but I dont hate or dislike Max or any other driver.
I respect all of them and can appreciate their skills while wanting Lewis to win.
And if Max wins I will say well deserved
Dont get this mentality of having to hate the rival of your favourite driver or team.
To me it is both childish and pathetic
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3 B Reply posted by BenRinnes, at 18:41 27 Aug BenRinnes 18:41 27 Aug to Irons45 ” I am a Hamilton fan but I dont hate or dislike Max or any other driver.I respect all of them and can appreciate their skills while wanting Lewis to win.And if Max wins I will say well deserved Dont get this mentality of having to hate the rival of your favourite driver or team.To me it is both childish and pathetic ” BenRinnes replied: It’s a tribal thing (oops can i say tribal these days without being too woke?) that has happened since the dawn of time
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M Comment posted by markcomment, at 16:18 27 Aug markcomment 16:18 27 Aug Must have lost his protected no claims bonus the number of times he’s crashed this season.
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11 B Reply posted by BBC123, at 16:20 27 Aug BBC123 16:20 27 Aug to markcomment ” Must have lost his protected no claims bonus the number of times he’s crashed this season.” BBC123 replied: To be fair, Hamilton and Bottas’ insurance will have been paying out for a few of the other incidents.
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C Comment posted by cj, at 16:30 27 Aug cj 16:30 27 Aug There are few on here today that are a bit sensitive.
All the abuse that was thrown around after silverstone, apparently that was okay.But today max touches the wall, people laugh and it’s “horrific” and “over the top”
Please have a day off and learn about contradiction!!
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9 N Reply posted by Nico Rosberg, at 16:37 27 Aug Nico Rosberg 16:37 27 Aug to cj ” There are few on here today that are a bit sensitive.
All the abuse that was thrown around after silverstone, apparently that was okay.But today max touches the wall, people laugh and it’s “horrific” and “over the top” Please have a day off and learn about contradiction!! ” Nico Rosberg replied: i know right! the world is too sensitive.here in great britain, booing other nations anthems, trashing the streets and cheering when others crash to our benefit is just a bit of banter! honestly, these other nations just cut it with our love lewis hamilton.BEST FANS
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