#F1 #BelgianGP #FP1: @Max33Verstappen quickest ahead of @ScuderiaFerrari duo.

Verstappen Belgian GP FP1 – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen topped the opening practice session at the Belgian GP in-front of Ferrari pairing Sir Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc who completed the top three. Championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli was sixth for Mercedes.

Verstappen posted the session-topping benchmark with the C4 red side-walled softer tyres and was 0.145 seconds clear of Hamilton whilst Leclerc was a further 0.207 seconds adrift of the Dutchman in third.

Williams’ Carlos Sainz lead the pack out on a set of the C3 yellow-marked medium compounds.

Both Williams drivers of Sainz and Alexander Albon pitted as Cadillac’s Sergio Perez was the first to register the benchmark of a 1:53.734, which was beaten by Russell’s 1:50.654 with two purple sectors in two and three.

RB’s Arvid Lindblad slotted into second with a 1:51.450 whilst Hamilton with the best final sector went quickest on a 1:50.438 but only briefly as Verstappen topped the time-sheets with a 1:49.307.

Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar on the softs jumped his team-mate into P1 setting a 1:48.918 whilst Leclerc put his Ferrari third on a 1:49.887 as RB’s Liam Lawson went fourth overall and 1.200 seconds adrift of Hadjar.

Championship leader Antonelli moved into fifth In the classification posting a 1:50.397 to end up 1.479 seconds off Hadjar’s benchmark.

Russell was next and with three personal bests set a 1:49.928 to go fourth and 1.010 seconds off Hadjar.

Hamilton with three personal bests jumped to top spot with a 1:48.842, but moments later Verstappen took back P1 on a 1:48.237 with a personal best sector one whilst Hadjar improved to 1:48.464 with a personal best middle sector and was 0.227 seconds off his team-mate.

Championship leader Antonelli with the best sector three time ended up fifth posting a 1:49.320 effort.

Piastri with three personal bests moved into eighth to be 1:564 seconds off Verstappen’s benchmark as Lindblad moved into sixth in the order setting a 1:49.343 and was 1.106 seconds off the Dutchman.

Leclerc with the best final sector was up into third posting a 1:48.577 but was ousted by team-mate Hamilton’s 1:48.366.

Verstappen then improved at the top with a 1:47.859, then team-mate Hadjar pipped his team-mate at the top setting a 1:47.778 to go 0.081 seconds clear of the Dutchman.

Lindblad abandoned his flyer after seeing a pack of cars jostling together through Blanchimont.

Leclerc was next with the best purple sector three time once again to improve to third on a 1:41.145 as the hour-long-practice session past the 20^th-minute mark of proceedings.

Hamilton then jumped his team-mate to third with three personal bests posting a 1:48.056 completing his ninth tour on the mediums to end up 0.278 seconds off Hadjar’s soft-tyre-benchmark.

Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto was up into fifth in the classification setting a 1:49.240 to be 1.462 seconds off Hadjar’s best time.

The majority of the field by the 25^th-minute-mark returned to the pits to adjust their setups before heading out again.

Championship leader Antonelli ventured out on the C4 red side-walled softer tyres to begin his next stint.

Reigning world champion Lando Norris, who has a 10-grid-placed-penalty for the weekend after exceeding his Control Electronics elements for the season, was next on his hot-lap on the softs and the Briton set a 1:50.406 to be 11^th overall.

Antonelli, with the best first sector and two personal bests went fastest with a 1:47.603 to be 0.175 seconds clear of Hadjar as Sainz ran wide at the final corner.

Russell was next with the best sector one and with two personal bests ended up fourth and 0.637 seconds off Hadjar who went quickest with a 1:47.322 to be 0.281 clear of Antonelli.

Verstappen followed and with the best middle sector pipped his team-mate at the top of the pile by 0.252 seconds posting a 1:47.070 just past the midway point of the session.

Sainz was currently investigated by the race stewards for crossing the pit-lane entry line at the final corner.

Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg with two personal bests was up to ninth and 1.892 seconds adrift of Verstappen’s best time.

Hamilton with the best middle sector on the softs ended up 0.641 seconds off Verstappen’s best effort.

Leclerc was next and with two personal bests was up into fourth and 0.420 seconds off Verstappen with his 1:47.490.

Lawson with a personal best sector three time was up into ninth overall setting a 1:48.432 with less than 20 minutes remaining.

Hamilton was next with two personal bests jumped to second posting a 1:47.215 as his team-mate Leclerc slotted behind in third place with a 1:47.277.

Piastri was next on a flyer with the C4’s and moved into fifth to set a 1:47.522 to be 0.452 seconds off Verstappen’s benchmark.

Norris followed and with two personal bests went seventh-best posting a 1:47.931 to be 0.861 seconds adrift of Verstappen’s best time with less than 12 minutes left on the clock.

Having set their fastest laps, many drivers opted to switch to longer runs at this stage to gather data for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Last year, Spa hosted a Sprint weekend but this is a regular event, so practice is all-important for gathering race data.

Replays showed Piastri peeling off at Les Combes due to a hydraulics issue, but the Australian was told to drive it back slowly to the pits.

The session ended with Verstappen topping the time-sheets ahead of Hamilton who was second whilst Leclerc rounded out the top three.

Hadjar placed fourth and in-front of Piastri who ended the session fifth and championship leader Antonelli who took sixth.

Reigning world champion Norris placed seventh and ahead of Russell who ended FP1 eighth.

Lindblad and Bortoleto completed the top ten.

You can see the full Formula 1 Moet & Chandon Belgian Grand Prix 2026 Free Practice 1 Results Classification at the link: FORMULA 1 MOËT & CHANDON BELGIAN GRAND PRIX 2026 – PRACTICE 1

#F1 Moet & Chandon #BelgianGP 2026 Preview. #Formula1 #BelgianGrandPrix

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