The first day back from the summer break when the drivers ask how each other’s holiday was, maybe show some pictures of the places they visited, and… compare tans?
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris met up in the media pen ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix to put their arms side by side and see how much sun they had managed to absorb.
It was a solid first half of the season for both drivers; Verstappen won eight races as he took an 80-point championship lead over Charles Leclerc, while Norris grabbed an Imola podium in an underperforming McLaren car.
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Both drivers comfortably lead their respective team-mates, Sergio Perez and Daniel Ricciardo, in the qualifying battle going into the final nine races of 2022, and they have been in tremendous form.
The drivers went away for the holidays to spend some time with their loved ones and forget about racing for a while, and they both got a chance to soak up some sun by the pool in the process.
When the pair saw each other, their general consensus was that the 22-year-old had managed to bronze a bit more than the reigning champion.
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“You don’t tan at all?” asked Norris.
“No mate, I can’t get a colour,” replied Verstappen, before observing Norris’ arm and saying, “you definitely got a colour!”
“This is from the UK,” said the Briton with a smile.
After a sceptical look from the Red Bull driver, Norris insisted, “it is!”
On the track, Verstappen finished the first practice session third behind the Ferrari pair of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, with Norris down in P13.
The Dutchman topped Friday’s second session, beating Leclerc by eight tenths of a second as Norris ended P3, a second down.