Belgian GP: Free Practice 1 - Re-Cap & Times

BELGIAN GRAND PRIX - FREE PRACTICE #1

    After a much needed Summer Break for the drivers, teams and everyone else, F1 has made its return for the second half of the 2016 season. Its first stop? Belgium. Weather was shockingly sunny and nearly cloudless, something a race weekend at Spa isn't usually used to. 

    Lewis Hamilton is starting the weekend off with a change of his TC and MGU-H, which results in a 15-Place-Grid-Penalty for Sunday. He's not the only driver either. Marcus Ericsson will take a 10-Place-Grid-Penalty for a Turbo change. 

    Fernando Alonso missed the session due to an initial water leak and has had a complete power unit change. This gives Alonso a 35-Place-Grid-Penalty. Jolyon Palmer missed half the session due to mechanical issues as well. He had been lapping the circuit when his car suddenly slowed and he had to force it back to the pits. 

    A few drivers ran the 'Halo' concept during the session while other drivers tested out the 2017 Pirelli prototype tyres. While the wider tyres are a confirmed deal for next year, the Halo was scrapped until at least 2018.

    It was Mercedes that topped the session with Rosberg in 1st and Hamilton in 2nd. Raikkonen, Perez and Vettel rounded up the top 5, showing a mix of Mercedes and Ferrari power at the top of the time sheets.

TIMES:

1. Nico Rosberg - 1:48.348 / Mercedes-Mercedes

2. Lewis Hamilton - 1:49.078 / Mercedes-Mercedes

3. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:49.147 / Ferrari-Ferrari

4. Sergio Perez - 1:49.274 / Force India-Mercedes

5. Sebastian Vettel - 1:49.768 / Ferrari-Ferrari

6. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:49.782 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

7. Max Verstappen - 1:49.865 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

8. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:50.088 / Force India-Mercedes

9. Valtteri Bottas - 1:50.394 / Williams-Mercedes

10. Esteban Gutierrez - 1:50.583 / Haas-Ferrari

11. Romain Grosjean - 1:50.899 / Haas-Ferrari

12. Felipe Massa - 1:51.122 / Williams-Mercedes

13. Marcus Ericsson - 1:51.125 / Sauber-Ferrari

14. Carlos Sainz - 1:51.424 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

15. Felipe Nasr - 1:51.768 / Sauber-Ferrari

16. Esteban Ocon - 1:51.787 / Manor-Mercedes

17. Daniil Kvyat - 1:52.308 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

18. Jenson Button - 1:52.407 / McLaren-Honda

19. Pascal Wehrlein - 1:52.837 / Manor-Mercedes

20. Kevin Magnussen - 1:53.053 / Renault-Renault

21. Jolyon Palmer - 1:53.089 / Renault-Renault

22. Fernando Alonso - NO TIME SET / McLaren-Honda

----

Article Written By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Follow us on Twitter @F1Insider78 & @Bethonie_Boost