F1

Live commentary and updates on Friday practice for the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix, taking place at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend.

Bottas also set for a big drop— Luke Smith (@LukeSmithF1) [Daniel Ricciardo](https://www.autosport.com/driver/daniel-ricciardo/829602/)’s early split from [McLaren](https://www.autosport.com/team/mclaren/36473/) at the end of the season was confirmed earlier this week. [https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/russell-to-try-new-mercedes-f1-floor-as-porpoising-questions-remain/10358214/](https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/russell-to-try-new-mercedes-f1-floor-as-porpoising-questions-remain/10358214/) [https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/verstappen-to-join-f1-title-rival-leclerc-at-back-of-belgian-gp-grid/10358206/](https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/verstappen-to-join-f1-title-rival-leclerc-at-back-of-belgian-gp-grid/10358206/) [https://autosport.com/all/news/f1-belgian-gp-sainz-leads-ferrari-1-2-in-interrupted-fp1/10358237/](https://autosport.com/all/news/f1-belgian-gp-sainz-leads-ferrari-1-2-in-interrupted-fp1/10358237/) [Max Verstappen](https://www.autosport.com/driver/max-verstappen/829269/) leads the F1 world drivers’ championship by 80 points over [Charles Leclerc](https://www.autosport.com/driver/charles-leclerc/840485/) thanks to back-to-back wins in France and Hungary before the summer break. With [Fernando Alonso](https://www.autosport.com/driver/fernando-alonso/829156/) heading to Aston Martin to replace the retiring [Sebastian Vettel](https://www.autosport.com/driver/sebastian-vettel/829234/) in 2023, attention turns to Oscar Piastri and whether he will end up at [Alpine](https://www.autosport.com/team/alpine/39174/) or McLaren.

Audi says it will make a final decision on its Formula 1 partner team by the end of the year amid links to a tie-up with Sauber.

But as the 2022 season prepares to roar back into life, who stacks up as the top of the class, and who must do better? Now, as OLEG KARPOV explains, he’s got to do it all over again just to preserve his place in Formula 1 after the shock news of his departure from McLaren… Formula 1 has pulled off a major coup in encouraging Audi to join the series as an engine manufacturer from the 2026 season.

A slew of Formula One drivers, including title contenders Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, are set to start the Belgian Grand Prix from the back of the ...

Formal confirmation of the penalties by the FIA is expected later on Friday. Verstappen holds an 80-point lead over Leclerc for the driver title, and his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez is just five points behind the Ferrari driver in third. A slew of Formula One drivers, including title contenders Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, are set to start the Belgian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after being dealt penalties on Friday.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says that Audi's arrival alongside fellow Volkswagen Group brand Porsche will only make the sport tougher.

And now, as ALEX KALINAUCKAS explains, he faces a battle to keep his place on the F1 grid… But as the 2022 season prepares to roar back into life, who stacks up as the top of the class, and who must do better? After a difficult start to Formula 1's ground effect-era, Mercedes has shown signs of recovery in recent races by regularly finishing on the podium and even taking pole last time out in Hungary.

Carlos Sainz headed a Ferrari 1-2 in first free practice for Formula 1's Belgium Grand Prix, as teammate Charles Leclerc beat Max Verstappen to second.

And now, as ALEX KALINAUCKAS explains, he faces a battle to keep his place on the F1 grid… But as the 2022 season prepares to roar back into life, who stacks up as the top of the class, and who must do better? After a difficult start to Formula 1's ground effect-era, Mercedes has shown signs of recovery in recent races by regularly finishing on the podium and even taking pole last time out in Hungary.

Audi has suggested that there will be no collaboration on the power unit front with fellow Volkswagen affiliate Porsche.

"And the others have powertrains that work already. And I think we will be able to develop this power train also by 2026." And we love the challenge.

Car manufacturer Audi has confirmed it will enter Formula One in 2026 as a power unit constructor.

According to documents published in Morocco to comply with the country's antitrust laws, Porsche is also planning to enter F1 in 2026 by purchasing 50 percent of the Red Bull F1 team, but an official announcement has not yet been made. Audi's announcement is likely to be followed by sister company Porsche, which is also a part of the Volkswagen Group. F1's engine regulations for 2026 will see a switch to fully sustainable fuels and an increase in electrical power from the hybrid unit. "There are fantastic chassis partners on the grid and we did talk to several. With the new rules, now is the right time for us to get involved. "Formula One is both a global stage for our brand and a highly challenging development laboratory.

Legendary car manufacturer Audi announced their entry into Formula One on Friday as a power unit supplier from 2026.

We are all looking forward to seeing the Audi logo on the grid and will be hearing further details from them on their plans in due course,” said Domenicali. These are considered to be two main factors behind the legendary German manufacturers' entry into the sport. The legendary car company's entry into the sport comes after new power unit regulations were published earlier this month.

Audi's chairman of the board of management Markus Duesmann noted that “Motorsport is an integral part of Audi's DNA.”

