Max Verstappen emerged as the fastest driver in the first practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix, clocking a time 0.145 seconds quicker than Lewis Hamilton. The session, held at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps, highlighted the struggles of Mercedes, with their championship leader Kimi Antonelli finishing sixth, trailing Verstappen by 0.533 seconds.

Despite Red Bull yet to win a race in 2026, Verstappen's performance indicated a strong showing for the team. Charles Leclerc finished third, two tenths off the pace, while Isack Hadjar, starting from the back due to a power unit change, secured fourth place, emphasizing Red Bull's early dominance.

Red Bull has opted to drop their rotating 'macarena' rear wing after recent crashes involving Verstappen, which appears to have contributed positively to their pace. Commentator Martin Brundle noted, "Max always finds the limit more quickly than others, but that looked very solid from Red Bull."

Mercedes faces challenges, as a potential engine issue looms over Antonelli, who is already on the limit of his engine allowance. Another new engine would incur a 10-grid place penalty. George Russell finished eighth, while Oscar Piastri from McLaren was fifth but faced a late hydraulics issue.

The session also witnessed Jak Crawford stepping in for Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin, fulfilling rookie requirements as teams prepare for the upcoming races. With a packed schedule ahead, fans can look forward to more thrilling action at the Belgian GP.