The Red Bull Racing team has abandoned the use of the rotating rear wing at the Belgian Grand Prix. Team principal Laurent Mekies told BBC Sport about this. According to Mekies, at Spa, Max Verstappen's and Isaac Hadjar's cars will have a rear wing that opens in the standard way when moving in a straight line. This decision was made after the team held a filming day at Silverstone following the British Grand Prix. Previously, at the races in Austria and the UK, Max Verstappen went off track because the rotating rear wing did not close completely. Red Bull Racing did not specify what the exact problem is, but since the decision has been made to abandon the use of such a rear wing, it means that the issue has not yet been resolved completely.
Lando Norris initially found himself in an unfavorable position at the Belgian Grand Prix – he will lose ten places on the starting grid as McLaren decided to change the control electronics unit on his car, marking the fourth change when only three are allowed for the season. However, the reigning world champion tries to take the situation philosophically.
Lando Norris: "There’s another race weekend ahead of us, and that’s the main thing. I will try to perform better in qualifying and the race and show the highest possible result. Also, of course, we’ll see if we can improve in any way.
Certainly, the penalty doesn’t make our task easier, but I just had bad luck in the first part of the season; my car had many issues related to different areas – with the engine, with the control electronics, and with anything else. So in terms of spare parts consumption, I’m in an unfavorable position, but that’s not up to me.
That’s life, so there’s nothing left to do but show perseverance, trying to cope with the consequences of this penalty and those that are yet to come. But definitely, it’s better to serve such a penalty at this track than at the next two. In any case, despite everything, we will try to perform well this weekend.
The team continues to implement technical innovations, and each one helps to improve, although when you look at their list, you might think they will lead to some radical changes. In reality, the rear wing we will get this weekend is just a very small step forward. According to calculations, we’re not even talking about half a tenth of a second.
For now, we’re only talking about a very slight increase in speed. Let’s hope that the technical innovations we will receive at the races in Budapest and Zandvoort might give a bit more, but we are putting in maximum effort. Accelerating developments in such matters is impossible, so we have to pay a certain price.
The team continues to work hard; we are trying to do everything we can, and I think we achieved the best possible result in Silverstone. Although we are unlikely to win races in the near future, you never know how circumstances may unfold – it’s not out of the question that a good opportunity may arise if luck is on our side, and we will be capable of higher speeds than expected.
But for now, we have to show patience, and as a driver, I am doing everything I can."
Lando Norris: "There’s another race weekend ahead of us, and that’s the main thing. I will try to perform better in qualifying and the race and show the highest possible result. Also, of course, we’ll see if we can improve in any way.
Certainly, the penalty doesn’t make our task easier, but I just had bad luck in the first part of the season; my car had many issues related to different areas – with the engine, with the control electronics, and with anything else. So in terms of spare parts consumption, I’m in an unfavorable position, but that’s not up to me.
That’s life, so there’s nothing left to do but show perseverance, trying to cope with the consequences of this penalty and those that are yet to come. But definitely, it’s better to serve such a penalty at this track than at the next two. In any case, despite everything, we will try to perform well this weekend.
The team continues to implement technical innovations, and each one helps to improve, although when you look at their list, you might think they will lead to some radical changes. In reality, the rear wing we will get this weekend is just a very small step forward. According to calculations, we’re not even talking about half a tenth of a second.
For now, we’re only talking about a very slight increase in speed. Let’s hope that the technical innovations we will receive at the races in Budapest and Zandvoort might give a bit more, but we are putting in maximum effort. Accelerating developments in such matters is impossible, so we have to pay a certain price.
The team continues to work hard; we are trying to do everything we can, and I think we achieved the best possible result in Silverstone. Although we are unlikely to win races in the near future, you never know how circumstances may unfold – it’s not out of the question that a good opportunity may arise if luck is on our side, and we will be capable of higher speeds than expected.
But for now, we have to show patience, and as a driver, I am doing everything I can."
Silverstone became only the second round of the season where Gabriel Bortoleto managed to earn points, but the Brazilian Audi driver hopes that the streak of misfortune is behind him and that he will be able to fight for points in both Grands Prix that are to be held before the summer break.
Gabriel Bortoleto: "At the previous round, we were able to earn points again – I think this is good for all of us, for our team, as there were several races before where we couldn't achieve that. It was frustrating because we knew the car was capable of a decent pace, but for one reason or another, we couldn't put everything together.
However, the weekend in Silverstone went quite well, we had a decent qualifying and race, and we were also able to improve our start. All of this was encouraging, and we hope that in the next two rounds we can build on that success.
However, the track in Spa has a lot of straights, and because of this, we might find ourselves in a difficult position, as we know our car doesn't perform well in those sections of the track where everything depends on engine power. However, there are also quite a few corners here, so it will be interesting, although the task is to try to improve in all aspects.
I'm very curious to see how we will do this weekend, as this is one of those rounds of the season where I really can't predict how our car will perform. The best approach is to start the practice sessions, believe whether we have the right approach to energy usage, understand what level we are at, and act accordingly."
Gabriel Bortoleto: "At the previous round, we were able to earn points again – I think this is good for all of us, for our team, as there were several races before where we couldn't achieve that. It was frustrating because we knew the car was capable of a decent pace, but for one reason or another, we couldn't put everything together.
