
Formula 1 returned from the summer break with Free Practice 1 at Spa-Francorchamps, and Oscar Piastri wasted no time setting the pace. The McLaren driver put in a blistering 1:42.022, finishing ahead of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris as McLaren continued to flex their form, now fully armed with their upgraded floor on both cars.
The session wasn’t without drama, technical issues, under-the-radar comebacks, and a continued spotlight on the Red Bull second seat all shaped the early narrative.
FP1 Top 10 Results
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 1:42.022
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- Isack Hadjar (RB)
Technical Shifts: McLaren Optimized, Red Bull Experiments
McLaren confirmed that both cars are now running the upgraded floor first tested at Silverstone, and the results are showing. Piastri looked completely hooked up, especially through Spa’s middle sector, while Norris backed him up in third.
Red Bull, meanwhile, brought a series of aerodynamic changes: a reshaped front suspension shroud and revised sidepod inlet design that now mimics Ferrari and Alpine’s direction more closely. Verstappen looked settled in second place, but the team still seems to be refining the package.
Sainz Hits Trouble at Williams
Carlos Sainz, now at Williams, was notably absent from the top 10, his session was cut short due to technical issues, a familiar and frustrating pattern for both driver and team. While early pace from Sainz showed promise, reliability continues to hold Williams back from capitalizing on development gains.
Yuki Tsunoda Slips Again Amid Growing Pressure
Finishing outside the top 10, Yuki Tsunoda once again found himself at the center of second-seat scrutiny. He was compromised by a yellow flag from Bearman’s off during his soft-tyre run and continues to lack the latest upgrades following his Imola crash. While those factors soften the blow, the consistent underperformance has become impossible to ignore.
Red Bull’s car demands a sharp front-end driving style that Verstappen thrives with, but few others can manage. Tsunoda joins a growing list of talented drivers who’ve struggled to unlock its potential. The debate continues over whether the team’s insistence on avoiding strong intra-team rivalries is costing them more than it’s helping.
Silverstone’s Shadow: Piastri Still Making His Case
With Norris again behind both Piastri and Verstappen, Spa is beginning to feel like a repeat of Silverstone, only without the safety car or time penalty to rob Piastri of a potential win. Many still feel Oscar was the faster driver at his home race, and FP1 only reinforces the idea that he’s emerged as McLaren’s most complete weapon.
Mercedes Shows Quiet Strength
Both George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli finished inside the top six, suggesting the team may be finding consistency, if not outright pace. Antonelli’s clean session was a welcome turnaround after recent setbacks, while Russell quietly slotted into P4, just ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Aston Martin Makes a Cameo
Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso rounded out the top 10, with Stroll even briefly topping the charts early in the session. It didn’t hold, but it sparked a familiar wave of Canadian fan hope, especially with memories of Villeneuve still echoing through the sport. The Aston still lacks the full package, but small flashes continue to keep the fanbase engaged.
Spa Snapshot
- Track: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
- Lap Length: 7.004 km
- Race Distance: 44 laps / 308.052 km
- Lap Record: 1:44.701 (Sergio Perez, 2024)
FP1 Takeaways
- Piastri leads with authority, continuing to make his case as McLaren’s top contender
- Verstappen stays in reach, but Red Bull is still fine-tuning their updates
- Mercedes shows quiet gains, with both Russell and Antonelli in the top six
- Ferrari steady, but not standout, with Leclerc and Hamilton in the mix
- Sainz’s Williams remains fast-but-fragile, with yet another reliability hit
- Tsunoda’s position grows more fragile, as the #2 Red Bull remains a driver graveyard
- Stroll’s moment in P1 was short-lived, but enough to ignite fan optimism
- Piastri vs. Norris continues to tilt Oscar’s way, especially in raw pace
Spa is back, the grid is reshuffling, and the weekend is just heating up.