- Verstappen Sets the Pace in Belgian GP Practice as Hamilton and Ferrari Apply Early Pressure
Four-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen made an emphatic return to the top of the timesheets by setting the fastest lap in the opening practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps on Friday.
The Red Bull driver clocked a best lap of 1:47.070, finishing 0.145 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in a competitive first session that hinted at another thrilling battle among Formula One’s leading teams.
Hamilton’s Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc completed the top three, while Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar impressed with fourth place despite knowing he will start Sunday’s race from the back of the grid after multiple power-unit component changes.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished fifth ahead of championship leader Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes, with reigning world champion Lando Norris placing seventh after serving a 10-place grid penalty for taking a new battery. Mercedes’ George Russell rounded out the top eight.
The session marked the first time this season that neither a Mercedes nor a Ferrari topped the opening practice, as Red Bull enjoyed an encouraging start after reverting to its conventional rear-wing configuration.
Verstappen had criticised the team’s experimental rear wing used in recent races, describing it as unsafe following high-speed crashes at both the Austrian and British Grands Prix. Back with the standard setup, the Dutchman immediately looked more comfortable around the demanding 7.004-kilometre Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
Red Bull initially dominated the early stages, with Hadjar setting the pace on soft tyres before Verstappen moved to the top on medium compounds with a lap of 1:48.237.
Mercedes later responded when Antonelli switched to soft tyres and briefly claimed the fastest time, but Verstappen soon regained first place with his session-best lap.
As the session progressed, Ferrari emerged as Red Bull’s closest challenger. Hamilton consistently matched Verstappen’s pace, while Leclerc also remained firmly in contention, with the leading five drivers separated by just half a second at one stage.
Norris endured a slower start to practice and was outside the top ten midway through the session before improving to seventh as McLaren continued evaluating race pace ahead of qualifying.
Aston Martin, however, struggled throughout the hour-long session. Lance Stroll and reserve driver Jak Crawford, who is replacing Fernando Alonso for opening practice duties, finished at the bottom of the standings.
Alonso, watching from the pit wall, had earlier revealed that one of his priorities this weekend is returning home in time to watch Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
With Ferrari showing renewed speed, Mercedes remaining competitive and McLaren still expected to improve, Verstappen’s fastest lap has set the stage for what promises to be another closely contested weekend at one of Formula One’s most iconic circuits.
The Belgian Grand Prix continues with sprint qualifying later on Friday before drivers battle for crucial championship points at Spa on Sunday.