However, the weekend in Silverstone went quite well, we had a decent qualifying and race, and we were also able to improve our start. All of this was encouraging, and we hope that in the next two rounds we can build on that success.
However, the track in Spa has a lot of straights, and because of this, we might find ourselves in a difficult position, as we know our car doesn't perform well in those sections of the track where everything depends on engine power. However, there are also quite a few corners here, so it will be interesting, although the task is to try to improve in all aspects.
I'm very curious to see how we will do this weekend, as this is one of those rounds of the season where I really can't predict how our car will perform. The best approach is to start the practice sessions, believe whether we have the right approach to energy usage, understand what level we are at, and act accordingly."
Last year, Oscar Piastri was considered one of the main contenders for the title, and he indeed led the personal standings for quite a while. However, starting from the autumn stages of the season, the Australian driver clearly lost ground, and in the end, the world champion became Lando Norris, his teammate at McLaren.
This year, as Formula 1 transitioned to new generation cars, the Woking team does not look its best, with its drivers yet to secure a victory, and after nine stages, Piastri is in 6th place in the personal standings, trailing Norris by 15 points. One of the actively discussed topics is Oscar's future prospects, as there are rumors that Max Verstappen could take his place at McLaren.
The management of the British team and Mark Webber, Piastri's manager, categorically deny this, but the rumor mill continues to churn, as it always does in the middle of the year.
Now, the 25-year-old driver himself, who has 9 victories and has stood on the podium 28 times over three and a half seasons, has also commented on this topic.
"If we're talking about me, I'm just trying to fully focus on my work – that's the main thing right now," Oscar said while participating in the Checkered Flag podcast. "I know that I will continue to race for McLaren in the foreseeable future, and I know that the team is happy with me. I also enjoy working with this group, and we have developed a good relationship.
Overall, from my perspective, all of this is just noise, and I don't intend to react to it. I'm just trying to stay focused and perform as well as I can. For me, that's the most important thing, and let others talk and entertain themselves as they wish."
A couple of months ago, Piastri had to comment on rumors that he was allegedly already negotiating with Red Bull – of course, he denied everything then as well. Formally, Verstappen's contract with this team runs until 2028, but, firstly, contracts often include special clauses allowing for early termination under certain conditions, and secondly, the history of Formula 1 knows many examples that if it's really necessary, any agreements can be renegotiated.
This year, as Formula 1 transitioned to new generation cars, the Woking team does not look its best, with its drivers yet to secure a victory, and after nine stages, Piastri is in 6th place in the personal standings, trailing Norris by 15 points. One of the actively discussed topics is Oscar's future prospects, as there are rumors that Max Verstappen could take his place at McLaren.
The management of the British team and Mark Webber, Piastri's manager, categorically deny this, but the rumor mill continues to churn, as it always does in the middle of the year.
Now, the 25-year-old driver himself, who has 9 victories and has stood on the podium 28 times over three and a half seasons, has also commented on this topic.
"If we're talking about me, I'm just trying to fully focus on my work – that's the main thing right now," Oscar said while participating in the Checkered Flag podcast. "I know that I will continue to race for McLaren in the foreseeable future, and I know that the team is happy with me. I also enjoy working with this group, and we have developed a good relationship.
Overall, from my perspective, all of this is just noise, and I don't intend to react to it. I'm just trying to stay focused and perform as well as I can. For me, that's the most important thing, and let others talk and entertain themselves as they wish."
A couple of months ago, Piastri had to comment on rumors that he was allegedly already negotiating with Red Bull – of course, he denied everything then as well. Formally, Verstappen's contract with this team runs until 2028, but, firstly, contracts often include special clauses allowing for early termination under certain conditions, and secondly, the history of Formula 1 knows many examples that if it's really necessary, any agreements can be renegotiated.
Liam Lawson has scored points in seven out of the nine completed Grands Prix. The Racing Bulls driver is satisfied with his results and believes he has made progress compared to last year.
Liam Lawson: "The season is going very well, and the car is working great. I think what makes me happiest is the progress itself. Every time we bring updates or focus on a certain direction, we manage to implement what we planned and achieve the speed increase we were looking for. So everything is really going very well.
Of course, this is motorsport, and sometimes things happen that you can't influence. But right now I'm trying to focus on everything that depends on me. This approach is yielding results, which is very pleasing.
I think I've taken a step forward this year. But at the same time, it's a natural result of accumulated experience. The more races you participate in, the more you learn and improve.
If you compare me to the moment when I just debuted in Formula 1, I've learned a lot since then. I'm trying to maximize my own potential, and I feel very good right now."
Speaking about the chances of scoring points in Spa, Liam was optimistic: "I hope it's possible. This track is generally similar to Silverstone, and we were competitive there, so there’s no reason why we shouldn't be strong here. We have prepared new items, and there will even be more on Arvid's car. Let's see what effect they will have. I hope they will help us."
Liam Lawson: "The season is going very well, and the car is working great. I think what makes me happiest is the progress itself. Every time we bring updates or focus on a certain direction, we manage to implement what we planned and achieve the speed increase we were looking for. So everything is really going very well.
Of course, this is motorsport, and sometimes things happen that you can't influence. But right now I'm trying to focus on everything that depends on me. This approach is yielding results, which is very pleasing.
