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Teams are trying out the concept ahead of the delayed
introduction of some form of cockpit protection in time for the
2018 season. Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz, Force India’s Nico
Hulkenberg and Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo were the other
drivers to test it out.
Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, a four-times winner at Spa, set the
third fastest time, 0.799 seconds adrift of Rosberg’s best.
Sergio Perez was fourth in the Force India ahead of the second
Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel.
Daniel Ricciardo, who won the race in 2014, was sixth ahead of
team mate Max Verstappen, for whom Sunday’s race is the closest
the Dutchman has to a home event. French teenager Esteban Ocon,
making his Grand Prix debut this weekend with backmarkers Manor
in place of cash-strapped Indonesian Rio Haryanto, ended the
session 16th. He was quicker than fellow Mercedes-backed team
mate Pascal Wehrlein in 19th.
Fernando Alonso completed only three laps in his McLaren and did
not set a time, with his team deciding to change his engine
after discovering a water leak. A number of drivers also tested
a stronger prototype Pirelli tire designed to better deal with
running over kerbs.
Hamilton leads Rosberg by 19 points in the standings and heads
into Sunday’s race aiming to become only the third driver ever
to score 50 career wins. But the reigning triple champion is set
to take a penalty that will force him to start near the back of
the grid for exceeding his permitted allocation of engine
components.
The Briton ran a fresh power unit in practice which included a
sixth turbocharger and Motor Generator Unit (Heat) hybrid
component. That is one more than the five for the entire season
permitted by rules and incurs a 15-place grid drop.
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
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