1 hour ago23: 09 Joe Krishnan
Red Bull urged to cut driver looseMartin Brundle has urged Red Bull to let Liam Lawson drive for another team if they decide against handing him a seat on the F1 grid in 2025.
Lawson, 22, has reportedly been in talks with Sauber about driving for them ahead of the Audi takeover as doubts emerge over his future with Red Bull or RB.
And the Sky Sports F1 pundit believes it is high time the New Zealander gets a chance to prove himself after a five-race cameo in 2023.
“They’ve got to give Lawson a chance or release him to go somewhere else,” Brundle said on Sky Sports F1.
2 hours ago22: 25 Joe Krishnan
Norris wary of Verstappen threatLando Norris believes Max Verstappen will be a threat to their chances of winning the Belgian Grand Prix despite starting 11th.
“Yes, definitely a threat. I think clearly he’s been quickest all weekend, even in FP2, they just turned the engine down, and they had a lot more pace in the bag,” Norris told reporters at Spa.
“It is a good thing as it shows there is a lot more work to do, even after the great races of the past few weeks.
“Red Bull has always been there or thereabouts, Max was easily on par with us in qualifying [in Hungary], and had pretty much the same race pace, he just made more mistakes than what we did.
“At the minute, he is definitely the strongest, so is going to be a threat.”
4 hours ago21: 04 Joe Krishnan
Verstappen: Hamilton comments ‘not my problem’Max Verstappen refused to be drawn on Lewis Hamilton’s comments calling on him to “act like a world champion”.
The Red Bull star insists he isn’t bothered about what people saying about him and said people should move on from the incident that saw him and Hamilton collide in Hungary.
“Do you know how it is like [to act like a World Champion]?” he said. “Everyone can have their opinion. That’s all fine, but I can’t do anything with that.
“That’s not my problem either. You don’t have to dwell on it for very long either. It’s all resolved and we’ll just get on with it.”
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5 hours ago20: 03 Danny Gallagher
Norris laments ‘shocking’ displayLando Norris has hit out at a “shocking” qualifying display for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix which leaves him scrambling to take advantage of championship rival Max Verstappen’s grid penalty.
He will have to pass a Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes to win, with Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton all ahead of him on the grid.
“About as good as I could do today,” said Norris on the radio after he qualified fifth. “That was shocking.”
6 hours ago18: 54 Danny Gallagher
Perez answers criticsSergio Perez said he “couldn’t care less” about the speculation over his F1 future as the threat of the Red Bull axe looms.
The Mexican is fighting for his career this weekend with Red Bull considering whether they need to make a driver line-up change over the summer break. After back-to-back qualifying crashes in the last two rounds, if Perez needed anything it was a strong showing on Saturday.
And he produced exactly that, going third fastest in Q3 having survived a scare by setting only the 10th-quickest Q2 time. And because team-mate Max Verstappen will serve a 10-place grid drop, Perez will start the race on the front row alongside pole-sitter Charles Leclerc.
7 hours ago17: 54 Jack McEachen
Lewis Hamilton fires warning to Max VerstappenLewis Hamilton has warned Max Verstappen that the Brit will not let go of his podium place without a fight ahead of tomorrow’s race.
Verstappen will start the Belgian Grand Prix in 11th, eight places behind Hamilton, though with Spa famed for its many opportunities to overtake – the Dutchman will have sights set on a top-three finish.
But Hamilton has other plans. “Obviously Max [Verstappen] is going to make his way through because I think they are the quickest this weekend,” he told Sky Sports F1.
“So holding on to the podium is going to be a hell of a fight. But I’m ready for it.”
Lewis Hamilton after qualifying in third place. (Image: Sky Sports F1.)
7 hours ago17: 15 Jack McEachen
Charles Leclerc reacts to unexpected poleEven Charles Leclerc did not think that he would walk away from today’s qualifying session with pole position.
He was second-fastest behind Max Verstappen, but will start from the front on Sunday owing to the Red Bull driver’s 10-place grid penalty.
“Exactly the same (as last year),” Leclerc reflected. “It’s good. I definitely did not expect that this weekend. Obviously with the tricky conditions we could do something above our expectations.
“So it’s a good day for the team so now we need to focus on tomorrow and see what will happen when the rain is gone.
“Without this rain, probably P5 was the position we were fighting for with the Mercedes especially. But with the rain it helped us a little bit, but I’m not going to complain.
“I’m really happy, I’m really happy with the lap in Q3, and it’s good to be back on the front part of the grid. Now we’ve got to finalise that tomorrow.”
8 hours ago16: 30 Jack McEachen
Max Verstappen hoping for good fortune on SundayMax Verstappen is not counting himself out of winning the Belgian Grand Prix, but knows he has a difficult task on his hands.
