FP1: Rosberg sets the pace with Halo

Nico Rosberg was the driver to beat at Spa on Friday morning as he put in the first laps with Halo done in anger. Lewis Hamilton, who faces a 15-place penalty, was second.

Formula 1 returned from the summer break with a look at the future as Daniel Ricciardo, Rosberg, Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz all ran the Halo on their cars.

It was a one-lap outing for most as they were quick to remove it and get down to the business of the Belgian Grand Prix.

Rosberg did not. The Mercedes driver opted to keep Halo fitted to his W07 and set the early pace.

He posted a 1:49.4 on Pirelli’s prototype tyres and followed that up with a 1:48.3 on the supersofts – and all the time running Halo.

Hamilton slotted into second place, 0.730s down on his team-mate, while Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg were next in line at the halfway point.

Ferrari came to the fore in the latter half of the 90-minute practice as Kimi Raikkonen went third quickest.

A 1:49.147 for the Finn put him just 0.799s down on Rosberg. Raikkonen was using the soft …

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