I think I've taken a step forward this year. But at the same time, it's a natural result of accumulated experience. The more races you participate in, the more you learn and improve.
If you compare me to the moment when I just debuted in Formula 1, I've learned a lot since then. I'm trying to maximize my own potential, and I feel very good right now."
Speaking about the chances of scoring points in Spa, Liam was optimistic: "I hope it's possible. This track is generally similar to Silverstone, and we were competitive there, so there’s no reason why we shouldn't be strong here. We have prepared new items, and there will even be more on Arvid's car. Let's see what effect they will have. I hope they will help us."
In the last stage in Silverstone, George Russell reduced his deficit in the personal standings from Kimi Antonelli to 25 points. On Thursday in Spa, the Mercedes driver mentioned that he had to change his driving style due to the characteristics of the new generation car, and this affected his results in the first half of the season.
George Russell: "It's great that the gap has narrowed, but I don't really think about it. My task is to achieve the best possible result and show the highest level.
To be honest, at each stage we are still learning a lot and continue to look for extra speed. We are still figuring out the new power units, cars, and tires, but I feel I am in a good position.
In any car, you naturally adapt your driving style as needed. When I raced in Formula 4, Formula 3, Formula 2, and in Formula 1 for Williams, and then in the previous generation cars, my style generally matched the requirements of all those cars. However, this year we have seen a number of characteristics that my style doesn't quite fit yet in terms of working with the power unit and tires.
As a result, I have to set up the car in ways I have hardly set it up before. Because of this, I have to drive the car more consciously, rather than relying on reflexes, and that is also a downside in some sense. So I hope that I will get through this learning phase now, after which I can use the knowledge gained to my advantage.
It's probably similar to a golfer who changes their swing technique. At first, they may struggle a bit, then they relearn the new technique, and after that, they play better. I think I am currently at a similar stage."
George Russell: "It's great that the gap has narrowed, but I don't really think about it. My task is to achieve the best possible result and show the highest level.
To be honest, at each stage we are still learning a lot and continue to look for extra speed. We are still figuring out the new power units, cars, and tires, but I feel I am in a good position.
In any car, you naturally adapt your driving style as needed. When I raced in Formula 4, Formula 3, Formula 2, and in Formula 1 for Williams, and then in the previous generation cars, my style generally matched the requirements of all those cars. However, this year we have seen a number of characteristics that my style doesn't quite fit yet in terms of working with the power unit and tires.
As a result, I have to set up the car in ways I have hardly set it up before. Because of this, I have to drive the car more consciously, rather than relying on reflexes, and that is also a downside in some sense. So I hope that I will get through this learning phase now, after which I can use the knowledge gained to my advantage.
It's probably similar to a golfer who changes their swing technique. At first, they may struggle a bit, then they relearn the new technique, and after that, they play better. I think I am currently at a similar stage."
On Friday at Spa, three drivers worked with Aston Martin. Lance Stroll completed both practice sessions, while Jack Crawford replaced Fernando Alonso in the first one. In both sessions, the Aston Martin drivers were over five seconds behind the leaders, and in the traditional press release summarizing the day, the team's press service decided not to give the floor to Fernando Alonso.
Lance Stroll (21st): "Right now, all our attention is focused on preparing for Saturday's sessions and the race, and we will continue to work on improving the car. We know what positions we are in, so it’s important to do everything possible and overcome the difficulties we faced this weekend.
Friday's practices went as expected, but I hope we can make a step forward in Hungary."
Jack Crawford (22nd in the first session): "It was great to get out of the pits today and complete my first laps in Spa behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car. It's a completely different track compared to those I worked on in previous practices.
We know that we are not as competitive as we would like at the moment, but we completed the planned program and gathered useful information. Such sessions are important for both my professional growth and for the team."
Lance Stroll (21st): "Right now, all our attention is focused on preparing for Saturday's sessions and the race, and we will continue to work on improving the car. We know what positions we are in, so it’s important to do everything possible and overcome the difficulties we faced this weekend.
Friday's practices went as expected, but I hope we can make a step forward in Hungary."
Jack Crawford (22nd in the first session): "It was great to get out of the pits today and complete my first laps in Spa behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car. It's a completely different track compared to those I worked on in previous practices.
We know that we are not as competitive as we would like at the moment, but we completed the planned program and gathered useful information. Such sessions are important for both my professional growth and for the team."
Esteban Ocon is waiting for the weekend in Spa with little optimism...
Esteban Ocon: "The last races have been challenging for our team. Of course, we want more. And this weekend we brought some new updates. I hope they work.
In Silverstone, we squeezed everything we could out of the car. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough. I finished the race in 13th place, but the car couldn't compete with the other midfield teams. We need to work on our speed. I hope the updates will help us with that."
Esteban Ocon: "The last races have been challenging for our team. Of course, we want more. And this weekend we brought some new updates. I hope they work.
In Silverstone, we squeezed everything we could out of the car. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough. I finished the race in 13th place, but the car couldn't compete with the other midfield teams. We need to work on our speed. I hope the updates will help us with that."
Kimi Antonelli finished Friday's practice in Spa with the best time, completing a lap of the 7-kilometer Belgian track in 1:45.944. Meanwhile, George Russell, his teammate at Mercedes, ended up in 8th place on the timesheet with a result that was 1.285 seconds slower.
