Hadjar Takes 10-Place Belgian GP Grid Penalty as Verstappen Leads Practice by 0.145s
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jul 17
Hadjar Takes 10-Place Belgian GP Grid Penalty as Verstappen Leads Practice by 0.145s
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jul 17
Summary
Isack Hadjar will drop 10 places on the Belgian Grand Prix grid after exceeding his permitted engine allocation, despite setting the fourth-fastest time in first practice.
Max Verstappen led the session for Red Bull in 1-2 pace terms, finishing 0.145 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton, while Charles Leclerc was third and Hadjar sat 0.252 seconds off Verstappen.
Lando Norris also faces a 10-place drop for exceeding his battery limit, adding another engine-related reshuffle before qualifying at Spa.
Red Bull's pace came after reverting Verstappen to its standard rear wing, a setup said to cost about 0.2 seconds a lap at Spa while the team refines the newer design.
Kimi Antonelli, who leads the championship by 25 points, was sixth fastest ahead of title rival George Russell in eighth as the season approaches its midpoint.