Sainz tops inundated single practice session at Spa

F1 drivers will head into qualifying this afternoon at Spa after enjoying limited running in a very wet FP1 topped by Ferrari's Carlos Sainz.

Sainz achieved only eight laps, the Spaniard setting his fastest time on the Intermediate tyre, as did McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris who clocked in second and third.

Championship leader Max Verstappen reluctantly took to the track in the session but only put two laps on the board.

Overall, teams likely learned little from the washed-out session which means that everyone will head into qualifying with limited data, especially if conditions improve and drivers take to a dry track.

• Belgian Grand Prix Free Practice 1 - Results

Weather conditions at Spa were predictably miserable when FP1 rolled around, but with just one hour to lock in a set-up for the remainder of the weekend – due to the round's Sprint format – it was expected that few teams would be inclined to remain within the dry confines of their garage.

Yet only half the field ventured out when the track went green. The first man out, Alex Albon, opted for Inters but Mercedes chose to send out Lewis Hamilton on full wets.

Several other drivers followed Williams' lead but as the intensity of the rain increased, most considered the Wets as their tyre of choice.

The wet track was a challenge in itself given the treacherous conditions, but the massive width and height of the rooster tails only added to the difficulties – and risk - for anyone following another car.

Twenty minutes into the session, only seven drivers – led by Albon – had set a proper time, while seven others limited their outing to a single exploratory lap.

But gradually, others joined the action, including Norris who immediately went top, the McLaren charger running on the Inters and followed by Leclerc and Perez. However, Sainz and Piastri, also on the Inters, quickly upstaged their teammates.

As a measure of the difficulties, Zhou Guanyu's Alfa Romeo went off at the end of the Kemmel straight, lightly brushing the wall but managing to rejoin the track.

However, Williams rookie Logan Sargeant also veered off course on the approach to Les Combes, the American seemingly unable to steer his car into the corner and clouting the outside wall, which brought out the red flag.

With 25 minutes left on the clock, Verstappen seemed perfectly content to sit out the session after his earlier installation lap and to head into qualifying with just a handful of laps under his belt.

As the intensity of the downpour increased once again, the session went green, but nobody was in a rush to resume their running.

Eventually, both Red Bull drivers headed back out on track but both cars bowed, again after a single lap on the Inters.

Alonso was also keen to check out the conditions but unimpressed, the Spaniard also headed back to base.

The session thus concluded with Sainz heading Piastri, Norris, Leclerc, Perez and Albon, with Tsunoda, Magnussen, Ricciardo and Hulkenberg rounding off the top ten.

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