The Dutchman’s Red Bull was the fastest on the grid, but a 10-place grid penalty has ensured that he will start the race in 11th position.
“I know that I have to start 10 places back so this was the best I could do today, and I go from there,” he said in his post-race interview. “I don’t know how quick we’re going to be. I hope that we can be in the mix to try to move forward.
“The race can be lost in Turn 1, so just need to see what happens at the start, naturally, and just go from there. It’s a very long race, it’s very hard on tyres and we just need to try to manage that as good as we can, and hopefully then we can be competitive tomorrow.
“We are not making it easy on ourselves and especially of course in the battle that we’re in. I know that today was a great day, but it’s in the wet, we need to be quick in the dry tomorrow. It’s going to be a tough battle.
“We’ll try to do the best we can. Hopefully we can battle the Ferrari and Mercedes ahead, and if we have a bit of luck, maybe we can challenge the McLaren.”
9 hours ago16: 07 Jack McEachen
Max Verstappen fastest but Charles Leclerc takes poleMax Verstappen was by far and away the fastest driver on the grid, but Charles Leclerc will start on pole after the Red Bull man’s 10-place grid penalty.
The Dutchman may have left his own team red-faced with his pace, but he has it all to do tomorrow…
1) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
2) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
3) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
4) Lando Norris, McLaren
5) Oscar Piastri, McLaren
6) George Russell, Mercedes
7 Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
8) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
9) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
10) Alex Albon, Williams
11) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
Max Verstappen in action. (Image: Getty.)
9 hours ago15: 45 Jack McEachen
Out in Q2Sergio Perez has reached Q3 for just the second time in eight races, 0.003 seconds faster than Alex Albon, with both Mercedes also making it through after some doubts.
Perez has confirmed his place in the top 10 for tomorrow’s race, ensuring he will start ahead of Max Verstappen for the first time in 2024.
11) Alex Albon, Williams
12) Pierre Gasly, Alpine
13) Daniel Ricciardo, RB
14) Valtteri Bottas, Sauber
15) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
9 hours ago15: 23 Jack McEachen
Out in Q1Sergio Perez survived a late scare, ending his run of Q1 exits, as two Haas exit early and Oscar Piastri goes fastest.
16) Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
17) Kevin Magnussen, Haas
18) Yuki Tsunoda, RB
19) Logan Sargeant, Williams
20) Zhou Guanyu, Sauber
10 hours ago14: 57 Jack McEachen
Belgian GP Qualifying imminentWe are just moments away from Qualifying at Spa, here’s your reminder that Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda will have 10 and 60-place grid penalties respectively for tomorrow’s race.
Fortunately the rain has eased, but who knows how long it will stay dry in Belgium…
Lewis Hamilton racing around Spa. (Image: Getty.)
10 hours ago14: 14 Jack McEachen
Sky Sports cut to another form of racingWith very little action during FP3, Sky Sports were forced to turn their attention elsewhere while the session was red-flagged.
The world feed cameras and director were seemingly more interested in nearby carting action instead of the F1 paddock at Spa.
With more rain expected, they could yet get even more airtime…
11 hours ago13: 25 Jack McEachen
Christian Horner details crunch Max Verstappen meetingChristian Horner opened up on a ‘clear-the-air’ meeting between Max Verstappen and Red Bull race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase on Thursday.
Verstappen lashed out and swore repeatedly for all to hear on the team radio in Hungary, criticising Lambiase before they sat down for talks.
“Thursday is ‘ok guys, let’s go through the weekend’ and the best way to deal with any issue is to talk about it, talk it through, and GP and Max did that,” Horner told Sky Sports.
“Already turned the page, focused on this weekend and try to go into the summer break in the best possible shape.”
12 hours ago12: 39 Jack McEachen
FP3 timesheetsMax Verstappen leads a washed-out FP3 at Spa, with the possibility of more rain for Qualifying later today…
Verstappen led the way with 2: 01.565, followed by Oscar Piastri 1.433s behind. Pierre Gasly trailed by 1.610s.
Lando Norris, Esteban Ocon, Charles Leclerc, Lance Stroll, Valtteri Bottas, Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez rounded out the top 10.
12 hours ago12: 11 Jack McEachen
Second red flag due to rainThe track was cleared and drivers were given the all-clear to return, but no teams went out as heavy rain descended on the track, prompting another red flag.
There are less than 25 minutes remaining of the session as the medical car has taken to the track to assess the condition.
Fans have come prepared, however!
Drastic action has been taken to avoid getting wet in Belgium. (Image: F1 TV.)
13 hours ago11: 47 Jack McEachen
Lance Stroll crash causes FP3 red flagLance Stroll has spun and crashed into the barriers, prompting a medical car to be deployed, though the Aston Martin driver has confirmed that he is OK.
The Canadian driver appeared to lose control of his car in the very wet conditions, before spinning into the inside wall.
