Belgian GP: Max Verstappen tops Lewis Hamilton as Mercedes struggle in Spa-Francorchamps first practice | F1 News
Max Verstappen was fastest from Lewis Hamilton as Mercedes were off the pace in first practice for the Belgian Grand Prix.
Red Bull are yet to win the race in 2026 but Verstappen came flying out of the blocks at the famous Spa-Francorchamps and was 0.145s quicker than rival Hamilton, with Charles Leclerc in third place.
Verstappen has been tight-lipped about where he will drive in 2027 after his management held talks with McLaren last month, but Red Bull’s strong car in the coming races will likely mean the Dutchman stays at the team.
Isack Hadjar, who will start at the back of Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix due to a power unit change, was fourth to underline Red Bull’s strong early pace.
The Milton Keynes-based team dropped its ‘macarena’ rear wing after Verstappen crashed out of the last two races in Austria and Silverstone due to rear wing failure.
But it didn’t stop them and the heavy reliance on engine power at Spa-Francorchamps suited the RB22, which was deemed the best internal combustion engine by the FIA.
“Max always gets the edge faster than the others but that looked strong for Red Bull,” he said Sky Sports F1Martin Brundle.
Mercedes will be scratching their heads as championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished sixth 0.533 behind Verstappen and George Russell dropped to eighth.
Antonelli, who leads Russell by 25 points in the Drivers’ Championship, is in the middle of an engine loan after Mercedes discovered a potential problem with his Silverstone power unit and investigated whether it could be reused.
Another new engine of Antonelli can cause a penalty of 10 grid places, which is what Lando Norris has this weekend as he has exceeded the limit of electrical control – a characteristic of the power unit.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was fifth but had a hydraulic problem late on, so he was forced to crawl back to the pits in the closing minutes.
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Sky Sports F1’s Bernie Collins goes ahead with the new development ahead of the Belgian GP
Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad was ninth in his upgraded car with new sidepods while Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto completed the top 10.
Their team-mates Liam Lawson and Nico Hulkenberg were respectively 11th and 12th with Haas’ Oliver Bearman in 13th. Haas also brought new parts to Belgium including a new front wing and a revised beam wing.
Jak Crawford replaced Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin in the session as the teams continued to note the need to run the rookie in at least two practice sessions in both of their cars.
Sky Sports F1 Belgium GP schedule
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Take a look back at some of the most amazing moments throughout the years at the Belgian Grand Prix
Friday July 17th
2pm: F3 Qualifying
2.55pm: F2 Qualifying
3.30pm: Belgian GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Show
Saturday July 18
9am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Belgian GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.15pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Belgian GP qualifying build-up*
3pm: BELGIAN GP QUALIFYING*
Sunday July 19
7.30am: F3 Feature Race
9am: F2 Feature Race
10.45am: Porsche Supercup
12.30pm: Build-up to the Belgian GP: Sunday’s Grand Prix
2pm: BELGIAN GRAND PRIX
4pm: Belgian GP Reaction: Checked Flag
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1’s summer run continues with the Belgian Grand Prix at the prestigious Spa-Francorchamps this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
