Belgian GP FP1 report: Max Verstappen leads Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc

Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari 2026 F1

Max Verstappen set the pace in the opening practice session of the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix, but Ferrari emerged as his closest challenger at Spa-Francorchamps. Lewis Hamilton finished only 0.145 seconds behind the Red Bull driver, while Charles Leclerc completed the top three just 0.207 seconds off the benchmark.

The first free practice session at one of Formula 1’s most historic circuits offered an encouraging start for Ferrari following its victory at Silverstone. Max Verstappen ultimately led the Belgian GP FP1 results with a 1:47.070, although the small gaps to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc suggest the Scuderia could be firmly involved in the battle at the front this weekend.

Formula 1 is competing at Spa before the Belgian Grand Prix takes a one-year break from the calendar and returns in 2028 under Liberty Media’s planned rotational system. Ferrari arrived with its Silverstone success still fresh in the memory, while Mercedes was seeking to recover after suffering another interruption caused by reliability problems. McLaren and Red Bull also brought updates as both teams attempted to reduce their deficit to the championship leaders, with the principal changes covered in the latest technical analysis from the Spa pit lane.

Belgian GP FP1 conditions at Spa-Francorchamps

Before examining how the session unfolded, these were the operating conditions at Spa-Francorchamps:

Air temperature: 24°C
Track temperature: 41°C
Humidity: 43%
Wind: 1.0 m/s from the north-west

The relatively warm asphalt provided teams with an important opportunity to assess tyre performance and degradation. However, conditions may not remain stable across the weekend, with the Belgian Grand Prix weather forecast indicating cooler temperatures and a possible rain threat.

Max Verstappen sets the early pace in Belgian GP FP1

There was plenty of action as soon as the session began, with drivers initially split between the medium and hard compounds. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both selected the C3 medium tyre, while Isack Hadjar was the only driver to start on the soft. Unsurprisingly, that tyre advantage allowed Isack Hadjar to move to the top of the timesheets during the opening phase.

The circuit surface was extremely dirty during the first few minutes. A considerable amount of dust was thrown into the air at Eau Rouge every time a car passed through the famous uphill section.

Red Bull had abandoned its reverse-wing solution, removing the configuration after the problems encountered in Austria and Britain. Even so, the team began strongly. Max Verstappen went fastest on the medium compound after 15 minutes before being challenged by his team-mate as track conditions evolved rapidly.

Max Verstappen switched to the soft tyres at the halfway point of the session. Ferrari, meanwhile, brought both cars back into the garage for setup adjustments after Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc had completed nine-lap stints on the medium compound.

Kimi Antonelli then moved into first place on soft tyres with a 1:47.603. Isack Hadjar improved and reclaimed the lead, but Max Verstappen subsequently produced a 1:47.070, which would remain the fastest lap of FP1.

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc close in for Ferrari

The Ferrari SF-26 cars appeared on the C4 soft compound with 27 minutes remaining. Lewis Hamilton initially recorded the fourth-fastest time, approximately six and a half tenths away from Max Verstappen. Charles Leclerc performed better on his first attempt, moving into third place while remaining 0.420 seconds behind the Red Bull driver.

Ferrari’s early competitiveness followed cautious pre-weekend comments about what the team could achieve at Spa. Charles Leclerc had already outlined Ferrari’s expectations for the Belgian Grand Prix, while the team was also evaluating how its latest SF-26 developments would perform on the demanding seven-kilometre circuit.

Mercedes appeared more interested in gathering race-pace data. Kimi Antonelli and George Russell were the first drivers to begin higher-fuel simulations, with both using the medium compound. Max Verstappen soon followed on the same C3 tyres.

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both improved on their second flying laps with the same set of soft tyres. Lewis Hamilton climbed to second place, only 0.145 seconds behind Max Verstappen, while Charles Leclerc secured third position at a deficit of 0.207 seconds to the Red Bull carrying number three.

The Mercedes W17 did not show particularly impressive race pace during this phase. Max Verstappen appeared significantly more effective, while the Brackley team was struggling to match the leading rhythm.

Ferrari evaluates high-fuel pace late in FP1

Ferrari only began its high-fuel evaluation during the final nine minutes of the session. Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc ran on soft tyres, and the initial indications were positive. However, the exact fuel loads used by the Scuderia were unknown, making direct comparisons difficult.

The results therefore require some caution, particularly as Ferrari was evaluating an SF-26 package whose performance may also be affected by Spa’s changeable conditions. The team’s latest SF-26 innovation faces an important early test during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend.

FP2 should provide more representative information about the true long-run order. It will also help clarify whether Ferrari’s pace can support its wider championship ambitions following the Silverstone victory, a subject Fred Vasseur has continued to approach cautiously despite the team’s recent progress.

Max Verstappen completed his long run after 10 laps, but his performance dropped considerably following a strong start. Kimi Antonelli experienced a similar pattern, as did Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. The tyres did not appear capable of maintaining their performance for particularly long stints.

Oscar Piastri was the fastest driver during the race simulation, lapping approximately one second quicker than the others. However, McLaren probably conducted a different programme with less fuel on board, meaning the apparent advantage may not represent the true competitive order.

Tyre degradation, fuel loads and energy deployment will require further analysis before firm conclusions can be drawn. Spa places a particularly heavy demand on the 2026 power units, with the FIA having introduced revised energy-management controls for the Belgian GP.