Max Verstappen easily topped first practice at the Belgian Grand Prix although that early momentum was offset by confirmation of a grid penalty for the Dutchman after his Red Bull entry took a new internal combustion engine.
The world champion was peerless on the soft tire around the 4.4-mile circuit, setting the benchmark at 1m43.372s and putting himself 0.531s at the head of the field. His time in the downforce-dependent middle sector was particularly impressive, clocking in at 0.629s quicker than anyone else.
Oscar Piastri, first-time winner from last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, was next best in his McLaren. The Australian was also closest to Verstappen — albeit more than 0.1s adrift — in the flat-out final sector.
Alex Albon was a surprising third for Williams, only 0.196s slower than Piastri. His Williams was quickest of any other car in the first and final splits, including 0.429s quicker than Verstappen in the first sector, pointing to a radical lack of downforce on the FW48. Conversely, his time in the middle sector was among the worst in the field and a whopping 1.361s slower than Verstappen.
Mercedes teammates George Russell and Lewis Hamilton were dissatisfied in fourth and fifth, 0.853s and 0.907s off the pace respectively. Russell complained of a lack of rear downforce, while Hamilton was troubled by severe bouncing around the aerodynamically demanding circuit.
Charles Leclerc was sixth in the quickest Ferrari, lapping 0.934s slower than Verstappen.
Sergio Perez, under pressure to save his Red Bull Racing seat with a big result this weekend, struggled markedly through the session. While he was fractionally up on Verstappen in the first sector, an apparent lack of confidence saw him lose 0.849s to his teammate through the middle stint and more than 0.15 in the final sector.
“I’m really struggling to know what the car is doing on entries,” he radioed. “All speeds. Low speed and medium, I don’t have the feel of what’s going on.”
Lando Norris was eighth after locking up on his fast lap, costing him more than half a second through the middle sector and leaving him 1.043s adrift. Carlos Sainz followed in the second Ferrari at 1.2s off the pace, with Lance Stroll completing the top 10, 1.3s adrift.
Pierre Gasly, equipped with a new gearbox, was the sole Alpine in the session, finishing 11th, after teammate Esteban Ocon was withdrawn from FP1 on his installation lap, with the team citing a water leak in his power unit for the absence.
Fernando Alonso was 12th ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, who was lucky to see out the session after a spin on the wet exit curbs at La Source that took him perilously close to the inside concrete barrier before he came to rest.
Valtteri Bottas was 14th ahead of Logan Sargeant in 15th.
Yuki Tsunoda was 16th fastest and equipped with an entirely new power unit that will force him into a back-of-grid start on Sunday.
Nico Hulkenberg was 17th ahead of Haas teammate Kevin Magnussen and Zhou Guanyu, while the lapless Ocon ended the session last without a time.
