Formula One fans were left disappointed yesterday after heavy rain meant very little track action during the second practice for tomorrow’s Belgian Grand Prix.
Not a single lap time was set during the 90-minute afternoon session and only 15 drivers spent any time on the track as teams opted to save their limited supplies of wet weather Pirelli rubber and avoid any damage to their cars, with better weather predicted for the rest of the weekend.
Almost an hour had passed before German Nico Rosberg of Mercedes decided to brave the soggy Spa track. A handful of drivers followed, but were quick to return to the pits.
Germany’s Michael Schumacher had the most running in the other Mercedes, still a mere four laps.
MORNING SESSION
That meant Japan’s Kamui Kobayashi topped the times for Sauber after yesterday morning’s rain-drenched first practice session.
The 25-year-old Japanese was one of a handful of drivers to complete more than 10 full laps.
Kobayashi went fastest with half-an-hour remaining, before improving on his time nine minutes before the end of the first session, clocking a lap of the historic circuit in 1 minute, 11.389 seconds.
Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado of Williams was just 0.5 seconds slower in second, followed by Toro Rosso drivers Australian Daniel Ricciardo and Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne, who were third and fourth fastest respectively.
FASTEST CONTENDER
Red Bull driver Australian Mark Webber, fifth quickest, was the fastest of the title contenders, followed by Mexico’s Sergio Perez in the second Sauber.
Germany’s Rosberg was seventh fastest, followed by Finland’s Valtteri Bottas in the other Williams.
Schumacher, who celebrates his 300th Grand Prix this weekend, was ninth fastest in the other Mercedes, followed by his compatriot Sebastian Vettel, who completed the top 10 in the second Red Bull.
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
US President Donald Trump said he would attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday at Madison Square Garden, but said he does not have much sympathy for ordinary basketball fans who cannot afford sky-high ticket prices to do the same. “They can watch it on television,” Trump said aboard Air Force One on Friday as he flew to Wisconsin for an event with farmers, after he was asked about tickets that have climbed as high as US$8,000 each when the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs square off in Manhattan for the first time in the series. “It’s sorta
Liverpool are in advanced talks with former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as they seek a replacement for Arne Slot, reports said on Tuesday. Iraola has emerged as Liverpool’s top target to replace Slot, who was sacked on Saturday last week after a turbulent second season in charge. Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to bring the Spaniard, who left Bournemouth at the end of this season, to Anfield. Sporting director Richard Hughes was heavily involved in hiring Iraola during his time at Bournemouth and is again spearheading the recruitment of the highly rated coach. The Reds are
RSS