Kimi Antonelli (1st): "We made significant changes to the car's setup, and compared to the first practice, its behavior has noticeably improved. Of course, it's always good when you manage to find the right direction in working with the car, but there is still a lot to do, including working on my driving style.
Overall, the second session went better, and now we are starting to prepare for tomorrow. Of course, the weekend in Silverstone also went quite well, but in the end, we didn't score any points at all. It's clear that a new weekend begins in Spa, where we face different challenges. But the task remains the same – to conduct each session as effectively as possible to achieve the best result.
Certainly, the first day of the weekend ended well, but now we need to work hard to prepare better for tomorrow."
George Russell (8th): "Friday in Spa didn't go particularly smoothly for us. In the first session, we overestimated the level of grip, which meant that the car was initially set up poorly. Because of this, there were balance issues, and although we managed to gather useful information, the start of the weekend can't be called ideal.
Therefore, before the second session, we had to do a lot of work and make several changes to the setup, which allowed us to achieve certain improvements.
But we can still improve, especially on one fast lap, and we'll focus on that this evening. The pace on long runs was more confident, which is encouraging for the remaining two days of the weekend."
Kimi Antonelli (1st): "We made significant changes to the car's setup, and compared to the first practice, its behavior has noticeably improved. Of course, it's always good when you manage to find the right direction in working with the car, but there is still a lot to do, including working on my driving style.
Overall, the second session went better, and now we are starting to prepare for tomorrow. Of course, the weekend in Silverstone also went quite well, but in the end, we didn't score any points at all. It's clear that a new weekend begins in Spa, where we face different challenges. But the task remains the same – to conduct each session as effectively as possible to achieve the best result.
Certainly, the first day of the weekend ended well, but now we need to work hard to prepare better for tomorrow."
George Russell (8th): "Friday in Spa didn't go particularly smoothly for us. In the first session, we overestimated the level of grip, which meant that the car was initially set up poorly. Because of this, there were balance issues, and although we managed to gather useful information, the start of the weekend can't be called ideal.
Therefore, before the second session, we had to do a lot of work and make several changes to the setup, which allowed us to achieve certain improvements.
But we can still improve, especially on one fast lap, and we'll focus on that this evening. The pace on long runs was more confident, which is encouraging for the remaining two days of the weekend."
Kimi Antonelli finished Friday's practice in Spa with the best time, completing a lap of the 7-kilometer Belgian track in 1:45.944. Meanwhile, George Russell, his teammate at Mercedes, ended up in 8th place in the standings with a result that was 1.285 seconds slower.
Kimi Antonelli (1st): "We made significant changes to the car's setup, and compared to the first practice, its behavior has noticeably improved. Of course, it's always good when you manage to find the right direction in working with the car, but there's still a lot to do, including working on my driving style.
Overall, the second session went better, and now we are starting to prepare for tomorrow. Of course, the weekend in Silverstone also went quite well, but in the end, we didn't score any points at all. It's clear that a new weekend begins in Spa, where we face different challenges. But the task remains the same – to conduct each session as effectively as possible to achieve the best result.
Certainly, the first day of the weekend ended well, but now we need to work hard to prepare better for tomorrow."
George Russell (8th): "Friday in Spa didn't go particularly smoothly for us. In the first session, we overestimated the level of grip, which meant that the car was initially set up poorly. Because of this, there were balance issues, and although we were able to gather useful information, the start of the weekend can't be called ideal.
Therefore, a lot of work had to be done before the second session, and a number of changes were made to the setup, which led to certain improvements.
But we can still improve, especially on one fast lap, and we'll focus on that this evening. The pace on long runs was more confident, which is encouraging ahead of the remaining two days of the weekend."
Kimi Antonelli (1st): "We made significant changes to the car's setup, and compared to the first practice, its behavior has noticeably improved. Of course, it's always good when you manage to find the right direction in working with the car, but there's still a lot to do, including working on my driving style.
Overall, the second session went better, and now we are starting to prepare for tomorrow. Of course, the weekend in Silverstone also went quite well, but in the end, we didn't score any points at all. It's clear that a new weekend begins in Spa, where we face different challenges. But the task remains the same – to conduct each session as effectively as possible to achieve the best result.
Certainly, the first day of the weekend ended well, but now we need to work hard to prepare better for tomorrow."
George Russell (8th): "Friday in Spa didn't go particularly smoothly for us. In the first session, we overestimated the level of grip, which meant that the car was initially set up poorly. Because of this, there were balance issues, and although we were able to gather useful information, the start of the weekend can't be called ideal.
Therefore, a lot of work had to be done before the second session, and a number of changes were made to the setup, which led to certain improvements.
But we can still improve, especially on one fast lap, and we'll focus on that this evening. The pace on long runs was more confident, which is encouraging ahead of the remaining two days of the weekend."
Cadillac positively assessed the results of the first day of the racing weekend in Spa. The team believes that they were able to reduce the gap from their competitors on the Belgian track.
Valtteri Bottas (19th): "Overall, it was a positive and productive day. We completed all the planned work on the setups and conducted a large number of different tests. There were no issues with the car, which allowed us to maximize our time on the track.
