Prior to the Belgian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen set the fastest time in first practice, finishing half a second clear of closest rival Oscar Piastri. The Dutchman will start from the back of the field this weekend due to switching to a new power unit.
The 2024 Belgian Grand Prix weekend began with anticipation and drama as the first practice session at the renowned Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps got underway. George Russell was among the first to lead a procession of cars onto the track at 13:30 local time, enjoying dry conditions that seemed perfect for the session. However, the action quickly intensified when Daniel Ricciardo suffered a dramatic spin at La Source, narrowly avoiding a collision with the barriers. Moments later, Esteban Ocon was called back to the pits due to a suspected water leak in his Alpine, forcing the team to lift his car on the jacks for repairs. This incident came at a critical time, especially with Alpine running a special Deadpool & Wolverine livery this weekend.
Max Verstappen wasted no time in establishing an early benchmark on the hard tire, clocking a lap time of 1:44.550. He was initially followed by the Mercedes duo, with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton close behind. Mercedes, known for its preference for cooler conditions, hoped that the weather would play to their advantage over the weekend.
As the session progressed, activity on the track saw a brief lull before drivers switched to the soft tires to push for faster laps. Russell temporarily claimed the top spot, but Verstappen quickly responded, reclaiming it by a significant margin of eight-tenths of a second over the Briton. The session also confirmed that both Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda would face grid penalties for taking on new power unit components, adding a strategic twist to the weekend.
Verstappen, undeterred by the looming penalties, maintained an untouchable pace in FP1. In contrast, his teammate Sergio Perez faced difficulties with his RB20, as reported over team radio. Fernando Alonso, driving for Aston Martin, also expressed concerns about his engine’s performance, questioning why his car was slower in the first sector.
Despite these challenges for others, Verstappen’s session remained smooth and dominant. He set the fastest time with a lap of 1:43.372, putting him half a second ahead of Oscar Piastri in the McLaren, who secured an impressive second place. Alex Albon showcased his skills by placing his Williams in third, while Russell and Hamilton completed the top five for Mercedes. Charles Leclerc clocked the sixth-fastest time for Ferrari, followed by Perez in seventh, who continued to feel the pressure after a string of challenging races. The top ten were rounded out by Lando Norris in the McLaren, Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari, and Lance Stroll in the Aston Martin.
Pierre Gasly finished 11th for Alpine, with Alonso, Ricciardo, and Valtteri Bottas in the Kick Sauber following in 12th to 15th. Logan Sargeant placed 15th in the Williams. Tsunoda, in his RB, ended the session 16th, while the Haas pair of Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen were 17th and 18th, ahead of Zhou Guanyu in the Kick Sauber, who was 19th. Ocon’s reliability issues prevented him from returning to the track, leaving him in 20th place.
As the first practice session concluded, teams and drivers prepared for a crucial debrief before the second practice session scheduled for 17:00 local time. The competitive and unpredictable nature of the session hinted at an exciting weekend ahead at Spa-Francorchamps, where strategy and performance will be pivotal in the quest for victory.