The front wing of his car appears to be damaged but Stroll will feel fortunate that there are no bigger consequences.
13 hours ago11: 10 Jack McEachen
Lewis Hamilton view on Max Verstappen vs Lando NorrisLewis Hamilton has given fellow Brit Lando Norris a chance of beating Max Verstappen to the 2024 Drivers’ Championship.
The McLaren driver is hot on Verstappen’s tail and after the Dutchman took a 10-place grid penalty in Belgium, has another chance to close the gap.
And Hamilton has not ruled out Norris celebrating winning the top prize at the end of the season.
“It is not impossible but it is a very high, huge challenge and task,” he began. “But absolutely not impossible.
“(McLaren) have got two very strong drivers that are able to compete against ultimately, currently in the championship, one car that’s really up there doing the point-scoring. So they’ve got something they can work with there, for sure.”
14 hours ago10: 17 Jack McEachen
Red Bull break Belgian GP curfewRed Bull were confirmed to have broken the F1 curfew, with teams not allowed to work on their vehicles outside of permitted times.
Both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez would have hoped for more pace at Spa, prompting late work on their cars, but the team have avoided any punishment.
Teams are allowed two exemptions throughout the season, with Red Bull taking their first indiscretion in Belgium.
A statement from the FIA read: “Last night team personnel of the Oracle Red Bull Racing team, who are associated with the operation of the car, were within the confines of the circuit during the eleven-and-a-half-hour period which commenced at 22: 00 on 26 July, fourteen and a half hours before the scheduled start time of P3 and ends three hours before the scheduled start time of P3 at 09: 30 on 27 July.
“This was the first of the two individual exceptions permitted for the Oracle Red Bull Racing team during the 2024 Formula One Championship season and therefore no action should be taken.”
Max Verstappen in the Red Bull garage. (Image: Getty.)
15 hours ago09: 31 Mikael McKenzie
Sainz’s dad spottedCarlos Sainz’s dad was spotted leaving the Williams garage on Friday sparking intense rumours that the Ferrari star has decided his next move.
16 hours ago09: 03 Mikael McKenzie
Ferrari confusionCharles Leclerc is confused as to how Ferrari can be a half a second behind McLaren during Belgian GP practice.
“It’s been quite a few years now that it’s difficult to understand the picture on the Friday with those generation of cars, but today is even more so,” Leclerc said.
“Unfortunately we are just struggling. Compared to McLaren especially, it’s a little bit everywhere.
“We’ve got to focus on ourselves, try to find the right compromise between tomorrow which will be probably wet and Sunday when it will be dry, but we are on it.
“We still have quite a lot of meetings to go through and hopefully we find the best compromise for tomorrow and Sunday. We don’t yet have a clear picture.”
16 hours ago08: 20 Mikael McKenzie
Ricciardo on Red Bull chaosDaniel Ricciardo says he feels comfortable in the chaos at Red Bull.
The Aussie could be axed after the Belgian Grand Prix – or promoted to a senior Red Bull seat.
“I kinda just laugh at it,” he told the Mirror. “I do take it seriously and I am fighting not only for something better but also just for my seat and my place in the sport. So it does come with a lot of that, but I just enjoy being back in this position and having something to fight for.
“I enjoy the crazy, fun chaos of the Red Bull family and the way they go about their business. It’s all I’ve ever known – chaos in this team feels comfortable, where chaos in another team was quite unsettling. I just feel like I’ve been here before and I’m okay with it.”
17 hours ago07: 57 Mikael McKenzie
Tsunoda 60-place penaltyYuki Tsunoda has been hit with a 60-place grid penalty for the Belgian Grand Prix.
When told of his incredible punishment by a journalist, the VCARB star replied “Oh, Jesus!”
His plan will now change to helping team-mate Daniel Ricciardo this weekend.
“Normally we perform well in the rain,” Tsunoda explained. “For now, I prefer rain, but any condition, I’ll just focus on what I can help for Daniel — slipstreaming or whatever.”
(Image: GETTY)
17 hours ago07: 53 Mikael McKenzie
Hamilton stirs the potLewis Hamilton has stirred the pot with Max Verstappen by calling for the Red Bull driver to act like a world champion.
Hamilton fired a dig at Verstappen by saying: “You have to be a team leader, a team member. Maybe not so much a team leader but more so just always remember you are a teammate with lots of people and you have to act like a world champion.”
The Mercedes star was asked what acting like a world champion looks like and he replied: “That’s a good question. Not like it was last weekend!”
17 hours ago07: 52 Mikael McKenzie
Good morningGood morning and welcome to Express Sport’s live coverage of the Belgian Grand Prix!
We have qualifying coming your way from 3pm (BST) and we’ll be bringing you all the latest news and updates throughout the day.
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