Oscar Piastri established the fastest time in the sole practice session (FP1) at the Belgian Grand Prix held at Spa-Francorchamps, leaving Max Verstappen and Lando Norris trailing behind. The session exposed challenges for key drivers, including Verstappen’s technical issues and Norris encountering difficulties on the track during FP1 on Friday.
Oscar Piastri Leads the Field in Challenging FP1 Conditions
After a two-week break, Formula 1 drivers returned to Spa for a Sprint weekend, marked by the introduction of a new range of Pirelli tires, featuring the C2 compound that sits between the traditional C1 and softer variants. Piastri took advantage of this to set a commanding pace in the session.
The session began with Carlos Sainz experiencing problems immediately during his out-lap.
“Critical problem on the limp mode,”
the Williams team reported, forcing Sainz to halt his run and return to the pits. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen initiated proceedings on medium tires with a lap time of 1:45.545, establishing a half-second lead over Lando Norris, who was on hard tires.
Lewis Hamilton, driving a Ferrari, faced stability issues on the track, mentioning,
“I have a lot of rear locking and instability,”
after clipping the kerb at Raidillon and subsequently cutting the Les Combes chicane. Other drivers, such as Kimi Antonelli and Franco Colapinto, also struggled with locking tires or track limits. Carlos Sainz and Lance Stroll remained in the pits as their teams addressed mechanical concerns.
Competitive Shifts and Track Incidents in Spa’s Practice Session
As the session progressed, Verstappen improved his fastest lap to 1:44.236. Esteban Ocon moved into second position, closely followed by Oscar Piastri who remained on the harder tire compound, trailing by half a second. Hamilton’s difficulties persisted when he obstructed Gabriel Bortoleto, prompting frustration from the latter:
“What the fuck is Hamilton doing? He’s always in the middle of the track!”
Charles Leclerc briefly took the lead with a 1:44.148 lap but had to ease off after nearly blocking Williams driver Alexander Albon, causing him to run wide. George Russell encountered his own trouble, attempting a risky overtaking maneuver on Colapinto, which was referred to the stewards for review.
As drivers began switching to the softer tires ahead of Sprint qualifying, Lance Stroll briefly topped the timesheets with a 1:43.112, but Piastri soon reclaimed the lead with an impressive 1:42.123. Verstappen struggled to match this pace, citing issues with his car while running 0.5 seconds slower. Norris faced his own setback, running wide during a flying lap.
With an additional lap available, Piastri, Verstappen, and Norris all pushed once more, but the session concluded with Piastri first by a margin of 0.404 seconds over Verstappen, and Norris in third place, a further tenth behind.
Detailed FP1 Lap Rankings at the Belgian GP
The final top 20 lap times reflect the challenging conditions and varied performances:
1. Oscar Piastri, McLaren – 1:42.022
2. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing – +0.404
3. Lando Norris, McLaren – +0.504
4. George Russell, Mercedes – +0.576
5. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari – +0.906
6. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes – +0.957
7. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari – +1.063
8. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin – +1.090
9. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin – +1.098
10. Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls – +1.100
11. Carlos Sainz, Williams – +1.195
12. Alexander Albon, Williams – +1.239
13. Gabriel Bortoleto, Kick Sauber – +1.240
14. Nico Hulkenberg, Kick Sauber – +1.448
15. Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls – +1.456
16. Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team – +1.548
17. Pierre Gasly, Alpine – +1.907
18. Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing – +2.470
19. Franco Colapinto, Alpine – +2.825
20. Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team – +3.055
The Implications of FP1 on the Belgian GP and the Season
The session underlined Piastri’s growing strength ahead of the Belgian GP, showcasing his ability to dominate even amid technical and track difficulties affecting leading competitors like Verstappen and Norris. Verstappen’s ongoing mechanical troubles hint at a challenging weekend for the championship leader, while Norris’s track excursions raise concerns over consistency and race pace.
With only one practice session before the Sprint qualifying, teams face limited opportunities to fine-tune setups and tire strategies on the demanding Spa circuit. Piastri’s pace will put pressure on Red Bull and Ferrari to respond swiftly if they are to challenge McLaren’s young driver during the crucial phases of the weekend.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Oscar Piastri a nice person?
A. This seems to be the first instance where Oscar Piastri, a calm and friendly person, appeared upset following the race. His reaction might be called “grumpy” in some places.