In Spa, we are a bit closer to the midfield teams, which is encouraging. There is a lot to analyze this evening, but we gathered useful information and will focus on finding ways to improve and take the next step forward tomorrow."
Sergio Perez (20th): "It's great to be back in Spa, although the feel of the track in the new generation cars is now completely different. We had a solid day, working with different tire compounds and varying amounts of fuel in the tanks, although both sessions were interrupted by red flags.
We still need to work on the balance and energy consumption throughout the lap. The team will address this tonight to improve in tomorrow's qualifying."
Valtteri Bottas (19th): "Overall, it was a positive and productive day. We completed all the planned work on the setups and conducted a large number of different tests. There were no issues with the car, which allowed us to maximize our time on the track.
In Spa, we are a bit closer to the midfield teams, which is encouraging. There is a lot to analyze this evening, but we gathered useful information and will focus on finding ways to improve and take the next step forward tomorrow."
Sergio Perez (20th): "It's great to be back in Spa, although the feel of the track in the new generation cars is now completely different. We had a solid day, working with different tire compounds and varying amounts of fuel in the tanks, although both sessions were interrupted by red flags.
We still need to work on the balance and energy consumption throughout the lap. The team will address this tonight to improve in tomorrow's qualifying."
On Friday in Spa, Lando Norris set the second fastest time in practice, while his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri had a tougher time – during the first session, his MCL40 experienced hydraulic system issues. Because of this, he was able to start the second practice about 15 minutes later than the other drivers.
Lando Norris (2nd): "In terms of pace, we managed to show good speed on one fast lap towards the end of the session. It seems that the result is more or less normal, however, this season we have often looked decent in practice but fell back in qualifying.
Today's practices went according to plan overall, although the first session had its challenges, and we couldn't immediately get out of the garage onto the track. It would also have been nice to complete a couple more laps, but there were red flags at the end of the first session.
During the break between sessions, we made some changes to the setup, and the car's behavior immediately improved. On Saturday during the third practice, it will become clear if we can take another step forward.
But since our car remains practically the same as it was, it's unlikely we can expect a significant gain. For example, Red Bull usually doesn't show everything they're capable of on Fridays, so tomorrow they will likely go just as fast or even faster, but we'll see how everything unfolds.
I believe we are about fourth in terms of speed, but if we do everything right, we can get a bit closer to the leaders than we were in Silverstone."
Oscar Piastri (6th): "Overall, the day went relatively well. Unfortunately, we left for the second practice late because the team continued to work on the car, addressing the causes of the fluid leak from the hydraulic system that started towards the end of the first session.
I am grateful to our mechanics who managed to resolve the issue, and we were able to make good progress during the second practice, showing decent pace.
We are moving in the right direction and have laid a good foundation to continue improving in the third practice and qualifying."
Lando Norris (2nd): "In terms of pace, we managed to show good speed on one fast lap towards the end of the session. It seems that the result is more or less normal, however, this season we have often looked decent in practice but fell back in qualifying.
Today's practices went according to plan overall, although the first session had its challenges, and we couldn't immediately get out of the garage onto the track. It would also have been nice to complete a couple more laps, but there were red flags at the end of the first session.
During the break between sessions, we made some changes to the setup, and the car's behavior immediately improved. On Saturday during the third practice, it will become clear if we can take another step forward.
But since our car remains practically the same as it was, it's unlikely we can expect a significant gain. For example, Red Bull usually doesn't show everything they're capable of on Fridays, so tomorrow they will likely go just as fast or even faster, but we'll see how everything unfolds.
I believe we are about fourth in terms of speed, but if we do everything right, we can get a bit closer to the leaders than we were in Silverstone."
Oscar Piastri (6th): "Overall, the day went relatively well. Unfortunately, we left for the second practice late because the team continued to work on the car, addressing the causes of the fluid leak from the hydraulic system that started towards the end of the first session.
I am grateful to our mechanics who managed to resolve the issue, and we were able to make good progress during the second practice, showing decent pace.
We are moving in the right direction and have laid a good foundation to continue improving in the third practice and qualifying."
In the Friday practices of the Belgian Grand Prix, Audi drivers worked on different programs, testing various tire compounds and aerodynamic configurations. Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg showed thirteenth and seventeenth times respectively in the second session and hope to improve in qualifying.
Gabriel Bortoleto (13th): "It was a normal and productive Friday. The first and second practices are behind us, and we gathered a lot of information for analysis. We still have a lot to improve and learn – the team will focus on this in the evening.
We will analyze all the collected data to understand how we can achieve greater speed, and we will do everything possible to approach qualifying in optimal shape."
Nico Hülkenberg (17th): "Today was dedicated to learning. We tried several different solutions and gathered useful information. Now we need to study the collected data and make sure that we choose the best option tomorrow.
We know it won't be easy to break into the top ten, but there are still opportunities to fight. You never know how the weekend will unfold, so all attention is on bringing together all the components and seizing any opportunity."
Gabriel Bortoleto (13th): "It was a normal and productive Friday. The first and second practices are behind us, and we gathered a lot of information for analysis. We still have a lot to improve and learn – the team will focus on this in the evening.
We will analyze all the collected data to understand how we can achieve greater speed, and we will do everything possible to approach qualifying in optimal shape."
