With Formula 1 returning to the weekend race schedule for the Belgian GP after the annual summer break, it was Max Verstappen who proved he was the driver most ready to get back on the track with a 1:45.507 fast lap around the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
The Red Bull driver bested championship rival Charles Leclerc on the timesheets in the second practice, with Leclerc guiding his Ferrari to finish .862 seconds behind Verstappen.
“We looked at how we could set up the car in the best possible way and I think as soon as we went out, the car was looking pretty good,” Verstappen said.
Early in the session, it was Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz who set the pace – Sainz also recorded the fastest lap in the first practice. By the time the rain came and forced an early end to the second practice, Sainz dropped to fifth place at 1.142 seconds off the leader.
McLaren’s Lando Norris took third while Lance Stroll drove his Aston Martin to fourth.
However, a slew of drivers have received grid penalties for making changes to power unit elements on their cars, including Verstappen, Leclerc and Norris.
The trio will start from the back of the grid, along with Esteban Ocon, Mick Schumacher and Valtteri Bottas who were also dealt penalties.