VERSTAPPEN LEADS BELGIAN GP FP1 AS FERRARI SHOWS STRONG PACE
Max Verstappen topped the opening free practice session of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, putting Red Bull at the top of the timesheets ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in the Ferraris.
The session did not provide a clear picture of the competitive order yet, but Red Bull and Ferrari appeared to have a strong start to the weekend. Mercedes, meanwhile, struggled to find the right balance with the W17, with both Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell lacking confidence in the car’s current setup.
McLaren also had a quiet FP1 session, failing to show the pace expected from the team. Lando Norris, who will start the race with a 10-place grid penalty after taking a new power electronics unit, spent part of the session collecting data with aerodynamic sensors installed on his car before making setup adjustments.
The first runs were mainly focused on understanding the longest circuit on the Formula 1 calendar. Red Bull appeared slightly stronger in the early stages, potentially benefiting from a power advantage, while Racing Bulls continued their impressive form and once again looked like one of the strongest midfield teams. Audi also showed promising pace, while Aston Martin remained in difficulty with Lance Stroll and rookie Jak Crawford, who replaced Fernando Alonso as part of the mandatory rookie FP1 sessions.
After the opening runs, Ferrari made setup changes and returned to the track with soft tyres for qualifying simulations. Hamilton quickly moved into second place, with Leclerc following in third, showing encouraging pace from the Italian team.
Verstappen remained at the front throughout the session, although Red Bull’s long-run performance was less dominant. The Dutchman experienced some tyre graining during the race simulations, affecting his pace towards the end of his stint.
Mercedes showed better consistency during long runs, particularly with Antonelli, although the team still appeared to be searching for the ideal balance. Ferrari started its race simulations later than its rivals but showed strong performance, especially with Hamilton on the soft compound.
Oscar Piastri also impressed during race simulations, setting competitive times on medium tyres. However, McLaren may have been running a lower-downforce configuration compared with its rivals. The Australian driver also reported a small issue with his car late in the session but was able to return to the pits.
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