Nico Hülkenberg (17th): "Today was dedicated to learning. We tried several different solutions and gathered useful information. Now we need to study the collected data and make sure that we choose the best option tomorrow.
We know it won't be easy to break into the top ten, but there are still opportunities to fight. You never know how the weekend will unfold, so all attention is on bringing together all the components and seizing any opportunity."
In the Friday practices of the Belgian Grand Prix, Audi drivers worked on different programs, testing various tire compounds and aerodynamic configurations. Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg showed thirteenth and seventeenth times respectively in the second session and hope to improve in qualifying.
Gabriel Bortoleto (13th): "It was a normal and productive Friday. The first and second practices are behind us, and we gathered a lot of information for analysis. We still have a lot to improve and learn – the team will focus on this in the evening.
We will analyze all the collected data to understand how we can achieve greater speed, and we will do everything possible to approach qualifying in optimal shape."
Nico Hülkenberg (17th): "Today was dedicated to learning. We tried several different solutions and gathered useful information. Now we need to study the collected data and make sure that we choose the best option tomorrow.
We know it won't be easy to break into the top ten, but there are opportunities to fight. You never know how the weekend will unfold, so all attention is on bringing together all the components and seizing any opportunity."
Gabriel Bortoleto (13th): "It was a normal and productive Friday. The first and second practices are behind us, and we gathered a lot of information for analysis. We still have a lot to improve and learn – the team will focus on this in the evening.
We will analyze all the collected data to understand how we can achieve greater speed, and we will do everything possible to approach qualifying in optimal shape."
Nico Hülkenberg (17th): "Today was dedicated to learning. We tried several different solutions and gathered useful information. Now we need to study the collected data and make sure that we choose the best option tomorrow.
We know it won't be easy to break into the top ten, but there are opportunities to fight. You never know how the weekend will unfold, so all attention is on bringing together all the components and seizing any opportunity."
On Friday, Haas F1 completed a big program and was satisfied with the results of the day…
Oliver Berman (12th): “A positive day. We put on a new front wing – it’s not exactly a novelty, but a step in the right direction. The car behaves better with it.
We need to focus on what we have. The balance was quite good, and I hope the weather will play in our favor. When it’s cooler, the car works better. We will do our best to achieve more on Saturday and Sunday.”
Esteban Ocon (14th): “It was interesting to drive the first laps in Spa with this year’s cars. It’s not easy to distribute energy correctly on the lap here. Fortunately, it didn’t rain, but we’ll see how everything turns out tomorrow.
There are a few small things we need to work on. We will work on this overnight.”
Oliver Berman (12th): “A positive day. We put on a new front wing – it’s not exactly a novelty, but a step in the right direction. The car behaves better with it.
We need to focus on what we have. The balance was quite good, and I hope the weather will play in our favor. When it’s cooler, the car works better. We will do our best to achieve more on Saturday and Sunday.”
Esteban Ocon (14th): “It was interesting to drive the first laps in Spa with this year’s cars. It’s not easy to distribute energy correctly on the lap here. Fortunately, it didn’t rain, but we’ll see how everything turns out tomorrow.
There are a few small things we need to work on. We will work on this overnight.”
On Friday, Haas F1 completed a large program and were pleased with the results of the day...
Oliver Berman (12th): "A positive day. We fitted a new front wing – it's not exactly a novelty, but a step in the right direction. The car behaves better with it.
We need to focus on what we have. The balance was quite good, and I hope the weather will play in our favor. When it's cooler, the car performs better. We will do everything possible to achieve more on Saturday and Sunday."
Esteban Ocon (14th): "It was interesting to drive the first laps in Spa with this year's cars. It's not easy to distribute energy correctly on the lap here. Fortunately, there was no rain, but we'll see how everything turns out tomorrow.
There are a few details we need to work on. We'll work on that overnight."
Oliver Berman (12th): "A positive day. We fitted a new front wing – it's not exactly a novelty, but a step in the right direction. The car behaves better with it.
We need to focus on what we have. The balance was quite good, and I hope the weather will play in our favor. When it's cooler, the car performs better. We will do everything possible to achieve more on Saturday and Sunday."
Esteban Ocon (14th): "It was interesting to drive the first laps in Spa with this year's cars. It's not easy to distribute energy correctly on the lap here. Fortunately, there was no rain, but we'll see how everything turns out tomorrow.
There are a few details we need to work on. We'll work on that overnight."
Pierre Gasly crashed the car during the second practice of the Belgian Grand Prix. After the session, the Alpine driver said that the car suddenly went off the track, and he and the team do not yet know the reason. Franco Colapinto finished the practice with the seventh fastest time and was pleased with the progress made.
Franco Colapinto (7th): "The day went very productively, and I finished in seventh place in the second practice. I think we can be satisfied with the progress made in both sessions. In the first practice, we tested different solutions on both cars to understand where we need to improve. I know that some of the competitors did not show times that reflect their true speed, but we are focused on ourselves and will try to improve.
In some parts of the track, the car is particularly fast, while in others we look weak, but that’s the nature of the Spa track with its different sectors. The goal is to improve the car, find more pace, and achieve the best possible result in qualifying."
