Verstappen Leads Ferrari Duo in Belgian GP FP1 as Red Bull Sets Early Pace at Spa

Max Verstappen opened the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix weekend by setting the fastest time in the first free practice session at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, edging out Ferrari pair Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in a closely contested hour that hinted at another tight battle between Red Bull and Ferrari. The reigning world champion produced a best lap of 1:47.070 to finish 0.145 seconds ahead of Hamilton, with Leclerc another 0.062 seconds adrift in third. Verstappen's benchmark came despite Red Bull running an older rear-wing specification as the team continued evaluating its aerodynamic package before qualifying. Hamilton continued Ferrari's encouraging recent form by ending the session second, while teammate Leclerc ensured both Scuderia drivers finished within two-tenths of Verstappen's pace. The Italian team appeared competitive across both single-lap runs and longer stints, suggesting it could challenge Red Bull throughout the weekend. Red Bull youngster Isack Hadjar impressed with the fourth-fastest time, finishing just 0.252 seconds behind Verstappen. Oscar Piastri rounded out the top five for McLaren, 0.452 seconds off the session leader, as the constructors' championship contenders gathered valuable data ahead of the sprint-format weekend. Mercedes also showed promising pace, with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell featuring inside the top ten during the session, although they finished behind the leading trio. Teams spent much of the opening practice evaluating aerodynamic configurations and tyre behaviour around Spa's demanding 7.004-kilometre layout, with changing track conditions adding another variable to their preparations. Several drivers entered the Belgian Grand Prix weekend carrying grid penalties after teams introduced fresh power unit components. Among those affected were Verstappen's Red Bull teammate Hadjar and McLaren's Lando Norris, forcing both teams to balance outright pace with strategic planning for Sunday's race. Verstappen's quickest lap came during the soft-tyre qualifying simulations in the latter stages of the session, when track evolution allowed drivers to improve significantly. Hamilton briefly challenged for top spot before Verstappen reclaimed the lead with a clean lap through Spa's high-speed middle sector. Ferrari's performance will encourage the Maranello outfit after recent improvements, with both Hamilton and Leclerc consistently matching Verstappen's pace during different phases of the session. McLaren, meanwhile, appeared to focus more heavily on race preparation, with Piastri completing an extensive long-run programme after his qualifying simulation. The opening practice session also marked the first opportunity for teams to gather representative data under the revised Spa circuit conditions before sprint qualifying later on Friday. Engineers will analyse tyre degradation, aerodynamic efficiency and power unit performance before deciding final setup changes. With less than half a second covering the top five drivers, FP1 suggested another closely fought weekend could be in store at one of Formula 1's most iconic venues. Ferrari's proximity to Verstappen offers hope of a genuine fight for pole position, while Red Bull's decision to run older aerodynamic components indicates further performance may still be available before competitive sessions begin.