Dhe threatened mega-disgrace on one of his favorite tracks doesn’t even seem to shock Sebastian Vettel. The four-time Formula 1 world champion was calm and composed after driving far behind the leaders in training at the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. “We’re trying everything we can,” said Vettel on Friday: “Today was not a good day in terms of the results.”
Not a good day is an extremely benevolent description given that a 53-time Grand Prix winner is almost two seconds behind the 998th Ferrari race on top. He doesn’t really have any hope of recovery either, not even the changeable weather over the Ardennes can obviously help him. “It’s hard and difficult for us both in the dry and in the wet. We still try to make the best of it, ”said Vettel. In the faster afternoon session, he was exactly 1.939 seconds short of the fastest man of the day in the lame Ferrari: Max Verstappen.
The 22-year-old Dutchman, who was born in Hasselt, Belgium, got in the mood for the next attack on Mercedes with season dominator Lewis Hamilton without an orange grandstand and thousands of Dutch fans. The Briton had to be satisfied with third place, 98 thousandths of a second behind Verstappen, on the 7.004 kilometer long Ardennes roller coaster. “It’s very tight. I think Red Bull is a little bit faster at the moment, ”said Hamilton. He also has others on the bill: “That makes it exciting.”
Like Vettel, Hamilton has already won three times there. The 35-year-old Brit from Mercedes is back as the favorite after four wins in the six races of the season so far. Team-mate Valtteri Bottas was unable to nourish his hopes that he would regain his strength after third place in Spain: After the fastest lap in the morning, he was only sixth on his 31st birthday in the afternoon, over four tenths of a second slower than Verstappen.
Vettel would be happy about that! He always had problems keeping the red SF1000 on the track. The tires kept smoking, the car rumbled over the curbs. Teammate Charles Leclerc couldn’t get much more out of the car on the notorious engine route, on which the engines are essential for success.
The 22-year-old Monegasse was around 48 hours before the race on Sunday (3:10 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker on Formula 1, on Sky and RTL) 15th, 1.696 seconds behind Verstappen. In the slower first one and a half hour session in the morning, Leclerc, winner in Spa a year ago, was 14th and Vettel, winner in Spa two years ago, in 15th place. The next red fiasco threatens them in Spa. The midfield is so tight, practically anything is possible between fifth and 15th place, Vettel had already said the day before.
Others, however, provided positive surprises. Like Daniel Ricciardo. In the Renault, the Australian made it to second place behind Verstappen and ahead of Hamilton, only 48 thousandths of a second behind, but had to park his car at the edge of the track at the behest of his command post.
At the premiere planned for September 13th on the Italian race track in Mugello, more spectators than planned are to be admitted. The President of the Tuscany Region, Enrico Rossi, said after consultations with the health authorities on Friday that 3,000 fans will be allowed to attend the race. Initially, the track was opened to 1000 spectators. There should be space for 1,000 spectators each on the three stands. The fans’ temperature is measured, and a face mask must be worn. Ferrari will contest its 1000th Formula 1 race in Mugello.
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