Pierre Gasly (18th): "First of all, I’m glad to be okay after the incident in the second practice. The impact with the wall was quite strong – the car suddenly went off, and I couldn’t regain control. I’m sure we will figure out the reasons for what happened with the team, as the car went off very abruptly and suffered serious damage.
As for the rest of the day, the tests in both practices went quite successfully, and we tried various parts on both cars. Now we will analyze everything and see which option is best to use for the remaining days of the weekend. On Saturday, we will try to put everything together and qualify in the top ten."
Franco Colapinto (7th): "The day went very productively, and I finished in seventh place in the second practice. I think we can be satisfied with the progress made in both sessions. In the first practice, we tested different solutions on both cars to understand where we need to improve. I know that some of the competitors did not show times that reflect their true speed, but we are focused on ourselves and will try to improve.
In some parts of the track, the car is particularly fast, while in others we look weak, but that’s the nature of the Spa track with its different sectors. The goal is to improve the car, find more pace, and achieve the best possible result in qualifying."
Pierre Gasly (18th): "First of all, I’m glad to be okay after the incident in the second practice. The impact with the wall was quite strong – the car suddenly went off, and I couldn’t regain control. I’m sure we will figure out the reasons for what happened with the team, as the car went off very abruptly and suffered serious damage.
As for the rest of the day, the tests in both practices went quite successfully, and we tried various parts on both cars. Now we will analyze everything and see which option is best to use for the remaining days of the weekend. On Saturday, we will try to put everything together and qualify in the top ten."
Pirelli tire specialists summarized the results of Friday's practice sessions at the Spa circuit, noting that they were somewhat affected by the Belgian weather...
Simone Berra, chief engineer at Pirelli: "Due to the rain that fell overnight and intermittently during the day, the level of grip significantly decreased, which resulted in track performances being worse than expected, both for us and for the teams. However, if there are no more showers, the track will gradually be covered with a layer of used rubber, and grip will return to previous levels.
Despite the fact that the work on the track during the second session was interrupted by red flags, the teams should have gathered enough information to prepare adequately for the main events of the weekend.
On the softer tire compounds, the level of degradation is somewhat higher than expected, affecting both axles: the front due to the abrasive asphalt, while the rear tires are subject to thermal effects. But in the remaining days of the weekend, temperatures will be lower, and the track condition will improve, so we do not expect a repeat of this effect.
The speed difference between the Medium and Soft tire compounds is approximately in line with calculations – it is about 0.4-0.5 seconds. In the first practice session, only a few teams worked with the hard tires, while most preferred to save two sets of Hard. It is curious what reasons this is based on, considering that a single pit stop strategy is quite likely on Sunday.
However, an additional set of tires could become a valuable asset in case of a race neutralization, if by that time one pit stop has already been made."
Simone Berra, chief engineer at Pirelli: "Due to the rain that fell overnight and intermittently during the day, the level of grip significantly decreased, which resulted in track performances being worse than expected, both for us and for the teams. However, if there are no more showers, the track will gradually be covered with a layer of used rubber, and grip will return to previous levels.
Despite the fact that the work on the track during the second session was interrupted by red flags, the teams should have gathered enough information to prepare adequately for the main events of the weekend.
On the softer tire compounds, the level of degradation is somewhat higher than expected, affecting both axles: the front due to the abrasive asphalt, while the rear tires are subject to thermal effects. But in the remaining days of the weekend, temperatures will be lower, and the track condition will improve, so we do not expect a repeat of this effect.
The speed difference between the Medium and Soft tire compounds is approximately in line with calculations – it is about 0.4-0.5 seconds. In the first practice session, only a few teams worked with the hard tires, while most preferred to save two sets of Hard. It is curious what reasons this is based on, considering that a single pit stop strategy is quite likely on Sunday.
However, an additional set of tires could become a valuable asset in case of a race neutralization, if by that time one pit stop has already been made."
The deputy team principal of Ferrari, Jérôme D'Ambrosio, gave a brief interview to the Scuderia press service, in which he talked about the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix and the mood in the team after Charles Leclerc's victory in Silverstone.
Question: The Belgian Grand Prix is a home race for you, and Ferrari has always had tremendous support from local fans. What does this race mean to you?
Jérôme D'Ambrosio: For me, this is a special race. In Belgium, Ferrari always has a lot of fans, and it feels great to feel their support.
Spa is one of the fastest and most challenging tracks on the calendar. The fast sections require maximum effort from the driver, and the elevation changes and character of the track make every lap a real challenge. There are very few circuits like this in the championship.
What makes Spa special is not just the configuration of the track. There is always a unique atmosphere here, and the support from the fans gives us extra strength.
Question: The team will arrive in Spa after the race in Silverstone, where Charles Leclerc won a few weeks after Lewis Hamilton's success in Barcelona. What is the mood in the team right now?
Jérôme D'Ambrosio: The mood is good, but the whole team is fully focused on the work. The victories in Barcelona and Silverstone reflected the progress made by everyone working on the track and at the base in Maranello. This is the result of constant and intense work.
However, we understand that the pace of development of the car is crucial this season. Therefore, we continue to work hard with both drivers to further improve the car.
Question: This season is turning out to be very unpredictable. What approach is the team taking?
