F1 Belgian GP: Sergio Perez tops final practice as Charles Leclerc brushes the barriers

After struggling for pace during Friday practice, Perez appeared t🅰o be back on form in the RB18 at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
The Mexican trailed Verstappen by 0.4s after the initial soft tyre runs prior to the brief red flag period ca꧋used by Leclerc’s spin.
Leclerc lost control of his Ferrari at the high-speed Fagnes corner but managed to keep it out o👍f the barriers, only brushing them.
He escaped the gravel trap and returned to the pit lane ﷽with only minor damage.
Once the session got back underway, there was just enough tim༺e for a handful of 𒐪runs.

Verstappen stormed to the top but he wa🐼s soon eclipsed by Perez, by just a tenth.
With the Dutchman set to start from the back of🗹 the grid due to engine penalties, it’s the perfect opportunity for Perez to get a win on the board, particularly with Red Bull showing better pace than Ferrari so far this weekend.
Carlos Sainz♒ꦦ was the closest driver behind the two Red Bulls, although he was over 0.7s off the pace.
Lando Norris continued to impress for♏ McLaren, ending the session in fourth, but he’s one of seven drivers set to start from the backꦺ due to engine penalties.
Fernando Alonso left it late to break into the top five ahead of George Ruꦚssell, Leclerc, Sebastian Vettel, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly.
Vettel comp💫lained of a power unit issue at the end of the session but managed to rectify it before completing ♍a practice start.
Seven-time F1 c🧔hampion Lewis Hamilton struggled for pace again, ending the day in 12th overall.


With ไa sharp eye for F1’s controversies and storylines, Connor is the heartbeat of our unbiased rep🐼orting.