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Oscar Piastri set the fastest time in the first practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, confirming McLaren’s strong form and his own status as championship leader. Piastri was 0.404 seconds quicker than Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, setting the pace especially in the challenging middle sector full of corners. His performance was a result of a higher-downforce setup that gave him a significant grip advantage through the twisty middle part of the track.
Lando Norris, in the second McLaren with a similar setup, was slightly off the pace after a mistake on his first flying lap and managing only a second attempt on worn soft tyres. The time differences reflect the classic Spa dilemma whether to set up a car for top speed on straights or grip through corners.
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George Russell placed fourth for Mercedes, followed by Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari and Russell’s young teammate Kimi Antonelli. Lewis Hamilton was seventh in the second Ferrari, both using a new rear suspension design. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso followed next, with Isack Hadjar completing the top ten in the Racing Bull.
Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, representing Williams, were 11th and 12th. Williams also debuted a new floor in their latest upgrade package.
This weekend is a sprint format, so sprint qualifying will take place Friday afternoon, followed by the sprint race on Saturday before regular qualifying and Sunday’s main race. Rain is in the forecast for Sunday, which could add extra unpredictability to an already strategic weekend.
The Belgian Grand Prix weekend marks a significant shift for Red Bull Racing. Team principal Christian Horner has been replaced by Laurent Mekies, formerly of AlphaTauri and Ferrari, making this his debut race in charge. Mekies steps in at a pivotal moment as Red Bull continues to face internal and competitive pressures.
Verstappen’s Red Bull featured a set of key upgrades including changes to the front wing, suspension aerodynamics, and bodywork. Despite this, the Dutch driver was second fastest, with a noticeable loss of time in the middle sector where Piastri’s McLaren excelled. Red Bull appeared to retain a straight-line speed advantage in sectors one and three, but the overall lap time was not enough to match McLaren’s grip through corners.
The ongoing debate over optimal setup was especially clear at Spa. Teams must balance between speed on the long straights and grip in the corners. McLaren’s decision to favor downforce paid off in lap time, though it may compromise overtaking during the race.
Ferrari introduced a new rear suspension aimed at helping the car run lower to the ground, increasing stability and potentially pace. Mercedes, too, showed consistent performance through Russell and rising talent Kimi Antonelli.
This weekend’s sprint format tightens the schedule, leaving little time for teams to adjust strategies between sessions. Sprint qualifying is set for 15:30 BST on Friday, with the sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday.
Weather could be the wildcard. Rain is expected on Sunday, which might turn the strategic calculations on their head, especially for teams banking on dry-weather pace. All eyes will be on how Mekies handles his first weekend in charge and whether Red Bull can respond to McLaren’s rising threat at the top.
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