Max Verstappen set an impressive early pace to top opening practice at the Belgian Grand Prix in a session in which the world championship leader’s expected grid penalty for Sunday’s race was formally confirmed.
As reported on Wednesday, Verstappen has taken a fifth Red Bull-Honda internal combustion unit of the season – one more than is permitted under the regulations – at Spa-Francorchamps with an automatic 10-place grid drop to now follow for the 44-lap race.
It means that, wherever Verstappen qualifies on Saturday, the world champion will start Sunday from no higher than 11th on the grid.
Armed with that fresh engine, Verstappen – who has won the last two Belgian GPs from outside the top five owing to grid penalties – showed he could still have the pace to again be a factor at the front by setting the Practice One pace by an eye-catching margin of 0.531 seconds.
Verstappen set a fastest lap of 1:43.372 with Oscar Piastri, F1’s newest race winner after his triumph last Sunday in Hungary, second for McLaren and Alex Albon a surprise third for Williams.
Mercedes pair George Russell and Lewis Hamilton were fourth and fifth respectively, almost a second behind Verstappen, as they sampled the latest raft of upgrades added to the team’s ever-improving W15 car.
George Russell approaches the world-famous Eau Rouge during first practice
The car, which has shown major improvement since the start of the campaign thanks to a series of successful upgrades in recent months particularly, includes a new front wing, beam wing and diffuser, plus revisions to the floor and Halo fairing flaps.
However, in potentially concerning early assessments of the car’s handling from both of their drivers, Russell at one point during the session declared “I have no rear end at all”, while Hamilton said: “I’ve got to come in. The bouncing is really bad.”
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Daniel Ricciardo narrowly misses the barrier in the first practice session of the Belgian Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc was sixth fastest in the lead Ferrari, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez – again under pressure to deliver a strong weekend amid speculation around his future – was seventh, and McLaren’s Lando Norris was eighth.
Running their new special Deadpool & Wolverine movie-themed livery in Belgium, Alpine though suffered an early setback as a suspected water leak on Esteban Ocon’s car sidelined the Frenchman from early on in the session.
Practice Two follows at 4pm, live on Sky Sports F1.
Sky Sports F1’s live Belgian GP schedule
Friday July 26
2pm: F3 Qualifying
2.55pm: F2 Qualifying
3.45pm: Belgian GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
5:15pm: The F1 Show
Saturday July 27
8:45am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Belgian GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Belgian GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: Belgian GP Qualifying
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments throughout the years at the Belgian Grand Prix
Sunday July 28
7:25am: F3 Feature Race
8.55am: F2 Feature Race
10.40am: Porsche Supercup
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday – Belgian GP build-up*
2pm: The BELGIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Belgian GP reaction
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
The Formula 1 action continues this weekend with the final race before F1’s summer break, the Belgian Grand Prix. You can watch every session from Spa-Francorchamps live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime