Piastri leads Verstappen in Belgian GP practice

Piastri Dominates Belgian GP Practice

Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium – Oscar Piastri led the sole practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix, clocking a time significantly ahead of Max Verstappen, signaling McLaren’s strong pace ahead of Sprint qualifying later today.

Piastri’s McLaren showcased enhanced downforce, particularly in the middle sector, where he posted a purple sector time, finishing the session with a 1:43.784 – 0.475 seconds clear of Red Bull’s Verstappen. While Verstappen performed well in the speed-sensitive first and third sectors, he could not counter Piastri’s advantage in the corners.

Lando Norris secured third place in the other McLaren, registering a best time of 1:44.288. His initial attempt was hampered by a gravel excursion at Stavelot, but he rebounded with a second lap that placed him within range of his teammate, albeit still 0.504 seconds behind.

George Russell represented Mercedes with a fourth-place finish (1:44.388), surpassing Piastri in the first and third sectors but losing critical time in the middle sector. Charles Leclerc rounded out the top five for Ferrari, clocking a time 0.906 seconds off Piastri’s pace as his car struggled in the corners due to its straight-line speed configuration.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, also from Mercedes, finished sixth, marginally ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso completed the session eighth and ninth, respectively, both just over a second off the lead.

Carlos Sainz faced difficulties early on, suffering a "critical" fuel system issue that limited his laps. After repairs, he managed to secure 11th place, just ahead of teammate Alex Albon. The Sauber drivers, Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg, followed closely in 13th and 14th.

In lower positions, Liam Lawson led 15th, outperforming teammates Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, while Franco Colapinto finished 19th, followed by rookie Oliver Bearman at the bottom of the timing sheets.

Practice Session Results: