Max Verstappen set the pace in the first practice session (FP1) at the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix, posting the fastest lap time ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. The session, held on July 17, showcased competitive running from several top teams including Red Bull Racing, Ferrari, and Mercedes.
Verstappen recorded a best time of 1:47.070 using an older rear wing specification, narrowly edging out Hamilton and Leclerc, who finished second and third respectively within two-tenths of his time. Isack Hadjar was the only driver to start on soft tyres early in the session and secured fourth place. Oscar Piastri completed the top five despite experiencing a hydraulic pressure issue towards the end of FP1.
The session featured a variety of tyre strategies, with most drivers initially running on medium tyres before switching to soft compounds later. Kimi Antonelli, who finished sixth, expressed dissatisfaction with his flying laps, while George Russell and Lando Norris took seventh and eighth places. Carlos Sainz had a difficult session, ending up 20th and was involved in an incident currently under investigation. Several drivers, including Norris and Hadjar, are set to serve grid penalties for new components.
The FP1 session underlined the close competition between Red Bull Racing and Ferrari, with Mercedes and McLaren also showing solid pace. Teams will use the data gathered to prepare for the second practice session later in the day. The mix of tyre choices and the early soft tyre run by Hadjar added an interesting dynamic to the session.
Oscar Piastri’s hydraulic pressure issue did not prevent him from setting a competitive time, but it remains a point of attention for McLaren. Meanwhile, Kimi Antonelli’s comments about his laps suggest there is room for improvement as the weekend progresses. Carlos Sainz’s incident is still being reviewed, which may have implications for his starting position.
This initial practice session provides an early snapshot of the teams’ form at Spa-Francorchamps, with Verstappen leading the way but closely followed by key rivals. The session’s results are preliminary and will be refined as the weekend continues, with teams focusing on fine-tuning their setups and strategies based on the FP1 data.