Verstappen tops Hamilton as Mercedes struggle in first Spa practice
Quick summary
Max Verstappen set the fastest time in the first practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, while Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes appeared off the pace.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceMax Verstappen was surprisingly fastest from Lewis Hamilton as Mercedes were off the pace in first practice for the Belgian Grand Prix.
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What happened
Red Bull's Max Verstappen led the way in the opening free practice session ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. Lewis Hamilton was among the drivers outpaced, with Mercedes reportedly struggling for competitive pace in the session. The first practice at Spa provides an early indication of competitive order, though teams typically run varied programmes in FP1. Mercedes' apparent deficit raises questions about their weekend outlook at one of the calendar's most demanding circuits.
Chance analysis
FP1 times at Spa must be read with caution as teams frequently split programmes between race simulations and aero testing. However, a significant gap between Verstappen and Hamilton in the opening session is consistent with the broader 2025 competitive trend favoring Red Bull. For prediction purposes, FP1 is the least reliable session indicator, but persistent Mercedes struggles would be notable given the power-sensitive nature of Spa-Francorchamps.
Mercedes and Hamilton face an early weekend concern, but FP1 is not a reliable performance indicator for the Belgian GP.
FP1 results have low predictive value for qualifying and race outcomes; do not overweight this signal.