FP3 washed out ahead of Qualifying at the Belgian GP

FP3 at the Belgian Grand Prix was washed out after a flooding downpour hit the circuit, leaving the grid with limited wet-weather knowledge and many question marks ahead of expectedly similar conditions in tonight’s qualifying session.

After much talk all week, the highly-anticipated downpour finally unleashed on the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, creating a misty atmosphere in the dense forests of the Ardennes region in Belgium.

Sitting lonesome at the pit exit, Max Verstappen was the first driver to test the conditions on the intermediate tyre. 

He was immediately joined by the majority of the grid, with radio messages issuing warnings to drivers of heavier rainfall approaching in 10 minutes.

Oscar Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo formed part of the first haul of drivers, braving the saturated conditions early on.

The McLaren driver’s opening out-lap on the intermediate tyre was a very exploratory one, with Piastri relying on the asphalt run-off area at Turn 8 to slow his MCL38 down.

After completing a maiden push lap which left him at a three-second deficit to Verstappen, Piastri improved to P2 with a time of 2:02.998s.

He was one of the last drivers to set a time before a heavier downfall hit, boxing to avoid the Red Flag and unproductive conditions for the remaining 40 minutes of the session.

In the case of Daniel Ricciardo, the RB driver’s session didn’t get off the confident start he expected, reporting over the radio that he felt like he was “losing hydraulics” and “the steering [was] heavy”.

His race engineer, Pierre Hamelin gave Ricciardo a reassuring response indicating there were no visible issues with the #3’s challenger, however, his complaints continued for the next 10 minutes, prompting a return to the pits.

An Aston Martin-induced Red Flag reduced Ricciardo’s disadvantage of lost time, with all drivers forced to retreat as the track was cleared. 

The #3 was just one of a handful of drivers to make an appearance in the closing minutes of FP3, needing to test out his team’s adjustments ahead of qualifying.

Although not making it to the line in time to conduct a final flying lap, the Australian ended his session on the grid, adding a practice start to his limited list of tasks completed in FP3.

Daniel Ricciardo on track during final practice ahead of qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix. Image: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.

As for the rest of the grid, it was Verstappen who earned the opening benchmark, having explored the circuit in a similar sense to Piastri’s primary out-lap at Turn 8.

His time of 2:01.565s placed him in P1, ahead of the young Australian and Pierre Gasly — one of the last drivers to join the session.

Across the board, programs were cut short after 10 minutes of wet running, with an incident involving Lance Stroll and the barriers at Raidillon requiring attention.

In the wet conditions, Stroll fell victim to a snap of oversteer through Eau Rouge, attempting to counter the movement at the top of the high peak.

He failed to regain control of his Aston Martin, spinning into frontal contact with the barriers which dissipated his front wing and left his front left tyre hanging on by a thread.

The driver was ok despite being whisked away by the medical delegate, with the impact exceeding the lateral G-force limit.

Despite the pause only lasting around 10 minutes, the remaining 19 drivers were forced to set up camp in their garages for all but two minutes of the session after Race Control declared their own Red Flag.

With 120 seconds on the clock, those who were yet to take to the track, looking to experience the circuit on the wet tyre and wanting to double-check the health of their challengers were the only drivers to take the risk.

As one of three drivers yet to set a time during FP3, Carlos Sainz’s inexperience showed when he took an unwanted trip through the gravel at Turn 8 after locking up, the same corner that caused damage to Lando Norris’ floor in the opening minutes of the session.

He continued on, however, there wasn’t enough time on the clock to record a push lap.

The #55 retreated to the warmth of pits on his next lap around the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, leaving only a few drivers to end FP3 with a practice start on the grid, albeit on the full wet tyre. 

The lack of wet-weather running adds an extra edge of excitement and nervousness as the always-challenging qualifying session in Belgium rapidly approaches.

The shootout, with conditions hopefully easing, will kick off at Midnight.

Image: Mark Thompson/Getty Images // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

Free Practice 3 Results:

2024 Belgian Grand Prix Schedule:

Friday, July 26th:

FP1: 21:30 – 22:30

Saturday, July 27th:

FP2: 01:00 – 02:00

FP3: 20:30 – 21:30

Sunday, July 28th:

Qualifying: 00:00 – 01:00

Race Start: 23:00

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