Perez tops third Belgian GP practice, crash for Leclerc

Sergio Perez led a Red Bull 1-2 in the third practice of Formula 1’s Belgian Grand Prix weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc had a minor crash.

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Key moments:

> Red Bull in control

> Leclerc’s Ferrari escapes crash

> Schumacher compromised by issue

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The two Ferraris sat out the first third of the session in its entirety, but once they headed out Carlos Sainz and Leclerc established themselves out in front.

However, they were soon usurped by Perez – and they were on course to be surpassed by the other Red Bull of Max Verstappen, too, only for him to be advised to abort his lap in the final sector due to an apparent Pierre Gasly off.

“There was no [yellow] flag,” Verstappen insisted to his team – but was told in response that “there was no flag in Qatar either”, referencing the situation last year that left him with a grid penalty for the Losail race.

The Dutchman bailed out of the lap before going half a second quicker than Perez the next time around.

And he was still out ahead when Leclerc, pushing on a fresh set of softs, botched his entry into Pif-Paf and spun through the gravel, the right side of his Ferrari F1-75 tapping the barriers at reduced but not insignificant speed.

RED FLAG

Leclerc into the gravel trap 😮

He bumps the barriers but looks like there's no major damage done #BelgianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/LFc6HHvmNQ

— Formula 1 (@F1) August 27, 2022

The session was red-flagged for clean-up as Leclerc’s Ferrari returned to the pits under its own steam but with damage – yet it managed to rejoin the track soon after the session resumed with five minutes left on the clock.

Neither Ferrari improved, however, while both Red Bulls did – with Perez eclipsing Verstappen, who is facing a back-of-the-grid penalty, in their final attempts by a tenth, his best lap a 1m45.047s.

Sainz completed the top three, eight tenths off the pace, while McLaren’s Lando Norris continued his strong weekend in fourth – but will likewise start towards the back of the grid due to penalties.

Alpine duo Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon both lifted themselves well up the order in the final minutes to finish fifth and ninth, albeit with Ocon annoyed at Sainz for getting in his way at the Bus Stop chicane.

George Russell was the lead Mercedes in sixth, followed by Leclerc, who like Verstappen will move to the back of the grid regardless of where he qualifies.

Every driver but Mick Schumacher completed double-digit laps in the session. The Haas man was called into the pits early on with a “small issue”, and this ultimately limited him to just six laps.

Practice 3 Results