Verstappen Tops Opening Belgian GP Practice Ahead of Hamilton and Leclerc

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Max Verstappen made a strong start to the Belgian Grand Prix weekend by setting the fastest time in the opening practice session at Spa Francorchamps, giving Red Bull an encouraging boost after a challenging first half of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

The three time Belgian Grand Prix winner clocked the quickest lap during the one hour session, finishing ahead of Ferrari duo Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. It marked the first time in several race weekends that Red Bull had topped a practice session, suggesting the team may have found improvements at one of Verstappen’s strongest circuits.

Hamilton continued Ferrari’s recent resurgence by ending the session in second place, just ahead of teammate Leclerc. The Scuderia looked competitive throughout the morning as both drivers completed extensive setup work while showing promising pace on both the medium and soft tyre compounds.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes teammate George Russell were unable to match Verstappen’s outright speed, instead focusing on long-run performance and race simulations. Mercedes, who have won seven of the opening nine races this season, appeared content to work through their programme without chasing the fastest lap.

McLaren also enjoyed a productive session, although Lando Norris faces an uphill battle this weekend after receiving a 10 place grid penalty for exceeding his allocated power electronics components. The team chose to take the penalty at Spa due to the circuit’s overtaking opportunities.

The opening practice session ran without any major interruptions, allowing teams to gather valuable data ahead of the remainder of the weekend. With Spa’s ever-changing weather expected to play a role, engineers focused on finding the right balance between straight line speed and cornering performance.

While it is only the first session of the weekend, Verstappen’s performance offers renewed hope for Red Bull as they look to close the gap to Mercedes in both championships. Ferrari also appears firmly in the fight, setting the stage for an intriguing battle as the Belgian Grand Prix weekend continues