Jérôme D'Ambrosio: The most important thing is to stay calm and understand that each race can turn out differently. We are competing against very strong teams, so we approach each Grand Prix and each session with one goal – to make the most of everything we have at our disposal.
With the new generation of cars, every little detail can play a decisive role, so attention to every detail is of immense importance. We continue to work in two directions – we strive to maximize the car's potential on the track while simultaneously continuing our development work at the base in Maranello.
Question: The Belgian Grand Prix is a home race for you, and Ferrari has always had tremendous support from local fans. What does this race mean to you?
Jérôme D'Ambrosio: For me, this is a special race. In Belgium, Ferrari always has a lot of fans, and it feels great to feel their support.
Spa is one of the fastest and most challenging tracks on the calendar. The fast sections require maximum effort from the driver, and the elevation changes and character of the track make every lap a real challenge. There are very few circuits like this in the championship.
What makes Spa special is not just the configuration of the track. There is always a unique atmosphere here, and the support from the fans gives us extra strength.
Question: The team will arrive in Spa after the race in Silverstone, where Charles Leclerc won a few weeks after Lewis Hamilton's success in Barcelona. What is the mood in the team right now?
Jérôme D'Ambrosio: The mood is good, but the whole team is fully focused on the work. The victories in Barcelona and Silverstone reflected the progress made by everyone working on the track and at the base in Maranello. This is the result of constant and intense work.
However, we understand that the pace of development of the car is crucial this season. Therefore, we continue to work hard with both drivers to further improve the car.
Question: This season is turning out to be very unpredictable. What approach is the team taking?
Jérôme D'Ambrosio: The most important thing is to stay calm and understand that each race can turn out differently. We are competing against very strong teams, so we approach each Grand Prix and each session with one goal – to make the most of everything we have at our disposal.
With the new generation of cars, every little detail can play a decisive role, so attention to every detail is of immense importance. We continue to work in two directions – we strive to maximize the car's potential on the track while simultaneously continuing our development work at the base in Maranello.
The deputy team principal of Ferrari, Jérôme D'Ambrosio, gave a brief interview to the Scuderia press service, in which he talked about the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix and the mood in the team after Charles Leclerc's victory in Silverstone.
Question: The Belgian Grand Prix is a home race for you, and Ferrari has always had tremendous support from local fans. What does this race mean to you?
Jérôme D'Ambrosio: For me, this is a special race. In Belgium, Ferrari always has a lot of fans, and it feels great to feel their support.
Spa is one of the fastest and most challenging tracks on the calendar. The fast sections require maximum effort from the driver, and the elevation changes and character of the track make every lap a real challenge. There are very few circuits like this in the championship.
What makes Spa special is not just the configuration of the track. There is always a unique atmosphere here, and the support from the fans gives us extra strength.
Question: The team will arrive in Spa after the race in Silverstone, where Charles Leclerc won a few weeks after Lewis Hamilton's success in Barcelona. What is the mood in the team right now?
Jérôme D'Ambrosio: The mood is good, but the whole team is fully focused on work. The victories in Barcelona and Silverstone reflect the progress made by everyone working on the track and at the base in Maranello. This is the result of constant and intense work.
However, we understand that the pace of development of the car is crucial this season. Therefore, we continue to work hard together with both drivers to further improve the car.
Question: This season is turning out to be very unpredictable. What approach is the team taking?
Jérôme D'Ambrosio: The most important thing is to stay calm and understand that each race can turn out differently. We are competing against very strong teams, so we approach each Grand Prix and each session with one goal – to make the most of everything we have at our disposal.
With the new generation of cars, every little detail can play a decisive role, so attention to every detail is extremely important. We continue to work in two directions – we strive to maximize the potential of the car on the track while simultaneously continuing our development work at the base in Maranello.
Question: The Belgian Grand Prix is a home race for you, and Ferrari has always had tremendous support from local fans. What does this race mean to you?
Jérôme D'Ambrosio: For me, this is a special race. In Belgium, Ferrari always has a lot of fans, and it feels great to feel their support.
Spa is one of the fastest and most challenging tracks on the calendar. The fast sections require maximum effort from the driver, and the elevation changes and character of the track make every lap a real challenge. There are very few circuits like this in the championship.
What makes Spa special is not just the configuration of the track. There is always a unique atmosphere here, and the support from the fans gives us extra strength.
Question: The team will arrive in Spa after the race in Silverstone, where Charles Leclerc won a few weeks after Lewis Hamilton's success in Barcelona. What is the mood in the team right now?
Jérôme D'Ambrosio: The mood is good, but the whole team is fully focused on work. The victories in Barcelona and Silverstone reflect the progress made by everyone working on the track and at the base in Maranello. This is the result of constant and intense work.
However, we understand that the pace of development of the car is crucial this season. Therefore, we continue to work hard together with both drivers to further improve the car.
Question: This season is turning out to be very unpredictable. What approach is the team taking?
Jérôme D'Ambrosio: The most important thing is to stay calm and understand that each race can turn out differently. We are competing against very strong teams, so we approach each Grand Prix and each session with one goal – to make the most of everything we have at our disposal.
With the new generation of cars, every little detail can play a decisive role, so attention to every detail is extremely important. We continue to work in two directions – we strive to maximize the potential of the car on the track while simultaneously continuing our development work at the base in Maranello.