The free practice session in Belgium commenced under wet conditions as drivers and teams adapted to the longest circuit on the calendar. With rain expected on both Friday and Saturday, this session was crucial for everyone to familiarise themselves with the track in wet conditions.
Luke Browning initially set the pace with a 2:22.089 for Hitech Pulse-Eight. ART Grand Prix driver Christian Mansell was the only other driver to clock a time in the 2:22s, trailing Browning by 0.6 seconds in second place.
Noel Leon then moved into second place, 0.260 seconds off the top time, with Dino Beganovic in third, another two-tenths back. Browning subsequently improved his time to 2:21.310, extending his lead by 0.6 seconds.
Nikita Bedrin, driving for AIX Racing and fresh off his maiden FIA F3 victory in Budapest, claimed the fastest time with a 2:21.159, overtaking Browning. However, his lap was later deleted for exceeding track limits, returning Browning to the top. Mansell was now just 0.070 seconds behind in second place, with teammate Laurens van Hoepen in third, 0.3 seconds behind the leader.
What a weekend these two had in Hungary 🙌
— Formula 3 (@Formula3) July 26, 2024
Niktita Bedrin claimed the Sprint win whilst Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak joined him on the podium in P2 🏆
What can they achieve this weekend? #F3 #BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/BFjihbKn0f
With just over 20 minutes remaining, all cars returned to the pit lane. They began to venture back out with 15 minutes left, now fitted with dry tires. There was anticipation of seeing slick tire times before the end of the session. The middle sector remained challenging for everyone, with no improvements initially.
Alex Dunne from MP Motorsport was the first to set a faster time on dry tires, posting a 2:20.474. His teammate, Tramnitz, was just 0.008 seconds behind in second. Trident’s Santiago Ramos then took the top spot with a 2:19.990, but others were quickly improving behind him. Noel Leon set a new benchmark with a 2:18.749 as the track continued to dry up.
Dunne goes P1 🔝
— Formula 3 (@Formula3) July 26, 2024
The Irish driver sets a 2:20.474 to go to the top of the times with just under 5 minutes of the session remaining
Live timing 👇https://t.co/xAX6ElVdTD#F3 #BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/gkFCHIgIzg
Tramnitz found significant time, going fastest with a 2:17.021, and Fornaroli in second. As the chequered flag waved, Sebastian Montoya set the quickest time of 2:16.210, only to be displaced by Dunne and then Leon.
Finally, Browning returned to the top and finished the practice session as the fastest driver with a 2:15.570. Leon, Mansell, Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak, and Dunne rounded out the top five.
