Max Verstappen set the pace in the first practice session of the 2026 Formula 1® Belgian Grand Prix, posting the fastest lap with a time of 1:47.070 on soft tyres. His performance edged out Lewis Hamilton, who was second quickest, just 0.145 seconds behind, also running on softs. Charles Leclerc completed the top three, narrowly behind Hamilton by 0.062 seconds.
The session, held on July 17, 2026, saw Red Bull Racing demonstrate strong early speed, with Verstappen and teammate Isack Hadjar exchanging quickest times in the opening 20 minutes. Verstappen initially ran on medium tyres before switching to softs to improve his lap time. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s Hamilton and Leclerc showed competitive pace, maintaining close proximity to the leading Red Bulls.
Other notable performances included McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who secured fifth place, trailing Verstappen’s best time by 0.452 seconds. Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli was sixth, about half a second off the top time. Aston Martin Racing faced challenges in the session, with Lance Stroll finishing 21st and 5.7 seconds behind the leader, while rookie Jak Crawford ended the session at the back of the timesheets. Additionally, Racing Bulls tested a new roll-hoop intake design during the practice.
It is worth noting that Verstappen’s FP1 time was around five seconds slower than the benchmark set in 2025 by Oscar Piastri with the new generation cars, reflecting changes in conditions or car developments. The session featured a variety of tyre strategies, with Red Bull notably switching from medium to soft tyres to find improved lap times.
Other drivers in the session included George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli for Mercedes, Lando Norris for McLaren, and Sergio Perez for Cadillac. The practice provided an early look at how teams and drivers were adapting to the Spa-Francorchamps circuit for this year’s Belgian Grand Prix weekend.
The first practice session offered a snapshot of the competitive order at Spa, with Red Bull and Ferrari closely matched at the top, while some teams like Aston Martin appeared to struggle with pace. The session also highlighted ongoing technical experimentation, such as Racing Bulls’ new roll-hoop intake design, which could influence car performance in the coming sessions.
As the weekend progresses, these initial times will provide a foundation for teams to refine their setups and strategies. The session underlined the tight margins between the leading drivers and the importance of tyre choices in extracting performance at this iconic circuit.