We are all looking forward to seeing the Audi logo on the grid and will be hearing further details from them on their plans in due course.” In regards to Duesmann’s comments on the company’s “clear sustainability goals,” F1’s new regulations for 2026 include using fully sustainable fuels and using more electrical power. “I am delighted to welcome Audi to Formula One, an iconic automotive brand, pioneer and technological innovator,” Domenicali said. With the new rules, now is the right time for us to get involved. Duesmann did not specify which partner that Audi will take on. “Formula One is both a global stage for our brand and a highly challenging development laboratory.

A host of drivers, including title rivals Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, are set to start the Belgian Grand Prix from the back of the grid following ...

Meanwhile, Leclerc, Bottas and Schumacher will take on new gearbox cases and cassettes, while Verstappen, Leclerc, Bottas and Schumacher will change their gearbox driveline, gearchange and auxiliary components beyond their allocations. Verstappen, Norris, Ocon and Bottas will have new internal combustion engines, turbochargers and MGU-Hs - taking them above and beyond their limit for the season – while Verstappen, Ocon and Leclerc will also be penalised for taking on new MGU-Ks and, in Leclerc’s case, a new energy store. A host of drivers, including title rivals Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, are set to start the Belgian Grand Prix from the back of the grid following power unit element changes on their cars.

Title contenders among SIX drivers dealt grid penalties as Mercedes 'a long way off'

“There’s some fine-tuning to do, but we’re pretty happy with the first run and the plan. we often find this on Fridays and things can change on Saturdays. I have hope that we can turn it round.” It could be tyres, temperatures or something else,” he said. “We looked at the calendar and we were running out of options, but this is a good track to overtake and we feel we should be quick here,” he said. “I’ll have to try and work through from the back of the grid,” said Verstappen.

Six drivers, including championship rivals Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, will start from the back of the grid at the Belgian Grand Prix after ...

The same applies to Schumacher, who took two sperate 10 place penalties across the two sessions. The amount of engine and gearbox components used on each car is capped per season, with grid penalties applied to drivers who exceed their quota. Leclerc took a 15 place penalty in first practice, and a separate five place penalty in second practice.

The FIA will impose changes at Spa, despite objections from teams concerned the decision may have an effect on the competitive order.

In the equation the force is converted into a value of energy and sets the limit of the energy that cannot be exceeded for every 100km. On the track in practice Carlos Sainz was quickest for Ferrari in a rain-interrupted first hour. Red Bull and Ferrari, of course, objected but the FIA has stuck to its guns. Porpoising is a violent, vertical jarring caused by a stall in the aerodynamics; the similar but different issue of bouncing is caused by the low ride heights smashing the car into the ground over uneven track surfaces. The issue that has dominated the season is that of cars “porpoising” and bouncing on the track under the new regulations. The results will be seen this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps but should not detract from what has been a steadfast commitment to put driver safety first.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says the arrivals in F1 of Audi and Porsche will only make the sport tougher for all competitors.

It has been, and it's just going to get tougher with these guys coming." "I think when you see who has joined F1 in terms of automotive companies, and the very best brands in their sector outside of automotive, it shows the strength of the sport. So I think that it's brilliant for F1.

Formula One (F1) participation at any level for a car-maker is prohibitively expensive—costs for cars, infrastructure, drivers and marketing run into ...

The move ties in with a potential acquisition of shares by Audi as early as next year, removing the possibility of Alfa Romeo logos being on a car that is ...

It’s 13 down, nine to go as the Formula 1 teams pause for breath in the summer break. But as the 2022 season prepares to roar back into life, who stacks up as the top of the class, and who must do better? After a difficult start to Formula 1's ground effect-era, Mercedes has shown signs of recovery in recent races by regularly finishing on the podium and even taking pole last time out in Hungary.

The Spa-Francorchamps circuit hosts the 14th round of the 2022 Formula 1 season this weekend on August 26-28. Here's how and when you can watch qualifying ...

But as the 2022 season prepares to roar back into life, who stacks up as the top of the class, and who must do better? After a difficult start to Formula 1's ground effect-era, Mercedes has shown signs of recovery in recent races by regularly finishing on the podium and even taking pole last time out in Hungary. Formula 1 title rivals Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc both face a battle to recover from the rear of the grid after engine penalties.

Formula 1 chiefs are confident the championship can escape the previous boom and bust manufacturer cycles in the wake of the arrival of Audi and Porsche.

But as the 2022 season prepares to roar back into life, who stacks up as the top of the class, and who must do better? Now, as OLEG KARPOV explains, he’s got to do it all over again just to preserve his place in Formula 1 after the shock news of his departure from McLaren… Formula 1 has pulled off a major coup in encouraging Audi to join the series as an engine manufacturer from the 2026 season.

The move ties in with a potential acquisition of shares by Audi as early as next year, removing the possibility of Alfa Romeo logos being on a car that is ...

But as the 2022 season prepares to roar back into life, who stacks up as the top of the class, and who must do better? Now, as OLEG KARPOV explains, he’s got to do it all over again just to preserve his place in Formula 1 after the shock news of his departure from McLaren… Formula 1 has pulled off a major coup in encouraging Audi to join the series as an engine manufacturer from the 2026 season.

With qualifying fast approaching, here's all you need to know about the schedule for the remainder of the Belgian Grand Prix weekend.

Live commentary and updates on Saturday practice and qualifying for the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix, taking place at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend.

[Daniel Ricciardo](https://www.autosport.com/driver/daniel-ricciardo/829602/)’s early split from [McLaren](https://www.autosport.com/team/mclaren/36473/) at the end of the season was confirmed earlier this week. [https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-belgian-gp-perez-tops-final-practice-as-leclerc-crashes/10358835/](https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-belgian-gp-perez-tops-final-practice-as-leclerc-crashes/10358835/) [thinks Mercedes is a "long way off"](https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/mercedes-a-long-way-off-at-spa-says-hamilton/10358451/)at the Belgian GP, with he and George Russell finishing sixth and eighth in FP2 yesterday [Audi to enter Formula 1 from 2026](/f1/video/audi-to-enter-formula-1-from-2026/580127/) [Max Verstappen](https://www.autosport.com/driver/max-verstappen/829269/) leads the F1 world drivers’ championship by 80 points over [Charles Leclerc](https://www.autosport.com/driver/charles-leclerc/840485/) thanks to back-to-back wins in France and Hungary before the summer break. With [Fernando Alonso](https://www.autosport.com/driver/fernando-alonso/829156/) heading to Aston Martin to replace the retiring [Sebastian Vettel](https://www.autosport.com/driver/sebastian-vettel/829234/) in 2023, attention turns to Oscar Piastri and whether he will end up at [Alpine](https://www.autosport.com/team/alpine/39174/) or McLaren. Summary

Live commentary and updates on Saturday practice and qualifying for the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix, taking place at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend.

[Daniel Ricciardo](https://www.autosport.com/driver/daniel-ricciardo/829602/)’s early split from [McLaren](https://www.autosport.com/team/mclaren/36473/) at the end of the season was confirmed earlier this week. [https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/alpine-eyes-gasly-as-marko-lines-up-herta-for-alphatauri-f1-role/10358913/](https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/alpine-eyes-gasly-as-marko-lines-up-herta-for-alphatauri-f1-role/10358913/) [https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-belgian-gp-perez-tops-final-practice-as-leclerc-crashes/10358835/](https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-belgian-gp-perez-tops-final-practice-as-leclerc-crashes/10358835/) [Audi to enter Formula 1 from 2026](/f1/video/audi-to-enter-formula-1-from-2026/580124/) Summary [Max Verstappen](https://www.autosport.com/driver/max-verstappen/829269/) leads the F1 world drivers’ championship by 80 points over [Charles Leclerc](https://www.autosport.com/driver/charles-leclerc/840485/) thanks to back-to-back wins in France and Hungary before the summer break. With [Fernando Alonso](https://www.autosport.com/driver/fernando-alonso/829156/) heading to Aston Martin to replace the retiring [Sebastian Vettel](https://www.autosport.com/driver/sebastian-vettel/829234/) in 2023, attention turns to Oscar Piastri and whether he will end up at [Alpine](https://www.autosport.com/team/alpine/39174/) or McLaren.

Verstappen, Leclerc to battle for spot... at the back of the grid: F1 qualifying LIVE.

I think today was the worst of the weather.” That means they will start from the back of the field along with another four drivers who have chosen to switch to new engines for the Belgian race weekend. at the back of the grid: F1 qualifying LIVE

Follow all the action in third practice and qualifying as F1 returns at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Alex Albon is the best of the rest in fifth, with Hamilton all the way down in 13th. George Russell is struggling to get temperature into his tyres early on here - the same issue he was complaining about yesterday. Highlights will be aired on Channel 4; for qualifying and the race at 6:30pm (BST) on Saturday and Sunday respectively. [Terms of use,](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/user-policies-a6184151.html) [Cookie policy](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/cookie-policy-a6184186.html) and [Privacy notice.](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/privacy-policy-a6184181.html) [Privacy policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en) and [Terms of service](https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en) apply. Sergio Perez went fastest in FP3 on Saturday; qualifying takes place at 3pm (BST). This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. All cars on softs now so the order could well change... [McLaren](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/mclaren) at the end of this season [was announced on Wednesday](https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/daniel-ricciardo-mclaren-contract-oscar-piastri-b2151711.html), with the team paying out £8.5m to terminate Ricciardo’s contract a year early. However, Verstappen and Leclerc are among six drivers who have [taken power unit penalties for this weekend,](/f1/max-verstappen-red-bull-charles-leclerc-lewis-hamilton-george-russell-b2153377.html) meaning they will start at the back of the grid for Sunday’s race. F1 qualifying - Belgian Grand Prix: FP3 - Verstappen, Perez, Sainz F1 qualifying - Belgian Grand Prix: FP3 - Perez, Verstappen, Sainz

The Alpine boss didn't have kind words for Piastri after it has become clear that he will likely join the McLaren team.

He signed a piece of paper as well back in November and we’ve done everything on our end of the bargain to prepare him for Formula 1,” said Szafnauer. Also Read: Alpine F1 boss Otmar Szafnauer has come out and again critiqued Australian rookie Oscar Piastri who is set to join McLaren to replace Daniel Ricciardo in 2023.