Verstappen sets fastest lap in first Spa-Francorchamps practice

Championship standings before the Belgian GP

The session took place ahead of the tenth round of the Formula 1 World Championship, which will be held on Sunday at 15:00 (Sky and RTL). In the championship standings, Kimi Antonelli leads by 25 points ahead of his Silver Arrows teammate George Russell. Four-time world champion Verstappen lies seventh, already 103 points behind the leader.

Verstappen's future at Red Bull

Verstappen's future at Red Bull remains a talking point in the meantime. An exit clause in his contract could see him leave the team before the original expiry date in 2028. No official details about the specific conditions of the clause have been made public.

In the midfield, the drivers of the smaller teams posted significantly larger gaps. Nico Hülkenberg in the Audi was 1.892 seconds off in 13th, Oliver Bearman in the Haas 14th with a 1.940-second deficit. Alexander Albon in the Williams took 15th with a 2.267-second gap, Franco Colapinto in the Alpine was 16th at 2.333 seconds, and Esteban Ocon in the Haas 17th at 2.379 seconds.

Gaps in the midfield and at the back of the field

Pierre Gasly in the second Alpine was classified 18th, 2.642 seconds off the pace, Valtteri Bottas in the Cadillac 19th at 2.769 seconds, and Sergio Perez in the second Cadillac 20th at 3.156 seconds. Carlos Sainz in the second Williams took 21st with a 3.792-second deficit. Bringing up the rear were Lance Stroll in the Aston Martin at 5.738 seconds and Jak Crawford in the second Aston Martin at 6.129 seconds off the pace.

The report was distributed via the dpa news channel. The original dispatch carries the identifier dpa:260717-930-400548/1. Further information on the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship is available through ORF.at and various agencies.

Significance for the race weekend

The first free practice session was used by the teams primarily to dial in the setup of their cars for the demanding Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Weather conditions and tyre choice played an important role. The long straights and fast corners of the Ardennes arena traditionally place high demands on setup and chassis.

Verstappen has struggled with the consistency of his Red Bull in recent races. A strong practice performance at his favourite track could give the team a boost ahead of qualifying and the race. Whether the pace from practice can be carried over into race distance will become clear on Saturday in qualifying and on Sunday in the race.

For Hamilton, the session offered an initial benchmark in the Ferrari on a circuit that demands high downforce levels and efficient aerodynamics. The Briton switched from Mercedes to Ferrari for the current season and continues to work on finding his rhythm with his new team.

Outlook for qualifying and the race

Antonelli heads into the weekend as championship leader and has the chance to extend his advantage over Russell. The young Italian is contesting his first full Formula 1 season and has worked his way to the top of the field with consistent performances. His teammate Russell, however, remains within striking distance.

The second free practice session on Friday evening and the third session on Saturday morning will provide further clues about the competitive order. Qualifying takes place on Saturday afternoon and will decide the starting grid for the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday.

With regard to the championship standings, it remains to be seen whether Verstappen still has any chance of the title despite his 103-point deficit. With ten races completed and several rounds still to come, a comeback is mathematically conceivable, but in practice extremely difficult.

The 2026 Formula 1 season comprises a total of 24 races. After Belgium, the calendar includes stops in Hungary, the Netherlands, Italy and Singapore, among others. Each race offers 25 points to the winner, meaning the balance of power at the top can still shift.

The practice session at Spa-Francorchamps marked the start of a weekend that traditionally ranks among the highlights of the Formula 1 calendar. The combination of long straights, fast corners and changeable weather conditions makes the circuit a particular challenge for drivers and engineers.